Sexual dissociation is when an individual loses contact with their body during sexual activity due to traumatic experiences. When people experience intense trauma or violent situations, they may become numb to their physical sensations and emotions, resulting in detachment from themselves. This can lead to difficulty feeling pleasure or enjoyment during sex and even cause them to feel like it's happening outside of their body. Political trauma occurs when one witnesses or experiences state violence or repression that has significant psychological effects on their mental health. These events often involve death, torture, imprisonment, and loss of loved ones. State violence can also be experienced through racialized policing, surveillance, and oppression.
The mind-body split is common among individuals who have experienced political trauma because it allows for distance between the self and the external world. The body becomes a site where political trauma manifests itself as it is unable to express its true feelings or needs. As such, survivors may develop sexual problems such as low desire, lack of arousal, difficulty reaching orgasm, and painful intercourse. They may feel ashamed or guilty about these issues and fear intimacy with partners. Sexual dissociation is linked with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects around 7% of Americans at any given time. PTSD can cause flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, avoidance behaviors, insomnia, mood swings, and hypervigilance. Individuals with PTSD may relive the traumatic event in their minds, making it difficult to focus on the present moment.
Sexual disassociation can occur due to many factors: cultural beliefs about gender roles, religious doctrine, past abuse, shame, trauma history, and physical injury. Survivors may find it challenging to connect with their bodies during sex because they are afraid of experiencing pleasure too intensely or losing control over themselves emotionally or physically. They may also struggle with trust and vulnerability, leading them to withdraw from intimate relationships. In addition, political violence often involves dehumanization and objectification, leaving individuals feeling powerless and unworthy of love. This can lead to an erotic impasse where there is no longer a connection between two people's bodies, creating distance even if both parties want closeness.
Desire is essential for healthy relationships and can be influenced by social contexts like politics and culture. Political repression can make people feel ashamed of their desires, leading them to suppress or hide them. It can also create a sense of powerlessness that makes it hard to express needs or boundaries. State violence can destroy trust, leading partners to fear each other and lose faith in communication. These experiences can affect sexual desire, causing people to feel numb or empty when connecting with others romantically or sexually. Desire requires self-awareness, emotional availability, and vulnerability, which become complicated after witnessing state violence or repression.
To heal from political trauma, therapy, mindfulness meditation, and yoga are helpful. Therapy allows survivors to process their thoughts and feelings safely while learning new coping skills. Mindfulness meditation helps them focus on the present moment and manage anxiety symptoms. Yoga promotes relaxation and stress reduction, improving mood and well-being. Individuals who experience sexual dissociation should also practice touch exercises, body scans, and breathwork to reconnect with themselves physically. Couples should establish open communication about what they need in bed and work towards building mutual respect. Healing from political trauma takes time but can improve relationships in the long run.
What psychological forms of sexual dissociation arise from political trauma, and how do bodies process desire after experiencing state violence or repression?
Sexual dissociation is often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may result from witnessing or experiencing political violence. Trauma can lead to various symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, and dissociation. Sexual dissociation involves detachment from one's body during sex, feelings of numbness, and loss of pleasure in intimacy.