Sexual health isn’t just about the physical stuff, it’s deeply tied to how we feel, think, and connect with others. They bring stress, anxiety, or even depression.
Lets unpack the 8 different paraphilic sexual disorders, how they mess with mental health, and why talking about them openly, and admitting one is suffering, is the first step to healing.
Paraphilias and Paraphilic Disorders
Paraphilias are frequent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies or behaviors that involve inanimate objects, children, or nonconsenting adults. Suffering or humiliation of the person or a partner is also involved.
Paraphilic disorders are paraphilias that cause distress or problems in functioning in the person with the paraphilia, or that harm or may harm another person.
The Most Common Paraphilic Disorders Are;
1. Voyeuristic disorder:
Voyeurism involves becoming sexually aroused by watching an unsuspecting person who is undressing, naked, or engaging in sexual activity.
Kumbuka story ya King David, this is exactly what he did 🤐
Voyeuristic disorder involves acting on voyeuristic urges or fantasies or being distressed by, or unable to function because of those urges and fantasies.
2. Exhibitionistic disorder
Exhibitionism ins when someone gets off by exposing their genitals in public, this makes them sexually excited, such people also get off being watched by others during sexual activity. .
Exhibitionistic disorder may also involve acting out urges on a nonconsenting people. This can cause problems like impairing daily normal functioning. I’m sure you’ve seen such characters in Nairobi CBD. Especially nowadays with cctv’s and phones recording everywhere.
3. Frotteuristic disorder
Frotteurism is the intense sexual arousal from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person.
Frotteuristic disorder is diagnosed when a person has acted on these sexual urges or the urges cause significant distress or impaired functioning.
There is a video that went viral of that one guy at the SuperMetro bus queue doing exactly this to a woman who was standing in front in the line.
4. Sexual masochism disorder
Sexual masochism is when a person experiences sexual excitement from being humiliated, beaten, bound, or generally abused. It causes body harm and psychological damage and interferes with daily functioning.
Some sadism and masochism is today play-acted in ‘healthy’ relationships, and mutually compatible partners for “fun”.
Like, using bandanas and handcuffs for bondage and whip spanking during sex, when it’s between two interested and consenting adults it is not considered sadomasochistic;
4b. Asphyxiophilia
This is considered a subtype of sexual masochism disorder. People with this condition choke or strangle themselves by applying a noose around their neck during masturbation, or have their partner do it.
5. Sexual sadism disorder
Sexual sadism is when a person experiences sexual excitement from inflicting physical or psychological suffering to others.
This disorder harms others, since it mostly involves someone who has not given consent.
Some people do find partners with similar disorder and consent to inflicting pain on each other as a “game”. Sometimes even consenting partners come out hurt from such games.
6. Pedophilic disorder
Pedophilic disorder is recurring, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behavior involving children. It is illegal in many countries including Kenya. Many have been jailed for this behaviour.
If you suspect someone, please report them to the authorities.
7. Fetishistic disorder
Fetishism is the use of an inanimate objects as the preferred way to produce sexual arousal.
It is when someone gets recurrent, intense sexual arousal from using an inanimate object or focusing on a nongenital body part like feet.
You’ll hear people online say there’s an app where actual people buy feet pictures!
8. Transvestic disorder
Transvestism is recurrent, intense sexual arousal from cross-dressing.
sexual disorders aren’t just about pervertness, they ripple into confidence, relationships, and mental well‑being.
This has been a huge debate in Kenya’s entertainment industry when men dress as men.
In most of these disorders, psychotherapy works together with medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and antiandrogens which work by blocking the effects of testosterone.
So, if you believe you or your partner have any of these conditions, kindly visit a medical professional for help.
Which one surprised you?
Let me know in the comments!