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When it comes to mental health and well-being, understanding various complex conditions can make a huge difference both for the person who struggles with the symptoms and the people around them. Exhibitionistic disorder is one of the disorders that many people have heard of, yet very few know how to recognize and treat this condition.
Exhibitionistic disorder affects around 2%-4% of the adult population. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with exhibitionistic disorder or shows signs of this condition, we are here to help you. In our guide below, you will learn what exhibitionistic disorder is, how to identify the symptoms of the disorder, and what to do to manage and treat exhibitionistic disorder.
What Is Exhibitionistic Disorder?
Exhibitionistic disorder is typically defined as a mental health disorder that manifests in a psychological need for a person to expose their private parts to other people. This behavior is not motivated by the intention to shock or insult the victim—the person with the disorder finds the act of exhibitionism arousing, especially when the reaction of the non-consenting individual is perceived as positive.
This disorder is a part of a larger group of mental health conditions—paraphilic disorders. A person is diagnosed with a paraphilic disorder when their behavior, urges, and thoughts when it comes to sexual activity fall outside of the norm and interfere with their daily life and the lives of the people around them. While in most cases exhibitionistic disorder affects men, women may struggle with this condition as well.
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Symptoms of Exhibitionistic Disorder
Here are the most common signs of exhibitionistic disorder you should be on the lookout for:
- A person engages in flashing their genitals in front of a stranger or a non-consenting acquaintance or coworker. While some people may attempt to rationalize this behavior when they are in a private or public setting (for instance, in a bar or a club), exposing private parts without consent is abnormal.
- The individual struggles to control their thoughts and urges. If a person spends a lot of time thinking about showing their private parts to someone and cannot stop this behavior despite the negative consequences for their personal and professional life, it may be a symptom of exhibitionistic disorder.
- The person suffers from the negative impact of their behavior. Sometimes, mental health issues arise when the individual understands their actions are harmful to their well-being—if flashing strangers leads to legal trouble and negatively affects the mental state of the person, intervention may be required.
Causes of Exhibitionistic Disorder
At the moment, there is no definitive answer to the question of what causes exhibitionistic disorder. However, mental health professionals point out several environmental and psychological factors that may contribute to this condition:
- Trauma. People who were sexually abused in their childhood or adolescence may develop various paraphilic disorders, including exhibitionism.
- Coexisting mental health conditions. If a person suffers from a personality disorder or struggles with impulse control, this may lead to exhibitionistic behavior down the line.
- Lack of intimacy. It is possible to draw a parallel between a person’s issues with their sex life and abnormal behavior aimed at achieving arousal—in certain cases, people resort to exhibitionism to “spice up” their sexual activity.
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Diagnosing Exhibitionistic Disorder
Only a certified mental health provider can accurately diagnose exhibitionistic disorder after speaking to the patient and analyzing their behavior. If you suspect either you or someone you care about suffers from this disorder, pay attention to the symptoms listed above and schedule an appointment with a therapist.
A mental health practitioner will talk to the patient about their symptoms and behavior, check whether the patient has been diagnosed with any mental health conditions in the past, and find out whether the patient has been subjected to sexual abuse or trauma in their childhood. In addition, a therapist may come up with a list of triggers for the abnormal behavior of the patient based on their personal circumstances.
Treatment for Exhibitionistic Disorder
Fortunately, exhibitionistic disorder is a condition that can be successfully managed and treated with therapy and medication. Here are a few treatment options you may want to consider:
- Therapy. Contact a therapist and schedule several counseling sessions to address the disorder. Your mental health provider may suggest you try cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—this type of talk therapy will help you figure out the triggers for your behavior and teach you how to cope with harmful thoughts when they appear.
- Medication. Your therapist may prescribe you several drugs to manage exhibitionism. This may include medication that affects your hormones and lowers your sex drive, as well as antidepressants to deal with anxiety and depression associated with the disorder.
- Support group. In addition to individual therapy, it might be beneficial for the patient to join a support group either locally or online. Sharing your experience with people who struggle with the same disorder and learning from others may accelerate the healing process.
FAQs
What is Exhibitionistic Disorder?
Exhibitionistic disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by a psychological need to expose one’s private parts to other people, often to achieve sexual arousal.
What Are the Symptoms of Exhibitionistic Disorder?
The main symptoms of exhibitionistic disorder are the person’s engagement in flashing, inability to control their urges, and the negative impact of their behavior on their life.
What Causes Exhibitionistic Disorder?
There is no single cause of exhibitionistic disorder; nonetheless, this condition may be linked to the person’s past trauma, lack of control over their impulses, and problems with their sex life.
How Is Exhibitionistic Disorder Diagnosed?
You will need to visit a mental health provider to be diagnosed with exhibitionistic disorder—a therapist will be able to talk to you, analyze your behavior, and ascertain the presence of the disorder.
Can Exhibitionistic Disorder Be Treated?
It is possible to treat exhibitionistic disorder with therapy and medication. Reach out to a certified therapist and ask them to come up with a personalized treatment plan that suits your needs.
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Reach Out to Treat Mental Health for Help
Whether you personally struggle with exhibitionistic disorder or this condition affects someone you love, support and treatment are necessary to manage this disorder. From recognizing the symptoms of exhibitionistic disorder to coming up with a personalized treatment plan that suits the needs of the patient, you can do it together with a mental health provider.
Treat Mental Health will assist you with this challenge—get in touch with our team of professionals to address exhibitionistic disorder and get your life back on track.
