Sexual anorexia describes a loss of
“appetite” for sexual interaction.
But it can be used more broadly to describe
a fear of intimacy to the point that the person
has severe anxiety sex sex with emotional content.
It can also be used to describe people who appear
to have a sexual addiction which is expressed
through behavior such as the compulsive use of
strip clubs, prostitutes and porn sites.
This more accurately fits the definition of sexual anorexic.
They seem to lack the ability to have a relationship of
a sexual nature beyond a paid-for or anonymous experience.
He or she doesn’t have an aversion to sex but to intimacy.
A sex addict is more capable of being in an
intimate relationship and is often married
or in a committed relationship when deciding
to get treatment for his or her addiction.
A sexual anorexic may have a social phobia
or be so fragile emotionally that the risk
of rejection or criticism is far more
frightening than being isolated.
Narcissistic traits are often seen in both sexual
anorexics and sex addicts, but in the sexual
anorexic, the traits are considered far more
“brittle” and the pain of rejection and criticism
is far more excruciating than for the sex addict.
