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.