Sexual Anorexia: A Look at Inhibited Sexual Desire

This article is a descriptive analysis of severe inhibited sexual desire which the authors classify as sexual anorexia. The authors make comparisons between anorexia nervosa and sexual anorexia and define and illustrate what they consider to be the four most significant characteristics of this self perpetuating disorder both from intrapsychic and interpersonal levels: (1) Control—overt personal control and covert relationship power; (2) Fear—fear of losing control and fear of personal sexuality; (3) Anger—passive and active expressions of anger based on devaluation; and (4) Justifications—an elaborate system of denial, delusion and misperception.