[juniperberry]

I'm a young woman who suffers from gymnophobia, an intense and overwhelming fear of being seen naked.

I have tuberous breasts and as a result have developed a crippling fear of being naked in front of another person. To me they are hideous and shameful, and I would rather cut all ties with a friend or boyfriend than have them see me naked.

I avoid mirrors and cover myself when I am naked to shower or bathe, even when no one is home and the door is locked, because I usually get upset and start to cry when I look at myself.

I am wondering if anyone else has this condition and what they do about it, but general support would also be nice. Thanks.

[opioja]

Hey!

So I'm not suffering from gymnophobia, my main issue right now is social phobia but I've had some issues with dealing how I look as well in the past! I'm a male, though, so I probably have less social pressure coming my way.

Anyway I've always had pretty long eyelashes for a guy which I thought made me look a bit girly but I've learned to live with it anyway (I'm not cutting them) simply by compensating. That is trying to make me look more masculine by some specific haircut, going to the gym or trying to grow a beard (I don't have a fully grown beard though).

But hey, some people have actually told me that I have really cool eyes, and while I got bullied about it at a summer camp when I was a kid as well as in elementary school I can appreciate the compliment. Anyway everyone has some insecurities about how they look -- some more than others -- but the universal truth is that nobody has to look like a model to look good.

And besides, tuberuous breasts can be pretty hot! It's all about attitude!

Maybe you can try to practice projecting nice thoughts about others' looks, and you'll learn to live with it yourself. Just you know, trying to see beauty in people you personally don't consider beautiful or handsome. I've found that the people around you will become more understanding of your own insecurities that way.

[Little Lulu]

I do not have this particular phobia (I have others to make up for it, though ) but it is possible you will find someone here who does or can relate. Hope you get what you need. Keep coming back. Hugs.

[lifelies]

I'm not used to deal with phobias, but we used to have a really intense harpaxophobia (fear of being robbed, robberies, thieves...). The only way we got through it was time. For some reason it went systemically away with time, although there are still some alters with anxiety issues (e.g. Justin who has OCD) that experience a milder (but not mild) harpaxophobia.
Hugs,
Lana

[MsSarahj]

I have gymnophobia, and have not dealt with it at all, now I am at an age were medical professionals can't treat me because of the fear. I am surprised that many professionals either don't know what gymnophobia is, or just laugh when you tell them that you will not remove your clothing. Should you find help for it please let me know.

[fluffbuster]

i know this may sound flippant, but it is not meant to be. i seriously suggest you go to a nudist beach. you would be amazed at how some people are completely devoid of any worries w/ or w/out any type of deformity. maybe seeing how those people are would show you that people actually care more about your inner beauty.

[MsSarahj]

Originally Posted by fluffbuster

i know this may sound flippant, but it is not meant to be. i seriously suggest you go to a nudist beach. you would be amazed at how some people are completely devoid of any worries w/ or w/out any type of deformity. maybe seeing how those people are would show you that people actually care more about your inner beauty.

A nudist beach would not do anything. I don't fear their nudity, or care how they feel about their body. I don't take my cloths of because I fear my nudity. Perhaps that is odd?