Fear of intimacy can ruin your relationship: All you need to know

According to a study in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, such behavior may be due to being more of a loner, or as a delayed reaction to unmet childhood needs. According to researchers, infants seek proximity to their caregivers for emotional support. However, if the parent or guardian is unresponsive or overly intrusive, the child learns to avoid their caregiver. This grows into an avoidance of intimate relationships during adulthood.

loner Pulse

Such people are often lonely and more likely to suffer illnesses than their secure counterparts.

Symptoms

People with a fear often seem angry, indifferent or even cold. You can identify such people is you know what to look for. They usually suffer from a low self-esteem and have major have trust issues besides being overly sensitive to criticism. They also actively avoid physical contact and have a history of unstable relationships. Moreover, they may be unable to share feelings or express emotion and may prefer to live in isolation.

One thing that stands out is that such people often have an insatiable sexual desire.

loner Pulse

Causes behind fear of intimacy

Many things can lead to a fear of intimacy. It can be a childhood trauma or a fear of rejection or abandonment. Sometimes it may be due to avoidant personality disorder, also known as intimacy anxiety disorder, which affects about 2.5 per cent of the population.

What you can do

If you have this condition, you must consciously try to overcome your fear of intimacy. Learn to value and love yourself and communicate your feelings to your partner. If you think you need professional help, consult an expert. There is nothing wrong in doing so. You can easily overcome this problem with the right guidance and therapy.