Hyposexuality and Hypersexuality Secondary to Childhood Trauma and Dissociation

Abstract

SUMMARY Childhood trauma can influence the bonding between the caretaker and the infant and thereby structure the stress response threshold. The capacity to utilize others as a form of self-soothing is determined by early attachments and also is critical to one's response to developmental stresses. The quality of early attachments strongly affects the capacity for adult intimacy. Early trauma and dissociative reactions have systematic effects on arousal, desire and pair-bonding, which are reviewed in this paper. A treatment model that addresses the early trauma and its aftereffects concerning intimacy and sexuality is discussed.