Non-sexual arousal?

laprie95

Hello! Idk if this is a good place to ask but I honestly don’t know where else to go. I’m just confused and would love some clarity. If this isn’t the place, I’m sorry! 

So I’m an overall healthy 23years old woman, and I’m asexual, though I have no problem getting aroused and I do like to do things alone. Meaning, I know what arousal feels like, but I have never experienced sexual arousal towards another person. And I’m 100% fine with that.

But the thing is, for the majority of my life, I’ve been getting ”non-sexually aroused” over fictional violence, like in a tv show or a movie. And it’s weird. Like, the ”symptoms” are the same as if I was sexually aroused over watching porn, with the wetness and the tingles in my stomach, but it lacks everything sexual — I don’t get the urge to masturbate or anything like that. Sexual acts don’t even cross my mind. It’s just the tingling and the wetness and the swelling. And boy, the tingles are very pleasurable; I’m almost hooked on action filled tv shows thanks to it. 

But I can’t help but wonder, why does my body do that? Is it just a bodily reaction to the mental, non-sexual pleasure I get out of seeing something I like in a non-sexual way, but if that’s the case, why doesn’t it happen with anything else? Like with seeing dogs or idk, getting good news? Is it normal for my body to react in such a pleasurable, aroused manner even when there is nothing sexual about the situation? 

(Disclaimer: I do not condone violence or abuse in any shape or form. I only feel the tingles with FICTIONAL violence, and even then, it’s gotta be on the milder end of the violence-spectrum or it just feels bad.)

Adrian_Scope

Hi @laprie95. Welcome and thank you for reaching out and sharing with us. I can't say I've come across this before, but I'm going to tag in our @PSHEexpert in case they're able to offer you any sort of information.

Richard_Scope

Hi @laprie95
I hope you are well? What you are describing and experiencing is a physical reaction to increased adrenaline and excitement. Seeing dogs or receiving good news does not create the same level of adrenaline.

throwawayaccount

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to chime in and say I experience something very similar, though for me it's mostly when I'm doing text roleplay things, with fictional characters - not the sexual kind, it's generally something i do with friends. Nor is the subject matter in those situations anything that turns me on- often it's when there's some kind of dramatic conflict, or something exciting happening.

I know it also used to happen to me when I'd read fanfiction, though I don't do that much anymore. With those, I noticed it happened most with angsty stuff- like you see in "hurt/comfort fics."

And yet, I consistently get that feeling, where my body responds as it does when aroused, but essentially without any sexual component or desire. No desire to masturbate, nothing like that. Idk if I'd describe it as pleasurable for me, either- but maybe that's just from me worrying that it's weird, that it makes me uncomfortable. But it can get to be physically uncomfortable too, where the "tingles" in my stomach are more like a twisting feeling, and uncomfortable. Maybe even an achey kind of dull painful. Sometimes I have to stop and breathe for a moment because it's a little overwhelming. Also I get wet enough that it just feels kind of gross, and that's a pain.

It's a distinct feeling from being aroused, but with similar physical responses. I wonder if this is a normal thing that just hasn't been talked about much, or what? I found this thread while trying to search for more info about it.

Francis_theythem

Oooh I just saw this thread because I'm new here and I only just saw this because of the other recent comment.  But I mainly just wanted to say that I'm asexual too! I'm just excited that there's another ace here You could also go to the AVEN forum, that would be a good place if this is still bothering you. But personally I would also agree with it being a bodily response to excitement, it's the case for me too, occasionally. Though I hate admitting that given I'm sex-repulsed ><