REBT and sexual problems

Abstract

Sex and its close relation to love has been the inspiration for artists, poets and musicians throughout the history. As such, it has been idealized or romanticized to the extent that many people suffer for failing to attain sexual performance that is both unrealistic and arbitrary. Consequently, when falling short of the ideals portrayed by social and cultural mores, a person can often become prone to self-depreciation, and not just in matters of sexuality but also in overall personal self-assessment as a human being. Indeed, there is no other bodily function that is so frequently used to measure self-worth. With the great cultural, historical and personal importance placed on sex, many suffer from sexually related distress that is entirely unnecessary. A common result of this overemphasis of sex as a measure of personal worth, happiness, and gender fulfillment, is distorted or irrational thinking.