Being naked and shy

I was embarrassed about my mother seeing me naked and this carried over to school showers and doctor visits (which were infrequent--we were poor and in America that limits your options, even more so back then) but I never had a choice.

I believe that this characterizes me for the most part. Undressing in large changing rooms or the locker room would make me feel a tad anxious but I did disrobe and also obeyed instructions when getting an exam. With time and maturity, it has gotten a bit easier and realizing that this isn't about someone sizing me up. Early on, especially during adolescence, it was a common concern. I always marveled at guys who stripped fast and seemed to walk through the locker room without a care. I have been more reserved but it has gotten easier.

I am less shy when taking naked photos because you have more control over those. You can just delete any that you find unflattering. Being seen naked in real life is scarier because you dont have that control. We are all our own worst critics though.

I’m a little shy about nudity. I’m very happy with my body - very fit still, in late 50s - but undressing in front of a woman - a therapist or masseuse, at a coed hot tub or sauna, or even sometimes for a doctor - I am often erect, just out of self-consciousness about my inability to stay “calm”.

I am more shy about being naked in front of others because people can be so judgemental. I have boobs, hips, thighs & ass.

I don’t mind being naked in a healthcare setting. I worked in hospitals and was a part of enough emergent situations to know that it truly is all business and professionals don’t care. Even in play, I expect a certain level of professionalism. I often make the joke “If I have something you can’t identify then we both have a problem.” However it isn‘t something I enjoy or find comfor table, except under very specific circumstances! I’m not embarrassed, just physically uncomfortable when I don’t have at least a shirt and panties on!

It’s complex as @julie13 said.

To me, nudity isn’t casual. It’s private and very intimate. Probably this comes from a background of distant, awkward parents and being an only child. No siblings to learn with or commiserate with. Doctors were to be obeyed. And I was petrified of being seen naked, especially by my peers. Even having to wear a bathing suit was terrifying for me.

So those medical appointments were intensely memorable for me. I was hyperaware of my body before, during, and after. The bodily exposure was both so embarrassing and yet exciting, only I didn’t know why, at first.

I dont think I will ever feel relaxed taking off my clothes as someone watches. Though that’s not to say it’s a bad thing!

I have always been shy about being naked at doctors. I don’t necessarily like hearing take off all your clothes time for your exam. That is why I’m on this site I want to be more comfortable with being naked in front of doctor that gives exams. Whether online or in person. I want to be examined and told what to do especially by a female. Hopefully it would help me be more comfortable with being naked and this site.

I have always been shy about being naked at doctors. I don’t necessarily like hearing take off all your clothes time for your exam. That is why I’m on this site I want to be more comfortable with being naked in front of doctor that gives exams. Whether online or in person. I want to be examined and told what to do especially by a female. Hopefully it would help me be more comfortable with being naked and this site.

@Rad1 the way I see it right now, you have 2 choices. You can learn to embrace your shyness and awkwardness and let those feelings drive you. Or if you really want to be more comfortable being nude, a good way would be to just practice being nude in front of others. Like you could go to a gym and use the locker room and showers, or go to places that have saunas and steam rooms.

One thing to know is that they are medical professionals who have seen it all, and all day long, So you're just another exposed body that will not likely be memorable to them (unless you have something particularly unique). So these people are not likely to give much, if any, thought as to what they're looking at.

Not sure if that outlook helps any

I'm extremely shy about my body and being naked/being looked at and touched while naked, especially by men. So the thought of lying on a table, fully opened for the "doctor" to see inside me freaks me out, but being made to strip naked and have a thorough exam may help a little with the embarrassment, anxiety, humiliation, and fear.

I have definitely gotten less shy over the years but it has been a struggle. Health care settings don’t bother me as much but changing rooms and being totally naked around other people is pretty nerve wracking.

Chronically 🤦🏼‍♀️

I was fascinated to read one post of a woman who was okay baring her upper half but very shy about her lower half. It’s the complete opposite for me. Because I experience auscultation as such an intimate experience, it’s much more threatening and embarrassing for me to be bare chested during an exam, particularly given the proximity of the doctor. As invasive as a pelvic exam can feel, for me it’s easier to disengage because the doctor isn’t inches from my face, and I can’t really see what’s going on. You can’t escape the closeness during heart and lung auscultation or a breast exam.

Not shy about nudity, but as far as pictures go - NO! I wouldn't want anything to come back and haunt me whether on my phone, shared with a friend, or posted on the internet. If someone is going to see me nude, it's gonna be in person. This probably was ingrained by my job which required regualr security updates and 5 year polygraphs where they were looking for anything that might be vulnerable to blackmail.

As far as a doctor or med tech seeing me nude or partially nude - no issues, no embarassment.

I was in the army south of the Mason/Dixon line. The VA hospital had an olympic sized pool we were allowed to use and my girl friend was an army brat/ colonel's daughter so we both could use it on our own merit. It was obviously not designed with both sexes in mind as it had one large changing room. A wall of sorts had been added down the middle with one side called the women's side. It had a large opening between the sides. The entry door was to the rear where a long bench went along the wall then through that opening into the "women's" side. So the females coming in had to pass through the men's side walking by the bench where men would be sitting while changing. Many of the females using the pool wouldn't bother going all the way to the "women's" side as the door to the pool was on the men's side. My girl changed with me on the men's side because she wanted to check on any "girls who might be eyeing me". she said. I think it was to see if I was eyeing any girls.

Later in life I went "skinny dipping" at a friends pool where we sat around naked having drinks in the rec room. I became comfortable being naked like that and years later in the hospital being stripped naked for her to check me over before letting me get in the bed while a whole army of females were busy getting the room ready.

You get used to it.

@HeartbeatLilly ........ one post of a woman who was okay baring her upper half but very shy about her lower half. It’s the complete opposite for me..........

Must be rather rare, wonder how many other gals feel this way.

a woman who was okay baring her upper half but very shy about her lower half.

Must be rather rare, wonder how many other gals feel this way.

That's how so many ladies went topless on so many Mediterranean beaches. So I doubt this feeling was all that rare.

@agracier the "must be rather rare" comment was most likely intended for the last bit of the quoted text, "it's the complete opposite for me".

When I was a kid, I was really shy about by body, more specifically my feet. I never went barefoot unless I absolutely had to and this lasted until I was in college. I started doing some gradual exposure up until that point, but it wasn’t until after I started practicing yoga that I began to lose the shyness. It took me a few years after that to really get to the point where I really felt comfortable with it, and now I enjoy the sensory experiences I get from going barefoot and find it very relaxing. I don’t go barefoot 100% of the time, but enough to feed my sensory needs. I guess this is what happens when you go undiagnosed with ASD and SPD for nearly 20 years and didn’t understand what you’re going through, but that’s what happened to me. After my diagnosis, I started doing more research and getting support from therapists and life coaches which helped get me to where I am now.

As for total nudity at doctor offices, I was never really completely naked except for a brief second at my last physical with my pediatrician. It was the one exam that I wasn’t offered a gown, so when it came time to lower my underwear I did feel a bit embarrassed and shy standing there in front of someone with nothing on. I was 18 or 19 at the time. This was before I was diagnosed, so still very much full of anxiety too. I transferred to a family doctor after that experience, and I lost all shyness about my body after I had a varicocele repair. I had so many exams to the point where getting undressed didn’t bother me, and now is just part of the course and am no longer that modest.

Where I draw the line? No pictures as that’s too risky, and only around people I trust. I did take a naked yoga class once over zoom and nudity was mandatory and cameras had to be on. While I was in the comfort of my own room, that made things easier but that was still the most vulnerable I felt but also felt a bit liberating too and it helped me get comfortable in my own skin.

I'm shy about nudity with my sub despite the numerous years we've been together. But I trying to relax and loosen up about it with him. Midwest winters are cold and this Miss does not like to be cold. So clothes are on.

In the summer I am outside alot and do not need the neighbors talking about their naked neighbor.

With doctors, if it is needed it happens. I think nothing if it.

Anymore, I'm not shy about being naked around males or females. I would even love to be given enemas around a crowd at a E-fest. 😜😉

Not embarrassed or shy about being nude in front of anyone, love CFNM. But definitely have times where I am super self conscious about the amount of body hair I have.

I'm pretty shy about showing my most private parts but, in the right situation with the right doctor, I become most comfortable.

My husband enjoys having me show my bottom in public places, along with bending over in a vulnerable position for the doctor to take my RT or examine my vagina. As shy as I am, I do enjoy catching passersby stare and gawk at my bare cheeks while I try to play it off that I'm exposing them innocently. Also, with the right doctor, I enjoy being timid but then looking up at him, and catching him staring at my breasts.

In fact, outside of nudity, I enjoy catching any guy in the act of gawking at my chest. When we go to the gym, I like to purposefully wear my waist trainer that lifts by breasts and then wear a v neck top that exposes some cleavage oh so innocently. Anytime I catch a guy staring, I'll tell my husband and he gets a kick out of it. He really enjoys showing me off. 😊 I'm blessed to be with someone who doesn't get jealous.

I often find exposure and embarrassment very erotic.

I often find exposure and embarrassment very erotic.

@Bithesea where did you get exposed the most?

Not shy at all now but I was as a kid....only was nude at home and family...

When I was a small child I had nearly a full day of medical tests, x-rays and a VCUG. It was the 1960s and for those tests I was naked. I was 4 years old.

I’m never shy undressing myself for medical reasons, but for those tests I was stripped naked by a nurse. Standing and being physically stripped made me feel shy.

Likewise when my trousers and underwear was opened by a doctor when I was in my 20s. In both instances I could easily undress myself.

I was very shy about nudity by the age of 10 or 11 when I hit puberty and realized almost all of the other boys were circumcised. It carried over to my physical exams with my step mother in the room because she and my female pediatrician were pro circumcision so there was often focus on my penis and exposure of my glans. I found all of it very embarrassing and was very shy until college.

I was shy as a young kid but as an adult I could care less about being covered up in the gym locker room or at a clothing optional beach or resort