This article was co-authored by Jan & Jillian Yuhas and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Jan Yuhas and Jillian Yuhas are Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists and the Founders of Entwined Lifestyle. They specialize in helping individuals and couples work on effective communication, healthy boundaries, and lifestyle wellness. They have also been featured on media outlets such as Yahoo Lifestyle and Bustle. Jan and Jillian both hold a BA in Psychology from The University of Illinois at Chicago and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 16 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 1,058,615 times.
It’s completely normal to experience lust, or sexual desire. Your feelings might be focused on a particular person, or you might be drawn to activities like masturbating or watching pornography. But sometimes, these desires can be overwhelming or unwanted. If you just can’t shake those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, don’t worry—there are things you can do to manage them. If you’re not having much luck dealing with it on your own, your doctor or a counselor can help.
Steps
Expert Q&A
-
QuestionHow do I know if it's love or lust?Jan & Jillian YuhasJan Yuhas and Jillian Yuhas are Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists and the Founders of Entwined Lifestyle. They specialize in helping individuals and couples work on effective communication, healthy boundaries, and lifestyle wellness. They have also been featured on media outlets such as Yahoo Lifestyle and Bustle. Jan and Jillian both hold a BA in Psychology from The University of Illinois at Chicago and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology.
Relationship Coaches & Boundary SpecialistsYou have to to take a look inward. Any relationship built on just lust is a bust. If the connection has the potential to grow from the lust phase, then use your relationship values to determine if this person is a great fit or not for a long term relationship.
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
- ↑ Jan & Jillian Yuhas. Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists. Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.
- ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_get_better_at_achieving_your_goals
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
- ↑ Jan & Jillian Yuhas. Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists. Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201401/how-prevent-infidelity-and-adultery
- ↑ https://www.today.com/health/30-easy-not-cheesy-ways-fall-love-your-husband-again-t74681
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
- ↑ https://www.gotquestions.org/overcoming-lust.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7359138/
- ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/mindfulness_treat_sexual_dysfunction
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/science-choice/201502/desire-management
- ↑ https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/unwanted-intrusive-thoughts
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/symptoms-causes/syc-20360434
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/symptoms-causes/syc-20360434
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
About This Article
To overcome lust, choose a hobby to distract you whenever you have lustful thoughts, like decorative braiding or memorizing a holy text. If your lust is directed at a particular person, try hanging out with them in groups so that you have less opportunity for lustful thoughts. You should also avoid physical contact with the person, since this is likely to increase your lustful feeling. Whenever you look at them, focus on their eyes rather than any other body part which may trigger your lust. In order to control your lust for sexual or pornographic material, consider putting a filter on your computer or other electronic device to block access to such content. For tips on how to approach your spiritual adviser about your feelings of lust, read on!