[Hcysp123]

What do you call it when someone has an odd behavior (i.e looking at other persons private body parts uncontrollably- breasts, genital, buttocks)? Is there a name for this? There is no sexual gratification but started in early childhood. It’s become a difficult habit to break and the public is being encouraged to bullying and publicly shaming this person because they think she’s a pervert. Yes. She. It’s not fair and I want to help since nobody else is.

Second question: who do you go to for help. Past Psychologist , psychiatrist and mental health counselors doesn’t seem to know.

[Skeezyks]

Hello Hcysp: I see this is your first post here on PC. Welcome to Psych Central.

Most of us, here on PC, are not mental health professionals. And we cannot offer mental health diagnoses. So I really can't tell you what may be going on with your friend. If there is a specific term which is used to identify the type of behavior your friend is struggling with, I'm not aware of it. (Perhaps another PC member will know.) It could be this is simply a deeply ingrained habit. Or, the particular condition that pops into my mind is OCD. But that's simply a guess. I really don't know.

You asked where one goes for help with something like this. I believe a psychologist or a mental health therapist is going to be the correct professional for your friend to see. However not every mental health professional works well with every client. Sometimes it can take some time to find the right match. So possibly your friend simply has not yet happened on the right mental health professional for her.

The other thing that should perhaps be said here though is (at least from my perspective) there may simply not be a specific term one is going to be able to apply to what your friend is struggling with nor may it be possible to identify a specific cause. What may, in fact, be relevant here is what can be done in the here-&-now to help your friend going forward. What caused it to begin with, & why it continues, may simply be something that will remain a mystery.

I myself have had problems with the sort of thing you described in your post. And I have no idea where it comes from. In my own case I suspect it may be somehow tied in with the anxiety I have always battled. But that too is just a guess. What I have taught myself to do is to make a conscious effort to look in another direction while allowing myself to feel the full force of the desire to look at the person I feel the urge to look at. And while I'm doing so, I breathe into that feeling, perhaps even smile to it, & allow it to simply be there until it fades at its own pace. This is a variation on a Buddhist practice that is referred to as "compassionate abiding". Here's a link to a mental-health-oriented description of the practice:

Relieve Distress By Allowing It: Compassionate Abiding 101 | Mindset: Perspective Is Everything

My best wishes to you & your friend. I hope you find PC to be of benefit.