Sexual repression is a state whereby a person in unable to express their natural sexuality for a variety of reasons including religion.
It is a term that was first introduced by the renowned Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, and since then, sexual repression has been blamed for a wide range of ills in modern society.
Indeed, many believe that sexual repression has serious consequences on the human psyche and can lead to violence, anger, and perversions of desire.
What Sexual Repression Symptoms are There?
Many experts who have studied the affects of sexual repression on the human psyche over the years have concluded that repressing human sexuality can cause all kinds of neuroses and health problems.
The history books have shown us that repressing human sexuality very often leads to a loss of perspective, dangerous compulsions and inhuman behavior.
For centuries, the Catholic Church has sought to repress human sexuality and encouraged its brethren to abstain from sex. Millions of priests and members of the clergy have been forced to suppress their natural sexual urges over the years, which has undoubtedly led to an untold numbers of cases of sexual abuse against vulnerable children.
The act of sex, whether through masturbation or intercourse, helps to dissipate sexual energy, which is why a person usually feels a great sense of serenity and relaxation in the aftermath of an orgasm. Victims of sexual repression, or anyone who is unable to have an orgasm, will be unable to find relief, and over time their sexual energy builds up and can cause deep-seated feelings of frustration and anger.
The Victorians were well known for their strident beliefs on sexual repression. Masturbation was considered “evil” and young girls and women who displayed signs of a healthy sexuality were sometimes subjected to all kinds of inhumane practices.
And yet women who displayed the symptoms of sexual repression, known as “hysterical paroxysm”, were treated by a method referred to as “vulvular stimulation”, which in today’s terms is good old-fashioned masturbation. However, the Victorian doctors did not regard this technique as sexual; they merely saw it as hard work and rather time consuming.
Interestingly, female hysteria is a recognized condition traceable as far back as ancient times. It was mentioned in the Hippocratic corpus, and Galen, a well-known physician from the 2nd century, referred to it as a disease caused by sexual deprivation in particularly passionate women, many of whom were nuns, virgins, or widows.
What Sexual Repression Symptoms Were Described in the History Books?
Victorian doctors recorded all kinds of symptoms in women who were evidently suffering from some kind of sexual repression, including a nervous disposition, insomnia, irritability, faintness, heaviness in the abdomen, muscle spasms, a tendency to cause trouble, and no appetite for food.
Many physicians believed that “hysteria” led to an increased likelihood of developing nervous disorders and problems with the reproductive tract.
But even today, it is widely recognized that repression of sexuality is unhealthy and quite likely to lead to health problems ranging from anxiety and aggression, and on a more serious note, there is also the likelihood that the person might seek inappropriate outlets for their sexual urges.
No one should ever feel defined by sex, at its most basic and at its most loving and stable way to express one self. It is a natural instinct but not for many who may have had their innocence suppressed, denied, number down, traumatised, religious conditioning, shamed and so much more. Many do not fully understand how another can go through life without sex, it a very taboo subject, and even many therapists can feel uncomfortable with. If you do go to a counsellor, therapist make sure they are fully qualified in dealing with all sexual issues and WILL respond emphatically to you about sex, and will ask you about your concerns about sex that you have brought up and when you are ready to. There may be a time when we need to express these very hurt, hindered and broken parts of our self to a qualified professional while for them not to define who we are, it is a courageous step to owning our feelings and emotions, whether we speak to someone or not.
There are many, many reasons why someone can have difficulty expressing their sexual side, it is a very personal, unique experience. The word repression can be prone to certain generalisations which can leave a person thinking there is something wrong with them, which there is not. If there is no real support, it can feel a lonely experience, where we are unable to even express how we feel. Talking to a qualified counsellor can help to embrace these parts that can feel difficult to talk about with family, friends. Once we feel comfortable talking to a counsellor who we like and trust, it can feel liberating to express hurts, pain, past traumas or what feels important to talk about. Of course talking is not for everyone but can be a stepping stone to understanding, and accepting our hidden sides. For many, expressing our sexual side can often feel difficult to put into words, for it can feel sensitive and often taboo. We can go through many emotions, the highs and lows and to be felt, not suppressed. One day, one step at a time.
Thanks for posting this comment! I am trying to understand if my use of the phrase “I’m sexually repressed” is accurate or not. I have hardly ever gotten enough sex in my life and continue to date men who don’t make sex a priority which leads to me thinking there is something wrong with me and then leads to me not expressing my sexually openly. I just frustratingly want it almost all the time and hardly get it enough.
Anyway, I couldn’t find a sex therapist around Iowa so I’m going to talk to an online therapist. 🙂
what is a therapist going to do? If you have an unhealthy/abnormal amount of time being non sexual with no opportunity, a therapist cant help you with that one….
I met a woman who says she is sexually repressed and can’t even talk about sex, i am in my 50’s and have never met someone likethat. What gives?
Very informative article. Here in the Midwest sexual repression is a serious problem because the population tends to view science with suspicion. Perhaps we all need to take a break from church and embrace spirituality instead.
It’s a little bit Victorian to think that one cannot explore their sexuality especially when there is proof that repressed sexuality causes mental neuroses. Let’s move with the times