Earth and Passion: Psychiatrist explains Petra’s sexual aversion. Scene photos!

In the Tuesday, July 11th chapter of “Earth and Passion,” Petra (Deborah Ozório) had a serious conversation with Luigi (rainer cadet) about their aversion to sex. In a sore conversation for the girl, she revealed that she doesn’t like sex:

More than a feeling, the fact that a person does not want to have sex has a name: SAD – Sexual Aversion Disorder.

The hallmark of this disorder is an aversion to any type of sexual contact, particularly genital contact. According to Dr. Aline Rangel, Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, a sexual relationship causes disgust and discomfort.

“Sexual aversion disorder (SAD) is characterized by an aversion to any type of sexual contact, particularly genital contact. The idea of ​​a sexual relationship causes disgust and discomfort. However, the person feels guilty and ashamed of the situation – which differentiates sexual aversion disorder from asexuality.”

About the development of disgust, the doctor comments on fear and negative experiences: “Sexual aversion disorder develops, in general, in response to negative sexual experiences and negative messages about sexuality. The fear presented reaches such a point that people stop attending social environments and even adopt a way of dressing defensively to avoid the intention and approach of other people.”

GUILT AND SHAME

“However, the person feels guilty and ashamed of the situation – which differentiates sexual aversion disorder from asexuality. Sexual aversion disorder usually develops in response to negative sexual experiences and negative messages about sexuality. The fear presented reaches such a point that people stop attending social environments and even adopt a defensive way of dressing to avoid the intention and approach of other people”, says the Psychiatrist.

According to Aline Rangel, it is difficult to establish the disorder, as people do not seek therapy: “The prevalence of SAD is unknown and difficult to establish, as individuals with this disorder avoid sexual encounters and intimate relationships, therefore, they rarely seek sexual aversion therapy or couples therapy clinics. SAD is mostly reported by women. Men with SAD are more likely to avoid relationships and therefore suffer from sexual performance anxiety or orgasmic anxiety.”

It is not known for sure what causes SAD to develop in some people and not in others. The doctor points out that a family history of anxiety disorder and phobia is common in people with SAD.

“Although it is not known what causes SAD to develop in some people and not others, a family history of anxiety disorder and phobia is common in people with SAD. Embarrassment in talking about this subject can harm the treatment. The first step in treating the disorder is to recognize the problem and seek help from a psychiatrist.”

ARE ABSTINENCE AND TAS THE SAME THING?

According to the specialist, SAD and sexual abstinence are completely different matters, as the disorder is a psychological illness and abstention is a conscious process.

“The Disorder is a psychological illness, which causes suffering to the person, who may feel abnormal, lost and unhappy and flee the embarrassment caused by social interactions. Abstention, on the other hand, is a conscious process in which the person begins to redirect sexual pleasure to other areas of his life, such as professional, social, scientific or any other projects. People with asexuality are not bothered by the lack of sexual desire, they face this situation naturally and part of life.”

“There are still few studies on Sexual Aversion Disorder and this makes it difficult to understand a pattern of behavior of these individuals. However, what is known so far is that this process can be triggered by traumatic experiences at any stage of life. Health conditions and medical treatments can also play a role in the development of sexual aversion. Some diseases, such as various types of cancer, cause physical changes that affect an individual’s sexual function and/or body image. Some medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can decrease the orgasmic response, creating an unpredictable and frustrating sexual environment and experience. The disorder can be caused by sexual abuse during childhood or adolescence or originate from traumatic family experiences, such as early exposure to sexuality and even the adultery of one of the family members. Instances of sexual assault in later life and exposure to repressive beliefs and moral systems can also cause an individual to view sex in an immoral and aversive way.”

Sexual Disorder or Phobia? on her website, Dr. Aline Rangel there are established diagnoses for each disorder, with different classifications: “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders up to its 4th edition (DSM-IV-TR) previously described sexual aversion disorder as “characterized by recurrent or persistent extreme aversion and avoidance of all genital contact with a sexual partner that is not attributable to another psychiatric disorder”. Sexual aversion disorder was later removed from the DSM-5, due to its rare use and lack of supporting research. Now, it is classified as a sexual dysfunction. Debates over whether sexual aversion should be classified as a phobia or a sexual disorder have occurred several times, but in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11) of the World Health Organization, Sexual Aversion remains a well-established diagnosis among sexual disorders. ”

Dr Aline Rangel’s website explains about the disorder and brings more information about sexual disorders and psychological assistance.