Clinical pictures

Intellectual disabilities accompany those affected throughout their lives. Depending on their severity and characteristics, there are therapeutic measures that can improve their quality of life:

• Occupational therapy with regard to individual performance levels
• Sports and exercise therapy
• Physiotherapy exercises
• Social-therapeutic care, including the social environment
• Cognitive training depending on the extent of the loss of intelligence
• Supporting psychological conversations, provided that cognitive performance and communication skills are sufficient for this
• Stress tests in the current or new environment, including work tests in a workshop for disabled people
• Psychopharmacotherapy for pronounced behavioural abnormalities or accompanying mental disorders such as depressive syndromes

For people suffering from sexual dysfunction, it is particularly important to talk openly about the problem. Sexuality is still a taboo subject that is not discussed for many people. Openness can help if the dysfunction leads to problems in the partnership or if problems in the partnership are responsible for the dysfunction.

Asexuality is the total absence of sexual desire. Asexual people do not feel sexually attracted to other people; they have no need for sexuality. This is not due to physical or psychological causes. It is thought that the sexual orientation is innate. Asexuality is not considered to be a sexual dysfunction.

Depending on the cause of the sexual dysfunction, relatives and especially partners play an important role in treatment. In the case of physical illness of the affected persons, it is helpful if relatives learn about the illness and actively support those suffering. If they are directly affected by their partner’s dysfunction, understanding the difficult situation is helpful. Even if it is difficult, partners should not exert any pressure or downplay the problems. Open and honest exchange of expectations and wishes can help in some cases. In many cases, it is beneficial for the couple to seek therapeutic help together.

The main thing is to find the cause of the ongoing problem to fall asleep. The sleep disorder can be conquered over the long term with targeted measures, therapy, or lifestyle changes. Difficulty in sleeping is often exacerbated by worry about not being able to sleep and not being in best shape the next day. Affected individuals should also try to relax as best they can, even though inability to relax may be the main problem.

The following recommendations could help:

• Getting out of bed and seeking distraction with a relaxing activity
• Doing breathing exercises
• Writing down thoughts, worries and feelings to get them out of mind
• Listening to a relaxing podcast, a piece of meditation, or some relaxing noise such as the sound of the sea
• Reading something that does not provoke excitement or tension