Sexual anorexia is the polar opposite of sex addiction. Sufferers avoid sexual intercouse and intimacy. Just like a food anorexic, sexual anorexics associate sex and intimacy with feelings of anxiety, being hurt and fear of rejection, thus they do everything they can to control and avoid the chaos that may come with sex and intimacy. According Psychology Today, here are the signs of sexual anorexia:
- You avoid sex and intimacy at all cost;
- You associate sex with shame;
- You suffer from Body Dismorphic Disorder, where you have a distorted view of your body and find being naked with someone terrifying;
- You binge and purge sexually. This is when you can handle one night stands, but are petrified of an intimate relationship with someone;
- You are so obsessed about not catching an STD, that you take a vow of celibacy;
- You have a track record of short-term relationships, and you will find a way to sabotage any good relationship; and
- You want to have an intimate relationship, but don’t feel you deserve it
