Sexual anorexia is a decreased appetite for sexual relations. In our sex-crazed world, people who suffer from sex anorexia can feel completely alienated and misunderstood. In this overview, we’re presenting some of the ways to cope and overcome this unpleasant condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sexual anorexia range from a lack of interest in sex to fearing and avoiding sex. Thus, different people can experience very different symptoms. Sufferers of this condition might also experience anxiety or anger then the topic of sex is mentioned. In some people, the avoidance of sex might even become obsessive behavior. And they might do everything possible in order to avoid having sex.
Causes
The causes of sexual anorexia are not quite clear. But they can be physical or emotional, and they include various different factors. Physical causes include hormone misbalance, medication (especially antidepressants), exhaustion and stress, or recent childbirth. Emotional causes include sexual trauma, unpleasant experiences from the past, communication problems, etc.
How can someone with sexual anorexia overcome the condition?
Consider Therapy
Visiting a mental health expert will help you get a clearer and more objective picture of what’s bothering you and why you feel aversion to sex. Of course, you should visit a therapist for your sexual anorexia only when you have ruled out all possible physical causes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be extremely useful in the treatment of sexual anorexia.
Find the Root Cause
In line with going to therapy, it’s going to be very hard or impossible to solve your problem without finding the original cause. Compare your symptoms to some of the most common physical and emotional causes and deduce which are the factors that could be contributing to your sexual anorexia.
It the cause is physical, such as the use of medication, you can talk to your doctor about potentially changing your therapy plan. If you’re stressed out and exhausted, try meditation, yoga or other forms of stress management. With emotional-caused sexual anorexia, you can solve the problem by visiting a licensed therapist. It’s best to find someone specialized in the condition, or someone working with trauma and phobic patients.
Focus on other areas of your life
Even though you can hear about sex everywhere you turn, life is not all about sex. You can still have a happy, fulfilling life even if you don’t enjoy sex or you avoid it. One of the main concerns sufferers says that it would be hard to find a marriage partner as someone with sexual anorexia. Well, if you sign up at GoMarry.com, you can meet someone who will want to marry you even though you’re not into sex that much.
Don’t criticize or judge yourself
Due to the standards and pressures of society, it’s very easy to feel left out and different if you dislike the idea of sex. But, remember that every person is different. Also, there are many people out there who are experiencing sexual anorexia. The more you judge yourself about your condition, the bigger a problem it will become.