13 signs that you are autosexual

You may have ever wondered what the signs of being autosexual are. That curiosity or need to know yourself better in this area is promoted by an advance in our culture. Not long ago there only seemed to be space for one type of sexuality, but right now other types of identities and ways of living, feeling and bonding are normalized.

Autosexuality defines people who are attracted to themselves and who obtain greater pleasure from masturbation.. This orientation falls within a spectrum; That is to say, there will be those who are happy with their partner and there are those who opt for a rigorous and satisfactory “exclusivity”: better with myself than with anyone else. Let’s delve into this feature.

How do I know if I am autosexual?

We live in a society that imposes on us what is normative and what is not. This suggests that sexual behavior always stems from an attraction to other people different from us, facilitating our bond. Now, thinking that someone feels desire and excitement towards themselves draws attention.

There is a very interesting book titled Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex, by journalist Angela Chen, who addresses her own experience.

Many autosexuals sometimes consider that there is some physical or mental problem with them. But it’s not like that. Autosexuality is another way of living sexuality and it is more diverse than we think. So how do I know if I’m autosexual? The following are some signs.

1. You get turned on by looking at your own body

You like to look at yourself, contemplate your face, your physique and shapes in the mirror. The pleasure is such that you usually feel excited and that sensation, intense and sudden, worries you for a while. Little by little, You discover that it is more rewarding to look at your body than that of other people, no matter how attractive they are.

2. You prefer masturbation to other sexual practices

In a study published by the East China Normal University in Shanghai, it is stated that masturbation is a common practice among most people, regardless of whether they have a partner or not. In their case, autosexuals find greater pleasure in this practice and not so much in the experiences shared with others. “Self-pleasure” is the most satisfying.

3. You want yourself more

Autosexuality does not completely exclude other potential sexual partners. However, you feel more pleasure and connection in solitude, in contact with your own body and admiring yourself. It is an experience that you have always felt and that becomes more evident during adolescence.

4. You have sexual fantasies about yourself

Another sign of autosexuality is sent by the dream universe. In the material of your fantasies, the figure that always appears is yourself. Sometimes someone else may arise, but in your conscious and unconscious mind the greatest source of desire and attraction is your own person.

5. You can have partners and be happy

As we pointed out, this sexual identity falls within a spectrum and It is common for many people to have, in turn, a stable and happy sexual relationship. Desiring oneself does not exclude also desiring someone else.

In these cases, very satisfactory links are achieved, as long as there is good knowledge and communication about this characteristic.

6. For a while you thought you had a problem

Why do I feel excited when I look in the mirror? How is it possible that I fantasize about myself so many times and not about that desirable college friend? Autosexuality does not constitute any psychological disorder.

For example, in a paper published in the journal PLOS ONE they highlight that there is a clear distinction between sexual interest/arousal disorder and asexuality. They are not the same. Therefore, we should not pathologize a behavior that does nothing more than express another way of feeling sexual identity.

7. You can love other people

Desiring oneself does not exclude being able to love others. It is often assumed that this characteristic means not feeling love and emotional connection, which is not true. So remember, you have a very special gift and that is to feel attraction for yourself, while at the same time you are capable of loving others.

8. Being autosexual means enjoying time with you

Trips alone, weekends at home with no one else, sleeping alone, delighting in those moments with yourself. Autosexuality also means preferring, in many cases, to be alone rather than with other people.. This does not mean that you avoid socializing, because you also like it and enjoy it, but you opt more for those moments without company.

9. You often feel the stigma of autosexuality

Nowadays, nothing is as common as assuming that various gender identities and sexual preferences exist. However, The LGTBIQ collective still resists including the “A” in the acronym, due to the lack of understanding of self-sexuality.. They believe that it is a form of narcissism and not just another sexual identity. This often frustrates and contradicts you.

10. Autosexuality is not being narcissistic

It is important to clarify this aspect: autosexuals are not the same as narcissists. As an article in the journal Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation explains to us, a narcissist defines a very pathological personality pattern and the impact on others is immense.

They are hypersensitive, unstable people, with contingent self-esteem, aggressive, manipulative and with a high level of internal rage. The autosexual person does not cause any psychological damage to others; Feeling sexual desire for yourself does not mean that you do not appreciate, respect, or know how to take care of interpersonal relationships.

11. You are afraid of being judged

If there is something that worries you and bothers you, it is that others do not understand how you feel about sexuality.. It is true that this is part of our privacy, but while others can be very open when it comes to expressing their tastes and preferences, you have always seen a fence in that regard.

12. You are not attracted to porn

Adult content is not of interest to you, because it does not generate much sexual excitement. Little by little you discovered that looking in the mirror is more exciting than watching pornography online.

13. You often wonder if there are people like you

«Are there more people who prefer masturbation to other types of sexual practice? Is there anyone else who feels the same as me when they look in the mirror? We know, you have spent a lot of time thinking that your way of experiencing eroticism and sexuality was somewhat bizarre. Now you know that nothing happens, There are many autosexuals and it is not something exclusive to yourself.

Being autosexual: romantic life and intimate relationships

Being autosexual does not conflict with having a partner and fall in love This sexual identity shapes a wide spectrum. There are those who are incapable of loving and desiring others and there are those who manage to maintain a stable relationship.

Now, it is necessary to take into account a series of keys. The first is not be afraid to express how you feel about sexuality; The next is open communication with your potential partners, so that the intimacy of both is satisfactory. Finally, seek support from autosexual groups; This will allow you to get to know yourself better and even obtain valuable advice on sexual and emotional matters.

Today we have more information and resources to understand autosexuality. If you have questions or are dealing with a personal or interrelational challenge, contact professionals. There are psychologists specialized in the LGTBIQ community who can help you.

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