Sexual Anorexia

What is sexual anorexia?

Sexual anorexia is an obsessive state in which the physical, mental, and emotional task of avoiding sex dominates a person's life. Sexual anorexia can make a person feel powerful and defended against all hurts. Sexual anorexia often becomes a way to cope with all stress and all life difficulties.

A person who is sexual anorexic seeks ways not to combine intimacy with sex. Both men and women can suffer from sexual anorexia. Most individuals who have sexual anorexia silently battle with it. They are often too ashamed or afraid of rejection to talk to their friends and family about it.

The concept of "sexual anorexia" was first mentioned by psychologist Nathan Hare in 1975, in an unpublished dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment for a Ph.D. at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco.

Cause of sexual anorexia

In many cases, sexual anorexia is caused by an underlying social phobia or extreme shyness. Sexual anorexia may also be caused by a a devastating rejection or trauma (such as date rape) that resulted in subsequent avoidance behavior.

Characteristics of sexual anorexia?

There are several characteristics of sexual anorexia. Some common characteristics of sexual anorexia are:

• complete avoidance from any type of sexual pleasure
• limiting sexual expression to anonymous sexual encounters
• rigid or judgmental attitudes toward sexuality—their own, and others
• obsessing about sex and how to avoid it, to a point where it interferes with normal living

Can sexual anorexia be treated?

Sexual anorexia can be treated. Treatment will start with counseling to help determine the cause.