If your partner is reluctant to kiss, don't immediately think negatively that he's not interested in you. He could have experienced philemaphobia or a phobia of kissing. Curious why someone can be afraid to kiss? Come on, identify the causes and how to overcome them.
Kissing with loved ones is a pleasant experience because it can make the relationship closer and intimate. When kissing, the body will release the hormones oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin so that it creates a feeling of happiness.
In fact, kissing can help reduce stress, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and relieve headaches.
Although there are various benefits of lip kissing, the fact is that not everyone can enjoy it. Some actually feel afraid to do it because they suffer from a phobia of kissing.
The phobia of kissing can be experienced by anyone. However, young people who are just starting a relationship are more likely to experience it. This is because they are inexperienced or inexperienced so they are afraid of making mistakes when kissing.
Philemaphobia Symptoms that occur in adolescence are generally mild and can quickly disappear when entering adulthood. However, in some cases, this condition can be severe and affect a person's ability to interact and establish romantic relationships.
This is because people who are afraid of kissing are usually also afraid of having sex or are afraid to fall in love.
Possible Causes of Kissing Phobia
The phobia of kissing is usually caused by another phobia. Below are some things that can cause someone to have a phobia of kissing:
1. Fear of germs
The phobia of kissing can be caused by a fear of germs (misophobia). They feel that kissing can transmit disease. Some of them also feel disgusted by their partner's saliva. This condition finally makes them more comfortable kissing the forehead or cheek area than kissing the mouth.
2. Fear of body odor
Another cause of the phobia of kissing is bromidrophobia. People with bromidrophobia have an excessive fear of the smell of their own mouth. They feel that the smell of their mouth can interfere with kissing activities so they are reluctant to do it, even though they have brushed their teeth and rinsed their mouth with mouthwash many times.
3. Fear of being touched
Although rare, people who are afraid to be touched will also find kissing a scary thing. Medically, this condition is called haphephobia or thixophobia. This condition usually occurs in people who have psychological trauma or have been victims of violence.
4. Fear of intimacy or inner closeness
There are some people who can feel comfortable having sex, but not comfortable kissing. According to them, kissing is more intimate than having sex. These people may have a phobia of engaging in intimate relationships or loving others.
So that you are no longer afraid of kissing
Refusing to kiss on a regular basis can make your partner feel uncomfortable or unloved, which can lead to strained relationships. Therefore, there are several ways that can be done to overcome the phobia of kissing, including:
Suppress the fear you feel
If the phobia of kissing is based on a lack of experience, suppress the fear by finding out information about how to kiss properly. As time goes by and the experience of being in love with other people increases, gradually this fear decreases.
Consult a psychologist or psychiatrist
If your fear of kissing is due to something more serious, such as suffering from another phobia or having psychological trauma in the past, it's best to talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist about this.
A psychologist or psychiatrist will explore the causes and find solutions to overcome them. Generally a psychologist or psychiatrist will provide counseling or psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with the phobia suffered.
If you or your partner experience this condition and find it difficult to handle it yourself, don't be reluctant to consult a psychologist. With proper handling, you and your partner can enjoy a kiss without being haunted by fear anymore.
