Sexual anorexia is not only afraid of having sex, recognize the symptoms

Sex is supposed to be a fun and most awaited activity. But in reality, not a few people in this world are actually willing to do all kinds of ways to avoid having sex, or even just talking about sex, they don't want to. In the medical world, this condition is known as sexual anorexia. What caused it?

Sexual anorexia is not just a fear of having sex

Hearing the word anorexia, you may immediately come across a figure who is very thin because of an eating disorder. Yes, people with anorexia are usually obsessed with avoiding various types of food for their own satisfaction.

Not much different from that. People who have sexual anorexia also have an obsession to avoid things that have sex with them. They will usually quickly close their eyes and ears when there is something sex-related around them.

For example like this. People with sexual anorexia will feel embarrassed and uncomfortable when they see pictures of underwear aliaslingerie which is very synonymous with sex or pornography. They consider this as taboo and inappropriate to talk about, even if it is only for discussion or education.

They also perceive sex as disgusting and scary, which makes them absurdly anxious. So do not be surprised if over time they become afraid of having sex with their partners. As a result, they no longer care about the beauty of love, touch, dating, and even having sex with their partner.

What caused it?

In most cases, sexual anorexia stems from past trauma related to sexual things. For example, he was a victim of sexual violence as a child. This kind of trauma can be experienced by anyone, both women and men.

According to a sex expert and author of the book Sexual Anorexia: Overcoming Sexual Self-Hatred, dr. Patrick Carnes, rejection of all things sex is a subconscious mechanism to avoid Flash back (flashback) of the trauma along with other accompanying symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and panic.

Quoted from Very Well Mind, people with sexual anorexia generally also experience addiction problems with various other things. Starting from food addiction, drug addiction, and so on.

Apart from psychological disorders, sexual anorexia can also be caused by biological factors. For example, due to hormonal imbalances in the body, use of drugs, and fatigue. People who have recently given birth are also very likely to avoid having sex due to the trauma of childbirth.

Recognize characteristics of people with sexual anorexia

If people with anorexia generally experience no appetite, then people with sexual anorexia tend to lose their sex drive. This is not only marked by the emergence of a fear of having sex, but it can also be seen physically.

Here are various other signs and symptoms of sexual anorexia, namely:

Fear of having sex with a partner.
Fear of sexually transmitted diseases.
View sex as negative, dirty, or corrupt.
Feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable when someone talks about sex.
Decrease in sexual desire, aka libido, so that over time it can trigger impotence in men.

Can sexual anorexia be overcome?

Symptoms of sexual anorexia are quite difficult to detect. The reason is, the symptoms of sexual anorexia tend to be similar to other health problems that have nothing to do with sex.

For example, a decrease in sexual desire in men and women can occur due to fatigue, drugs, or symptoms of certain diseases. Likewise with hormonal imbalances in the body. This is common when a person is stressed or exhausted, not because of sexual anorexia.

If you, your spouse, or someone closest to you has a phobia of sex-related things, you should immediately visit a sex therapist, counselor, or certified psychologist. They will see your physical and psychological condition, whether it really leads to sexual anorexia or not.

You may also be asked to do blood tests to see the hormone levels in the body. If your body's hormones are out of balance, this may be the cause of your decreased sex drive. That is why you have been reluctant and afraid to have sex.

The doctor may also give certain drugs to balance hormone levels in your body. However, if your sexual anorexia is caused by trauma, then you will be directed to undergo certain therapies to heal the trauma.