Love shy: Difference between revisions

Love-shyness has not, to date, been recognized as a distinct [[mental disorder]] by the [[World Health Organization]] or [[American Psychiatric Association]]. But the argument is being made in the community of mainstream clinical psychology that intimacy issues are so unique and so core to one's humanity that love-shyness does constitute a legitimate area of clinical attention, as well as meriting further research.<ref name="Brian G 1989" /> Some of the psychological and social problems of the love-shy men could be considered [[autism|autistic]] because of the men's trouble in regards to peers, social interactions, and adjustment to change. Years later when asked in an email, Gilmartin felt that 40% of severely love-shy men would have [[Asperger syndrome]] or [[ADHD]]. Many psychologists believe that social phobia or a more general pattern of avoidant [[personality]] disorder or social anxiety disorder could also be indicated, although many also concede that these issues may coalesce specifically into a phobia of intimate [[relationship]]s, thereby forming a unique or semi-unique phobia with its own parameters and idiosyncrasies. Some described Love-shyness sufferers may also be blocked from intimate [[relationship]]s due to [[body dysmorphic disorder]] (a phobia that causes one to fear that one is physically unattractive).<ref name="Phillips, K. A. 1996 p141" />