For those who experience spectrophilia, it can be a source of mystery, curiosity, and joy. (Shutterstock file)
Spectrophilia is defined as sexual arousal from mirrors and ghosts. Although it may sound like a horror movie, there is actually scientific evidence to support its validity.
Sex may be pervasive in our popular culture, but conversations about it are still associated with stigma and shame in Indian households. As a result, most individuals dealing with sexual health issues or trying to find information about sex often resort to unverified online sources or follow the unscientific advice of their friends.
To address the widespread misinformation about sex, News18.com is running a weekly sex column titled ‘Let’s Talk Sex’. Through this column, we hope to start a conversation about sex and address sexual health issues with scientific insight and nuance.
In this article, we’ll explore spectrophilia in more detail and how it differs from other forms of sexual arousal.
Have you ever heard of spectrophilia? This is an interesting topic that has been getting some attention in recent years. Spectrophilia is defined as sexual arousal from mirrors and ghosts. While this may sound like a horror movie, there is actually scientific evidence to support its validity.
What is spectrophilia?
It is a relatively unknown form of sexual stimulation that involves either mirrors, ghosts, or both. This is also known as “mirror play” or “ghost sex” outside the bedroom. Well, the word itself is made up of two Greek words – ‘specular’ meaning mirror, and ‘philia’ meaning love. As the name suggests, it is a paraphilia (a condition in which a person’s sexual arousal and satisfaction depends on fantasizing about sexual behavior and engaging in unusual and extreme sexual behavior) involving mirrors or ghosts. There are
This practice can be divided into two main categories: Sexual arousal from mirrors or ghosts – both physical and consensual contact. With mirrors, spectrophiles may look into the depths of a glass to feel aroused or even masturbate in front of a mirror for self-gratification. With spectral contact, one feels the joy of spiritual contact with the ghost.
Discovery of the phenomenon of spectrophilia
When it comes to spectrophilia, things can get a little weird. At its core, spectrophilia is a form of sexual arousal that involves mirrors or ghosts. It may sound like the plot of a tall tale or horror movie, but there are people out there who report experiencing this phenomenon.
Whether it’s real or not is a matter of debate, but the idea of having an intimate experience with these supernatural entities appeals to some people. There have been claims from both men and women to have experiences that include being touched, caressed and even kissed by an unseen entity.
For many of those who subscribe to this theory, the idea of spectrophilia is associated with astral projection. They believe that during astral projection, your consciousness can transcend space and time and be able to interact with other people in ways that defy logic and reality. These spiritual offerings can range from sexual encounters, soul mate experiences, or simply seeking messages from divine power.
Difference Between Ghost and Mirror Spectrophilia
Spectrophilia consists of one important difference between mirror spectrophilia and ghost spectrophilia: the entity involved. Mirror spectrophilia is sexual arousal from a partner or self in the reflection of a mirror, while ghost spectrophilia involves arousal from spiritual entities such as ghosts or other paranormal experiences.
While both involve arousing fantasies, mirror spectrophilia is much more accessible to most people – it involves being aroused either by one’s own reflection or that of a partner. Ghost spectrophilia, on the other hand, involves supernatural entities that you can’t necessarily see with the naked eye. There are some who believe that these supernatural entities are real, while others may find these experiences more imaginary than physical. Either way, there are common threads between both types of spectrophiliacs that include feelings of desire and sexual pleasure through fantasy or physical contact.
How to manage and treat spectrophilia
If you think you may be experiencing spectrophilia, there are ways to manage it so it doesn’t become overwhelming or dangerous. If you are someone who has experienced spectrophilia or is curious about its potential effects on your life, here are some things to consider:
- Talk Therapy: The first step is to talk to a therapist or counselor who is trained to help people with sexual problems. Talking to a professional will help you identify the cause of your spectrophilia, which can be key to unlocking and dealing with the underlying issues associated with it.
- educate yourself: It is also important to educate yourself on the subject. Reading through the situation can help you understand it better and begin to accept it as something you can live with.
- Alternative Outlets and Coping Strategies: It also helps you find alternative outlets for your urges and coping strategies to manage your urges when they arise. Exercise, meditation, mindfulness, and other forms of self-care can help you stay in control when faced with situations that trigger spectrophilia episodes.
- Talk about your experiences: Talking about your experiences with trusted friends or family members can help you process any negative feedback you receive and may even validate some of your feelings.
- Support requests: Seeking support from professionals or online communities can help individuals combat this type of stigma by allowing them to connect with others going through a similar experience.
- Practice Self-Care: Self-care is essential to dealing with stigma or discrimination of any kind and should be prioritized above all else – this can include mindfulness techniques, exercise, listening to music, connecting with nature, etc.
For those who experience spectrophilia, it can be a source of mystery, curiosity, and joy. While there is still much to be learned about this rare phenomenon, it is clear that a wide variety of causes and experiences are associated with it. For those curious about the subject, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, know that it’s still being studied, and its prevalence is unknown. Second, seek out mental health professionals if you think you may be experiencing spectrophilia and want to talk about it. Finally, remember that regardless of its cause, it’s important to only engage in safe, agreed-upon activities.
Professor (Dr) Saransh Jain is a winner of the Swasth Bharat Ratna Award and is a certified and licensed sexologist by the American Board of Sexology. He is currently Senior Consultant at Dr SK Jain’s Burlington Clinic in Lucknow. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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