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STD Phobia
Hello, I am not sure if this is the right place, but from my understanding, phobias are a form of anxiety so I wanted to ask about my STD Phobia. Eversince an ex cheated on me with a girl who had an STD, I have been severely phobic and obsessive compulsive about STDs. I get checked for them all the time and drive my self crazy obsessing over sexual encounters after I have them thinking there may be a chance I contracted something.
My main fear is contracting an STD and giving it to someone else. I recently was, in my opinion, a little sexually adventurous in an attempt to calm down and behave like a normal person. It was not a good idea and the man I had unprotected sex with told me I have nothing to worry about but I am worrying. Then I had another encounter which I asked a medical expert on STDs about and she said I have nothing to worry about but I am still worrying.
I need help at this point because I want to get tested so I can have a relationship with a new man, but my phobia and obsessive thoughts are making it hard to get through the day.
What can I do in the meantime while I wait to get tested again?
My main fear is contracting an STD and giving it to someone else. I recently was, in my opinion, a little sexually adventurous in an attempt to calm down and behave like a normal person. It was not a good idea and the man I had unprotected sex with told me I have nothing to worry about but I am worrying. Then I had another encounter which I asked a medical expert on STDs about and she said I have nothing to worry about but I am still worrying.
I need help at this point because I want to get tested so I can have a relationship with a new man, but my phobia and obsessive thoughts are making it hard to get through the day.
What can I do in the meantime while I wait to get tested again?
OK. I was totally off base and I apologize sincerley for any inuendos I may have made about your lifestyle.
As I said, I was not making any judgements, I just want you to be safe.
Again, I regret my words and will leave any more advice to others.
Greenlydia
As I said, I was not making any judgements, I just want you to be safe.
Again, I regret my words and will leave any more advice to others.
Greenlydia
Well I have always been in long term relationships in which I was tested and they were tested. The first man I mentioned told me he was clean and I trusted him, but now I am worrying about it, and he ended things before I wanted to. I thought it was normal to trust people when they tell you they are clean.
The second guy, we didn't have sex, but we came close to it and it freaked me out so I stopped it, but still worried about getting something from our bodies touching. I figured taking the expert's advice not to worry was OK.
My lifestyle is not promiscuous, I just had those two since my last long term relationship.
I want to have a long term relationship with this new guy, but I am very scared about the last two encounters.
I am planning on seeking help, but I don't think I need it for my sexual lifestyle.
The second guy, we didn't have sex, but we came close to it and it freaked me out so I stopped it, but still worried about getting something from our bodies touching. I figured taking the expert's advice not to worry was OK.
My lifestyle is not promiscuous, I just had those two since my last long term relationship.
I want to have a long term relationship with this new guy, but I am very scared about the last two encounters.
I am planning on seeking help, but I don't think I need it for my sexual lifestyle.
When your boyfriend cheated on you with a woman who had a known STD, are you sure your boyfriend was wearing a condom? Can you trust his answer? Did the two of you always have protected sex?
After you broke up with him, in your own words you stated.............."I recently was, in my opinion, a little sexually adventurous in an attempt to calm down and behave like a normal person. It was not a good idea and the man I had unprotected sex with told me I have nothing to worry about................."
I will take this to mean that you were either a bit promiscuous or you engaged in unprotected sex as you say you did with the man in the above paragraph. I don't need to tell you how unwise that decision was.
You then say you had another encounter after which you asked a medical expert in STDs if you were at risk and her reply was that you had nothing to worry about!? Sorry, but in my humble and non-medical opinion, she was incredibly wrong to tell you that.
Now you want to be tested again so you can have sex with a new man.
Not only do I believe you need therapy to deal with your STD phobia, but also with your sexual lifestyle. I am NOT passing judgement on you, but the more partners you have, the higher your risk is for contracting an STD, and having unprotected sex puts you at very high risk of contracting HIV.
Perhaps your lifestyle is at the root of your phobia?
Please seek out therapy before your luck runs out.
Peace
Greenlydia
After you broke up with him, in your own words you stated.............."I recently was, in my opinion, a little sexually adventurous in an attempt to calm down and behave like a normal person. It was not a good idea and the man I had unprotected sex with told me I have nothing to worry about................."
I will take this to mean that you were either a bit promiscuous or you engaged in unprotected sex as you say you did with the man in the above paragraph. I don't need to tell you how unwise that decision was.
You then say you had another encounter after which you asked a medical expert in STDs if you were at risk and her reply was that you had nothing to worry about!? Sorry, but in my humble and non-medical opinion, she was incredibly wrong to tell you that.
Now you want to be tested again so you can have sex with a new man.
Not only do I believe you need therapy to deal with your STD phobia, but also with your sexual lifestyle. I am NOT passing judgement on you, but the more partners you have, the higher your risk is for contracting an STD, and having unprotected sex puts you at very high risk of contracting HIV.
Perhaps your lifestyle is at the root of your phobia?
Please seek out therapy before your luck runs out.
Peace
Greenlydia
You need to "accept" when you are told that you have no STD's. The more you obcess about this, there worse it will get, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Protect yourself always, not only for your health but for your peace of mind. Worrying will not change anything, all it will do is make you sick and raise your anxiety level. There are mental health clinics in all cities that offer free mental health care, and some charge a minimal fee. Look into these to get some support in learning how not to obcess over this. I know the worrying wears you down, but try to keep yourself too busy (mentally and physically) to even think about it. Live your life and enjoy the things you are passonate about. This will make the time pass quicker and get you of on to thinking about other things and working towards breaking this cycle of worrying about this. You don't want to wake up one day an old person and wonder where the years went...... you will have worried them away. I wish you all the best and take care!
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