Discussion
The case study report highlights that; one’s aversion to sexual intimacy
can be explained by anxious thoughts. This client’s fear of being
infected with the HIV had accounted for her loss of libido. The
psychoanalytic and the cognitive behavioural theories expound this
assertion. This case concurs with findings by Bradford and Meston (2006)
who found that aversion to sexual intimacy is as a result of fear of a
specific thing and not the activity in itself. Findings from this case
also agree with results from studies by Leiblum, Seehuus and Goldmeier
(2007) and Van Minnen and Kampman (2000). Activating events lead to
negative automatic thoughts which in turn result in disturbed negative
feelings and dysfunctional behaviours. Anxiety cripples the mind from
responding positively to environmental stimuli and people may refuse
sexual activities because they may perceive it as endangering to their
health, progress or conflicting with their moral uprightness. It is
obvious, from this case report that higher level of anxiety, which leads
to stiffness of the muscles, impairs not only occupational functioning
but one’s readiness for action, including sexual activity.