Problems with nudity, HELP!

Hi everyone, I'm pretty new here and I'm really in need of some help.

This is going to sound absolutely ridiculous, but it's a really big problem. I can't deal with nudity, like at all. I know, it's stupid. It doesn't matter whether it's in real life, in a magazine or on the TV, I can't deal with it at all.

For example, if I'm watching a movie and there's even a tiny scrap of skin (like a girl in her underwear or a bikini) I just freak out. If there's a sex scene I can't handle it at all. I get so embarrassed, I start to sweat, I get fidgety, angry and jealous and have to leave the room. I usually end up in tears, and it annoys me so much because I have no idea where it stems from.

It's getting to the point where it's putting a strain on my relationship with my boyfriend. I want to point out that he's a great guy and I've been with him for almost two years now, we get on really well generally but this is a huge issue. It's not that I don't trust him, but it's getting that we can't even go to the movies for fear that there's going to be a sex scene and I'll freak out, we can't go to the beach because there's girls in their underwear, I can't even watch music videos if there's slight nudity in them. It pisses him off so much and we've fallen out loads of times because of it, and it's not worth losing him over something so stupid.

He was tolerant at the start, but his patience with me is running thin and I don't blame him. He expects me to be able to "just deal with it", but I can't. He doesn't understand how much it hurts me, no matter how dumb it sounds. It just makes me so angry, like why do we need so much of it?

Another thing that bothers me is that I have no idea where it stems from. I've never been abused or raped or anything like that, and I have no problems when it comes to sex in real life. I'm not 100% happy with how I look (far from it actually) but I don't get what that would have to do with it!

It's driving me mad, and it gets in the way of everyday life. I want to change it but I can't and I'm frightened I'm pushing my boyfriend away. Does anyone else have a problem like this or have any ideas on how to fix this? I could really use some help.

I'm sorry this is so long guys, thanks xx

I can sort of relate.

The concept of nudity itself doesn't really bother me. It does however, make me pretty uncomfortable when I'm in the presence of others. Sex, however, invokes the same reaction you describe. On more than one occasion I've been watching a TV show with the family and when a sex scene shows up I'll have to excuse myself to go and quietly freak out in another room. Punching the air, punching a pillow, anything to vent.
My advice is this: look around your area for a therapist to talk to. I believe you when you say you were never abused or anything like that, but talking to somebody can really help you as far as figuring out why you feel the way you do about nudity. It could be something you'd never even consider. Maybe your bf could come along, maybe not. Your call.

You say this is interfering with your everyday life. If so, than it sounds like it's time to start looking deeper into the issue. I hope you find some resolution.

Good luck!

Go to public pools and saunas/Korean steam baths to get used to female nudity. Do that often. Let us know how you are doing.

If you're that unhappy with how you look, I would think that that has everything to do with it. In your post, you mention female nudity and bikinis, etc, you mention your boyfriend in connection with all this, you mention feeling "angry and jealous." It sounds to me as though your own body insecurities are the root of how you're feeling about this, and that you feel threatened by your boyfriend seeing other women. (Do you mind seeing male nudity? Do you mind seeing female nudity if it's someone you think is far less attractive than you are? What about elderly women? Would you mind your boyfriend going to the movies or the beach on his own? etc) If that's it, then the root issue isn't going to be solved until you work on your own self-image.

Doesn't bother me at all, in fact I have even been to nudist resorts in the past (when I like to embrace it).

In my opinion, this sounds like like a phobia....(gymnophobia)...an anxiety about nudity.

If so it can be treated but should be looked into in case it's an indicator of a bigger problem (it need not be sexually related)