Are You Suffering From Physical And Emotional Intimacy Issues? Learn Where To Get Help

Updated December 09, 2019

Introduction

Intimacy issues develop as a result of attachment styles that form in early childhood, relationship history, mental health, and others.

People who suffer from issues with intimacy often have trouble getting close to others both physically and emotionally. Because of their issues with proximity, people may believe that the person with intimacy issues has no desire to interact or engage on a deeper level. In most cases, this isn't true. People with intimacy issues are often paralyzed by their fears, whether it be rejection, the avoidance of a painful loss, or some other factor.

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In this article, we talk about dating someone with intimacy issues, how to overcome intimacy issues, signs of intimacy issues

Dating Someone With Intimacy Issues

If you've ever dated someone with intimacy issues, you know that it's no easy task. The main reason that people get together in intimate relationships is to be intimate and share intimate moments. What happens when the object of your affection has an issue with intimacy and closeness? Do you work to make the relationship a success or move on to a partner who has a little less baggage? Both of these are options.

In most cases, people who have established romantic relationships want to be in them for the long-haul, so they are willing to do the work that it takes to help their partners overcome their intimacy challenges and find a middle ground. When people think in terms of dating, relationships, and intimacy issues, the most common question that comes to mind is likely "How to help a man with intimacy issues? Many people are surprised to learn that intimacy issues work both ways, and there are quite a few women who suffer from intimacy issues. Instead of asking the question of "How to help a man with intimacy issues?" - let's look at how to overcome intimacy issues - for both men and women.

Signs Of Intimacy Issues

People with intimacy issues often struggle with physical and emotional closeness. These people are not likely to be found showing overt displays of emotions or crying at the movies. In many cases, people with intimacy issues may seem cold or uninterested in the outside world. The opposite is true. People with intimacy issues usually don't even realize that they are pushing people away and sabotaging relationships.

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More obvious signs of intimacy issues are an inability to share innermost, thoughts, feelings, sexual enjoyment, and life experiences with another person. In most cases, this inability is the result of a previous encounter and not because the person with intimacy issues has decided they don't want to be close.

Intimacy boundaries are a defense mechanism that people use to prevent themselves from having negative experiences. When people experience negative or traumatic experiences, they may decide either consciously or unconsciously to avoid ever having the traumatic experience again. As a result, any situations, people, or similar circumstances that remind them of the negative event are likely to cause the person with intimacy issues to pull away or sabotage the relationship to keep it from going any further.

This is true in the case of family relationships, intimate relationships, and even in your career. Your brain has developed its way of preventing you from feeling pain by building a wall between you and a potentially negative experience. The downside to this line of thinking is that not all of the experiences that you have will be negative, and not all people that you encounter who remind you of a certain person or event will behave in exactly the same manner.

Intimacy issues develop with maladaptive beliefs or incorrect thinking take hold as a defense mechanism or response to a negative outcome. For example a person who has experienced rejection in their early childhood may erroneously believe that everyone that they become close to will reject them (like their parents did). This maladaptive belief sets people up for developing intimacy issues as they shy away from any close relationships because they believe they will end.

Physical Intimacy Issues

People who suffer from physical intimacy issues have a problem with developing or maintaining physical closeness. When someone suffers from a fear of physical intimacy on the inside, they may come across as apathetic or uncaring on the outside when it comes to displays of affection. These people have a hard time giving and receiving affection in the forms of hugging, kissing, holding hands, and sex. While people with intimacy issues appear to be outwardly disinterested in giving or receiving physical affection - on the inside they may crave or need physical intimacy more than someone who doesn't have these issues.

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When someone has a fear of being physically affectionate or close, they are likely suffering from an underlying issue with emotional intimacy as well. While issues with physical and emotional intimacy can exist independently - they usually don't. People who suffer from issues with intimacy usually suffer from both the physical and emotional spectrum.

How To Overcome Intimacy Issues

If you're wondering who is affected by intimacy issues - the answer people who are suffering from intimacy issues themselves or people in

Intimacy issues affect the families and children of people who have them. The person with intimacy issues may have trouble communicating with their intimate partners, families, children, employers. When intimacy issues begin to have a noticeable impact on your quality of life - it's time to get help. The first step to overcoming issues with intimacy is to understand that they aren't your fault. If you're struggling with issues of intimacy - more often than not, they are related to a personal trauma that you've had in the past.

Some people suffer from intimacy issues due to early childhood neglect, abuse, or being a witness to these incidents. Children who become traumatized at an early age can develop intimacy issues as they lose trust in their environment or circumstances. As a result of trauma, children may become detached from important figures in their lives - especially their parents. If this issue isn't addressed in early life, these children can grow up to be adults with intimacy issues. Once you become aware that issues with intimacy are negatively impacting your life - and you understand that they aren't your fault, the next step is to get counseling to learn how to cope.

Heal Intimacy Issues With Therapy

Many people struggling with issues of intimacy and other mental health-related issues that are impacting their lives - don't realize that they can get help. People who struggle with these issues may feel guilt at expressing their need for support. This is especially true of people who have convinced themselves that intimacy issues are their fault. Licensed psychologists and other mental health professionals can help people with debilitating intimacy issues to learn to cope and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Board-certified therapists use methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach people with intimacy issues new healthier beliefs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy operates on the principles of maladaptive beliefs, reward, and punishment. These brain-based therapists believe that maladaptive beliefs can be unlearned using a system of reward and punishment that causes the brain to develop new neural pathways - and thereby new solutions to chronic problems.

To date, cognitive-behavior therapy has shown high success rates and is used by psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals. The goal of cognitive-behavior therapy is to teach people suffering from mental health issues that they can think more productive thoughts and experience less suffering in their lives as a result. Cognitive-behavior therapy is one method of treatment that a therapist may use when treating emotional and physical intimacy issues.

Depending on what other issues are present, a mental health professional may advise that you need medication to manage your intimacy issues. This can occur when therapy assessments and sessions indicate that a chronic mental illness like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or bipolar disorder (BPD) issues are also a factor.

Together, you and your therapist will determine the best course of action for you based on your life circumstances. Today's therapists are available to provide therapy and other mental health treatments online. Having access to therapy online makes it easier for people who need mental health support to reach out and find qualified providers within their state of residence. Let's look at online therapy options.

Online Therapy Options

Today's mental health clients are taking comfort in getting mental health therapy online. Gone are the days of long commutes, or embarrassing waiting room conversations. You can chat with a therapist in the privacy and comfort of your own home. The best part is today's online therapists offer affordable rates online.

This means that anyone who needs therapy can gain access to therapy at a cost they can afford. Leading therapy providers like BetterHelp.com offer unlimited weekly therapy sessions starting at just $40.00 - $70.00 per week. Sessions with in-office therapists can cost as much as $200.00 an hour (or more) depending on your city and state of residence.

If you're ready to get started healing your issues with intimacy, reach out to a BetterHelp certified therapy expert today!