Everyone has a certain preference when it comes to sex. Some women like to be in costume when they do it. Others prefer toys as an accessory for love-making. Some men like being tied down and beaten. Others get easily excited at the thought of using your hands to stroke himself. Having preferences is normal. So when does a preference for something become a fetish?
A fetish is defined as being sexually fixated on a physical object, sometimes even non-sexual in nature. It also applies to sexual arousal from body parts, one of the most common of which is the foot fetish. People with a fetish need that particular thing to reach sexual satisfaction. Also on the top list are fetishes for clothing, rubber items, leather items and soft materials.
The word is of Portuguese origin. It comes from feitico, which means “charm”. Portuguese explorers refer to totems and talismans of native religious practices as a fetish or the worship of the unusual.
In the past, a fetish was considered a mental disorder. Psychological studies have even been conducted to address this issue. However today, it is more a variation of human sexuality. It only becomes an illness if the person involved suffers from the addiction.
The best way to deal with a fetish is to start by exploring it. Use your fetish to enhance your sex life or even your self-pleasuring activities. Mild fetishism is something that most people can easily live with. However, do check your state of mind often. If your fetish is getting in the way of your life – for instance, you can’t live a day without touching someone’s feet – then it may be time to seek professional help.
As long as you can keep your fetish in check and you can still balance having a normal sexual encounter with your preferences, then you should be fine. Enjoy feeding your fetish instead of hiding or suppressing it and you’ll see how much more enjoyable sex can be.