Intimacy Anorexia®
Real and authentic emotional, spiritual and sexual intimacy is the hallmark of the ideal marriage or primary relationship. When issues of intimacy become serious areas of concern it can leave one or both partner wondering what has gone wrong and how to get the marriage back on track. For the spouse of an intimacy anorexic® there is a complete disconnect between the person their spouse is in public and the person they are with them in private. Intimacy anorexia® is the active withholding of emotional, spiritual and sexual intimacy from their partner. It is natural to have feelings of hopelessness if you are the partner of an intimacy anorexic®, but rest assured there is a path to recovery from this elusive and enigmatic addiction for the addict and the partner. Intimacy can be renewed and nurtured by following a proven methodology. Below are some potential signs that you, or someone you know, might be experiencing intimacy anorexia®.
- Withholding praise
- Blaming and criticizing the spouse for any issue or problem that might arise.
- Keeping themselves perpetually busy...too busy to spend time with your family or spouse.
- Using silence and anger as a means of punishment
- Withholding sex
- Treating the spouse as a roommate and not a romantic partner
- Withholding feelings or emotions as a means to be disconnected emotionally.
Blaming the spouse for lack of sexual intimacy rather than explore ways to reconnect sexually.
In our work we have discovered that there is a way through the healing needed in order to become open to and comfortable with all levels of intimacy, you can learn to trust people, let them in and to love, be loved and respected! It's hard work and you can do it!
