paraphilias: Treatment & Medication

Is it just me or does the covert sensitization sound exactly like A Clockwork Orange (and anyone who's read that book knows it didn't turn out well)?

It does indeed. I hope the reality isn't quite like that though.

Here's an excerpt from a webpage on Covert sensitization. Maybe this makes the intended process clearer?

If the patient has a difficult time imagining the scene, the image may be presented verbally by the therapist. As the patient imagines getting closer to the situation (donut store), he or she is asked to clearly imagine an unpleasant consequence (such as vomiting) just before indulging in the undesirable behavior (purchasing donuts and overeating). The scene must be imagined with sufficient vividness so that a sense of physiological discomfort or high anxiety is actually experienced. Then the patient imagines leaving the situation and experiencing considerable relief. The patient learns to associate unpleasant sensations (nausea and vomiting) with the undesirable behavior, leading to decreased desire and avoidance of the situation in the future. An alternative behavior incompatible with the problem behavior may be recommended (eat fruit when hungry for a donut).

Platypus wrote::lol: It does indeed. I hope the reality isn't quite like that though.

I thought of A Clockwork Orange, too, but since you posted that quote it's a lot clearer as to what this kind of therapy is like. Not quite as brutal! Though still very intense. I would commend anyone that is able to successfully treat their condition with this kind of therapy.

In high school, we did something similar, like an experiment in psychology class, through wearing rubber bands on our wrists. If we were trying to change thoughts or behaviors, we would snap them every time the thought or behavior was performed, as to divert ourselves from those thoughts and behaviors. I never got too into it because I had no desire to make my wrists achingly raw (as I had many disruptive thoughts at the time), but I saw many peers benefit from it. People here could benefit from it too, as it's a cheap and easy way to practice this kind of therapy. Just don't injure yourself by any means, please! Just a light little snap on the wrist, to get a very mildly uncomfortable sensation, not a full-fledged, reddening lash as I saw some guys do in class to goof off.

encephalo wrote:I would commend anyone that is able to successfully treat their condition with this kind of therapy.

I agree. I imagine it would take dedication and willpower.

encephalo wrote:In high school, we did something similar, like an experiment in psychology class, through wearing rubber bands on our wrists. If we were trying to change thoughts or behaviors, we would snap them every time the thought or behavior was performed, as to divert ourselves from those thoughts and behaviors.

That's interesting, I've heard that idea suggested in other areas of the forums. I think someone was recommending it as a way to resist trichotillomania (hair-pulling.)
I'm not sure how well it'd work if your paraphilia is masochism though.

I practice and follow alternative health and medicine techniques. I use herbal remedies, vitamins, diet, meditation, and am looking into acupuncture for various complaints and overall disease prevention. I take advantage of allopathic medicine when it has the most convincing, best answer for a disease, such as infections requiring sensible doses of antibiotics (my father's life was saved by antibiotics). In my studies on the subject, I've come across an author and herbalist whose work on men's health I particularly admire and trust, Stephen Harrod Buhner. He gives a sound argument for doing nothing to inhibit a fully grown man's natural biological manhood. He cautions against the anti-androgen therapies usually recommended in conjunction with the treatment of prostate cancer, saying instead that the level of testosterone found in prostatitis patients is actually a good thing. It's the body's normal, healthy response to a threat to the body. In general, he also describes how important androgens are to the healthy functioning of an adult male body, especially the brain and the metabolism. Unless threatened with grievous bodily harm, I would never subject myself to any kind of anti-androgen therapy, nor recommend it for any grown man. I believe that behavioral scientists need to start talking to geneticists about the problem of paraphilia, try to identify the genetic engines for healthy human sexuality, and find out what's broken in those of us whose sexuality is not conducive to a healthy life for ourselves and our fellow human beings. I seriously doubt it's a preponderance of androgens. I would be willing to bet it's a much more subtle, but still identifiable, genetic process. Chances are good that we inherited the trait from pedophile ancestors. That doesn't mean we have to live this way, or to castrate ourselves. I believe there's a healthy alternative to both.

I agree with you on castration LiveOak - I believe there's a way for us to live a healthy, normal life without surgical or chemical castration or any undesirable method similar to them. I've found that treating the symptoms I have with therapy that induces the opposite effect of the symptom greatly helps with daily life. I've also found that counter cognitive distortions associated with my pedophilia have helped to reduce stress and anxiety. My biggest challenge lately has been dealing with paranoia and the sense of impending threat I carry on my shoulders when in public.

LiveOak wrote:I practice and follow alternative health and medicine techniques. I use herbal remedies, vitamins, diet, meditation, and am looking into acupuncture for various complaints and overall disease prevention. I take advantage of allopathic medicine when it has the most convincing, best answer for a disease, such as infections requiring sensible doses of antibiotics (my father's life was saved by antibiotics). In my studies on the subject, I've come across an author and herbalist whose work on men's health I particularly admire and trust, Stephen Harrod Buhner. He gives a sound argument for doing nothing to inhibit a fully grown man's natural biological manhood. He cautions against the anti-androgen therapies usually recommended in conjunction with the treatment of prostate cancer, saying instead that the level of testosterone found in prostatitis patients is actually a good thing. It's the body's normal, healthy response to a threat to the body. In general, he also describes how important androgens are to the healthy functioning of an adult male body, especially the brain and the metabolism. Unless threatened with grievous bodily harm, I would never subject myself to any kind of anti-androgen therapy, nor recommend it for any grown man. I believe that behavioral scientists need to start talking to geneticists about the problem of paraphilia, try to identify the genetic engines for healthy human sexuality, and find out what's broken in those of us whose sexuality is not conducive to a healthy life for ourselves and our fellow human beings. I seriously doubt it's a preponderance of androgens. I would be willing to bet it's a much more subtle, but still identifiable, genetic process. Chances are good that we inherited the trait from pedophile ancestors. That doesn't mean we have to live this way, or to castrate ourselves. I believe there's a healthy alternative to both.

A couple of points here:

1. No one is saying that anti-androgen therapy should be undertaken lightly. For some people, however, they can mean the difference between a lifetime in prison or freedom on the outside.

2. You appear to contradict yourself here by first saying that one's manhood should not be inhibited, but then that paraphiles may not have a healthy life and should not have to live that way. So how does the pedophile not inhibit his manhood while living a safe life?

I too was slightly confused by LiveOak's post, but I think I got a general understanding of what was intended to be communicated, even if it looks or seems contradictory on the surface. I'm sure a clear definition of "a healthy life", "inhibiting one's manhood" and "manhood" in general on LiveOak's part may help focus the points at hand. We could be talking about inhibiting one's manhood by refraining from engaging in sexual activity with the loose definition of a child, or about chemical/surgical castration and whatnot, or something else.

As a pedophile living a healthy, safe life without castration of any kind, I can comfortably say the usage of "manhood" in this scenario is possible. As far as the other, "inhibiting through refraining from freely expressing a pedophiliac sexuality and/or through engaging in sexual situations with a minor/a loose definition of a child," I'm not sure. How does one live a safe life without completely or partially hiding the fact that one is attracted to children, and possibly seeking out sexual situations with children?

I'd really like to hear some takes on what others view as "restraining one's manhood." It's an interesting phrase that is open to interpretation.

On another note, I'd like to touch on another topic regarding the treatment of paraphilia. If the world suddenly one day had access to a wonder drug that would "cure" or eliminate any given paraphilia, such as pedophilia, would you utilize that drug?

I wouldn't. I also don't see my pedophilia as an illness requiring treatment, but rather another facet of my sexuality that is not generally accepted by the world as normal. I view the anxiety, depression and other mental factors coming from being a pedophile as things that require therapy and tending to on my part, but I certainly don't see being a pedophile as having a mental illness titled "pedophilia." To me, it's pedosexuality, and I am a pedosexual. I don't know if anyone has coined that word, but it should at least be considered for the next edition of dictionaries!

EDIT: Edited for clarity.

Hi I'm new here. How would someone get this sort of specialized help? What places specialize in this therapy?

Thank you

Welcome. It always helps to talk about it and bounce ideas off of others. It is very isolating otherwise.
Entry to diagnosis first.
You should be able to discuss this desire for specialized help with your primary physician and get a referral to a person who can assess the situation, form a treatment program and then help you. Follow through and do as they say. Best of luck to you.