Last night I was looking through book giveaways on Goodreads and happened to spot a book about “sexual anorexia”. I’ve studied psychology and mental health issues for years, but that was a phrase I had never come across before. Now curious, I had to Google it and found the subject rather interesting.
Apparently, just as anorexics starve themselves of food, a sexual anorexic starves themselves of sexual experiences. Some do so because of strict religious or moral beliefs, but the majority do so because of fear of intimacy and trust or a history of sexual abuse. There do seem to be some who seem to have OCD issues about sex as well, and avoid it due to a belief that it is repulsive or disgusting. This last category seems especially hard hit because they tend to beat themselves up or feel degraded for even having sexual urges in the first place.
Often the sexual anorexics that are afraid of intimacy and trust might still indulge in porn, masturbation, and such, but they avoid actual sexual encounters with others. They often choose to be celibate, but some do get into relationships and then find ways to avoid actually being sexual with their partners, which obviously can lead to major issues between couples. I found it interesting that there is also a category of “sexual bulimics” which are people who might go out and sleep around a lot all at once, but then will starve themselves of sex for a long while afterward.
I know this may seem like a weird subject for a blog post, especially when I don’t have personal stories or experiences to share, but I find stuff like this fascinating. The intricacies and oddities of the human mind never fail to amaze me.
I think I know someone who may have that. To protect and not betray Trust I will Not say more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you could mention it to them and see what they think. There is therapy to help with it if it is wanted.
LikeLike
They are more likely to tell me to het lost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Might be best to not then lol. I always go with my gut feelings about things like that.
LikeLike
Yes. That person would not say it in a nasty way but I would not push it should that change. Also having not seen that person for a while I do not know their current situation and whether they have already faced and addressed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you though. ☺❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I’ve not heard of it before now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting. I’ve never heard of that before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting post.
LikeLike
I have never heard that before. I can just hear my mom saying to me, “why would you want to read that crap? it’s nasty.” 😥
LikeLiked by 1 person