Mental Margins: Janet Bentley Discussing Intimacy and Shame

In this deeply personal bonus segment from Episode 104 Starting The Conversation About Sexual Anorexia, we hear more from Janet Bentley, a woman navigating the silent emotional toll of sexual anorexia within her marriage. What begins as a quiet irritation toward her partner, Simon, unravels into a poignant reflection on internalized shame, intimacy avoidance, and the emotional impact on those who love us.

She courageously details her struggle to name what she was experiencing, her relief in discovering Patrick Carnes' work on the sexual addiction spectrum, and the painful vulnerability of sharing that journey with her partner.