Sexual anorexia is mental condition that can cause people to avoid sex. Sometimes this can become such an important obsession that people organize certain parts of their lives around the idea of avoiding sex. It may be caused by a wide variety of different life experiences, and some experts believe that certain kinds of upbringings can also be a cause. Treatment is possible, but it will usually be focused on the specific cause in each patient’s case, so it’s quite variable.
One of the most common causes of sexual anorexia is sexual abuse. Many people who suffer abuse find it very difficult to enjoy sex because it can bring back very bad memories for them. Some experts also believe that certain kinds of religious and cultural belief systems are responsible for cases of sexual anorexia, but many people who follow those faiths and ideologies generally dispute this view.
Sexual anorexia can be very subtle in some cases. For example, some patients may simply demonstrate a slight disinterest in sexual matters. In other cases, patients may take things much further so that they might not allow anyone to touch them. The extremity will generally vary depending on what caused each particular case and whether or not it was extremely traumatic.
This disorder can also affect the way people behave in their day-to-day lives. For someone with sexual anorexia, any personal contact might be seen as something to be avoided because it could potentially lead to sex down the road. For this reason, many sexual anorexics may find that they avoid social situations altogether, just to be safe.
Some people with sexual anorexia are able to maintain sexual relationships, but often these are somewhat unhealthy. For example, sexual anorexics are often only willing to have sex with their partners as a last resort, and they will usually put it off as long as possible. Over time, this can make the partner feel as if he or she is unwanted, which may ultimately destroy relationships. Some sexual anorexics tend to enjoy sex, but they have a great deal of dread regarding anticipation of the act.
There are treatments available for sexual anorexics, but it’s not actually an official disease according to most psychologists. It is often seen as a symptom of other emotional problems. Therapists will generally try to treat the underlying cause, which will often vary significantly with each patient. Treatment may involve everything from cognitive behavioral therapy to medications.