Sexual Anorexia: Overcoming Sexual Self-Hatred

by Joseph M. Moriarity and Patrick J. Carnes

Book Overview

A first-time examination of sexual anorexia, an extreme fear of sexual intimacy and obsessive avoidance of sex, by the acknowledged leader in the treatment of compulsive sexual behavior and recovery.

Author Dr. Patrick Carnes begins by defining sexual anorexia and demonstrating how it and its parallel disorder, sexual addiction and compulsivity, often arise from a background of childhood sexual trauma, neglect, and other forms of abuse...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568381441
• ISBN13: 9781568381442
• Release Date: May 1997
• Publisher: Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Absolultey on the mark

I have only just recently begun to read this book. But already I am absolutely shocked by how on target everything it says is. As I read the pages, I find myself wondering if the author has not been observing me and taking notes. I have always held a strong fear of sexuality, and always feel guilty when I find myself watching pretty girls or getting aroused. The author's descriptions if an interior world of denial and self doubt are precisely on the mark. I have not begun to utilize any therapeutic tips offered within, but so far I am deeply impressed.

Great book I hate

This is a great book to get out of the denial of problems with intimacy and sexuality. It is to the point and gives great help for recovery.

Finally a deeper perspective

After having tried different kinds of books and therapy which mainly is focusing on the technical aspects of sex with little success or progress, I feel that this book really goes behind the technical and offers a more complete explanation as to why some people have a difficult relationship with sex. In comparison to other books that seem to tell you that if you have difficulty with sex you must have been sexually abused as a child, this book offers a more complete analysis and makes you think of little things and details which along the way might have caused you to find sex difficult, but in an uplifting manner, saying that it is ok and that you can solve it. It also tells you that you are not the only one suffering from this fear of intimacy and that it is ok and you can do something about it. In my opinion it is a very well written book and is worth reading for a lot of people in order to get a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them, focusing on how intimacy can be difficult and providing solutions to work through it.

About the Book

Enables those suffering from this disorder to recognize that sex need not be a furtive enemy to be fought & defeated but, instead, a deeply sensual, passionate, fulfilling & spiritual experience that all human beings are innately entitled to.

Finally the other shoe has dropped!

Dr. Carnes has often implied that the co-addict plays an inportant role in identifying and treating sexual addiction. Now we see the the co-addict (and/or) sexual anorexics are very near the core of the adiction. The families dealing with the problem or the woman wondering why she is not is a relationship can see 'a reason for' and a 'way out of' tremendous emotional discomfort. Dr. Carnes, the next two books that we want to see are the; the impact on the entire family as a system and the effects of such an environment on children along with correction techniques. This book is an excellent balance to the entire sexual addiction dynamic.