Reader’s Question

I am a 36-year-old married man. I have a problem that I want to get rid of: I often find that unwittingly my gaze goes toward men’s pants. I think this is because I have a complex that my penis is small in size. Please suggest to me how this can be cured.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

First of all, it is important to realize that it is very common for men to be concerned about their penis not being large enough. Some research has estimated that about half of all men worry about the size of their penis, yet for most of them their fear is unfounded. Perhaps just realizing that you are not alone in your penis anxiety will be enough to help you.

If not, you may need further exploration of the problem. What affect is this penis anxiety having on you? Are you spending a great deal of time worrying about your penis size? Is this worry significantly interfering with your ability to carry out your life normally? Is it having an impact on your marriage? Some have suggested that penis anxiety may be a form of Body Dysmorphic Disorder — a psychological illness in which a person is convinced that a part (or parts) of their body is misshapen or deformed. If this penis anxiety is affecting your ability to live your life as you’d like to, then it would be a good idea to get some professional help to sort out this problem and treat it appropriately.