Monday, April 22, 2013

Brain Behind Sexual Abuse

The Brain behind sexual abuse







Sexual addiction is a psychological condition in which an individual has an inability in managing his or her sexual behavior . Some sexologists prefer to call the condition sexual dependency or sexual compulsivity . The existence of the condition is not universally accepted and its etiology, nature and validity is the subject of continuing debate. Proponents of the concept have offered varying descriptions and models of the putative condition. Some proponents offer an addiction model, which they define by analogy to substance addiction ; while others offer lack-of-control models, which refer to it as sexual compulsivity and offer definitions based on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Compulsive sexual behavior — sometimes called hypersexuality, hypersexual disorder, nymphomania or sexual addiction — is an obsession with sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors that affects your health, job, relationships or other parts of your life.

Compulsive sexual behavior may involve a normally enjoyable sexual experience that becomes an obsession. Or compulsive sexual behavior may involve fantasies or activities outside the bounds of culturally, legally or morally accepted sexual behavior.

No matter what it's called or the exact nature of the behavior, untreated compulsive sexual behavior can damage your self-esteem, relationships, career and other people. But with treatment and self-help, you can manage compulsive sexual behavior and keep your urges in check.

Sexual obsession Symptom
Symptoms : Compulsive sexual behavior may consist of generally acceptable sexual acts taken to an extreme. These behaviors become problems when they become an obsession that's disruptive or harmful to you or others.
Other compulsive sexual behaviors are outside the bounds of commonly accepted conduct. Called paraphilias, these behaviors range from compulsive cross-dressing to having sexual desires toward children (pedophilia).
Compulsive sexual behavior symptoms vary in type and severity. Some signs that you may be struggling with compulsive sexual behavior include:
  • Your sexual impulses are intense and feel as if they're beyond your control.
  • Even though you feel driven to do certain sexual behaviors, you may or may not find the activity a source of pleasure or satisfaction.
  • You use compulsive sexual behavior as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress.
  • You continue do risky sexual behaviors despite serious consequences, such as the potential for getting or giving someone else a sexually transmitted infection, the loss of important relationships, trouble at work, or legal problems.
  • You have trouble establishing and maintaining emotional closeness, even if you're married or in a committed relationship.
  • When to see a doctorGet help if you feel like you've lost control of your sexual behavior, especially if your behavior causes problems for you or for other people. Compulsive sexual behavior tends to become more intense and difficult to control over time, so get help when you first recognize there may be a problem. Efforts to use sheer willpower to resist sexual compulsions may not succeed because the urges can be so powerful.
    Here are some questions to ask yourself as you decide whether to seek professional help:
  • Can I control my sexual impulses?
  • Is my sexual behavior hurting my relationships, affecting my work or resulting in negative consequences, such as getting arrested?
  • Is sex constantly on my mind, even when I don't want to think about it?
  • Do I try to hide my sexual behavior?
  • Seek treatment right awaySeek immediate treatment if:
  • You think you may cause harm with uncontrolled sexual behavior
  • You have bipolar disorder or other problems with impulse control, and you feel like your sexual behavior is slipping out of control
  • You are suicidal

  • Sexual obsession Cause
    Causes : It's unclear what causes compulsive sexual behavior. Causes may include:
  • An imbalance of natural brain chemicals. High levels of certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine may be related to compulsive sexual behavior. These brain chemicals also help regulate your mood.
  • Sex hormone levels. Androgens are sex hormones that occur naturally in both men and women. Although androgens also have a vital role in sexual desire, it's not clear exactly how they're related to compulsive sexual behavior.
  • Conditions that affect the brain. Certain diseases or health problems may cause damage to parts of the brain that affect sexual behavior. Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington's disease and dementia have all been associated with compulsive sexual behavior. In addition, treatment of Parkinson's disease with some dopamine agonist medications may cause compulsive sexual behavior.
  • Changes in brain pathways. Compulsive sexual behavior is an addiction that over time might actually cause changes in the brain's neural circuits — the network of nerves that allows brain cells to communicate with one another. These changes may cause pleasant reactions by engaging in sexual behavior and unpleasant reactions when the behavior is stopped.
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     Sexual obsession Risk
    Risk factors : Compulsive sexual behavior can occur in both men and women, though it's more common in men. It can also affect anyone regardless of sexual preference — whether heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
    Compulsive sexual behavior often occurs in people who have:
  • Alcohol or drug abuse problems
  • Another psychological condition, such as a mood disorder, impulse control disorder or mental health problem, such as a gambling addiction
  • A history of physical or sexual abuse
  • There's a broad range of sexual activities that can be warning signs of compulsive sexual behavior. Examples include:
  • Having multiple sexual partners or extramarital affairs
  • Having sex with anonymous partners or prostitutes
  • Avoiding emotional involvement in sexual relationships
  • Using commercial phone sex conversations for gratification
  • Visiting sexually explicit Internet sites or services
  • Engaging in excessive masturbation
  • Frequently using pornographic materials
  • Engaging in masochistic or sadistic sex
  • Exhibitionism
  • Having a fixation on an unattainable sex partner
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    Sexual obsession Diagnosis
    Tests and diagnosis : Your doctor, psychiatrist or other mental health provider will do a psychological evaluation, which may involve answering a number of questions about:
  • Your physical and mental health as well as your overall emotional well-being
  • Your sexual thoughts, behaviors and compulsions
  • Your use of drugs and alcohol
  • Your family, relationships and social situation
  • Your mental health provider may also request input from family and friends.
    How compulsive sexual behavior is diagnosedThere's an ongoing debate in the psychiatric community about exactly how to define compulsive sexual behavior, because it's not always easy to determine when normal sexual behavior crosses the line into problem sexual behavior. Currently, mental health providers use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) — a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association — as a guide for diagnosing mental health problems.
    Because compulsive sexual behavior doesn't have its own diagnostic category in the DSM, it's often diagnosed as a subcategory of another mental health condition. In many cases, compulsive sexual behaviors are generally accepted sexual activities taken to an extreme. These may be diagnosed as a subcategory of another mental health condition, such as an impulse control disorder or an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
    Diagnosis of sexual behavior as a paraphiliaThere are, however, diagnostic criteria for clearly unhealthy sexual behaviors called paraphilias. Paraphilias are behaviors that are generally considered harmful or socially unacceptable or are illegal. Diagnostic categories for paraphilias include:
  • Exhibitionism, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving the exposure of your genitals to an unsuspecting stranger.
  • Fetishism, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving the use of objects of some kind, such as women's underwear.
  • Frotteurism, sexual urges or behaviors involving touching and rubbing against a nonconsenting person.
  • Pedophilia, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving sexual activity with a child or children.
  • Sexual masochism, sexually arousing fantasies, urges or behaviors involving being humiliated, beaten, bound or otherwise made to suffer.
  • Sexual sadism, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving acts in which the psychological or physical suffering, including humiliation, of the victim is sexually exciting.
  • Transvestic fetishism, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving cross-dressing in a heterosexual male. A person diagnosed with transvestic fetishism may also have gender dysphoria — discomfort with gender role or identity.
  • Voyeurism, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving the act of observing unsuspecting persons who are naked, in the process of disrobing or engaging in sexual activity.
  • Paraphilia not otherwise specified, sexually arousing fantasies that don't meet the criteria for any of the specific categories. Examples include sexual behaviors involving obscene phone calls (telephone scatologia), obsession with dead bodies (necrophilia), exclusive focus on a body part (partialism), animals (zoophilia), feces (coprophilia), enemas (klismaphilia) and urine (urophilia).
  • Whatever the nature of your compulsive sexual behavior, push past your fear, shame or embarrassment and seek a professional evaluation. Getting the right diagnosis can be a relief and can guide treatment that will get your life back on track and save you and the people you care about a lot of anguish.
     
    Sexual obsession Complication
    Complications : Compulsive sexual behavior can have numerous negative consequences that affect both you and others. You may:
  • Struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and low self-esteem
  • Develop other mental health conditions, such as depression, extreme stress and anxiety
  • Neglect or lie to your partner and family, taxing or destroying meaningful relationships
  • Accumulate financial debts purchasing pornography and sexual services
  • Contract HIV, hepatitis or another sexually transmitted infection, or pass a sexually transmitted infection to someone else
  • Engage in unhealthy substance use, such as drug or alcohol abuse
  • Be arrested for sexual offenses
  • Lose your focus or engage in sexual activity at work, risking your job
  • Face an unwanted pregnancy and its consequences

  • Test & Treatment
    Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy. Through sex therapy, you can address concerns about sexual function, sexual feelings and intimacy — either in individual therapy or in therapy with a partner. Sex therapy can be an effective resource for adults of any age, gender or sexual orientation.

    Sex therapy is usually provided by psychologists, physicians or licensed therapists who have special training in issues related to sex and relationships.

    Sex therapy is usually short term. The specific treatment plan depends on the issues to be addressed.
    ex therapy can help you resolve various sexual issues, from concerns about sexual function or feelings that affect your sex life to the way you relate to your partner. Through sex therapy, you may address:
  • Concerns about sexual desire or arousal
  • Concerns about sexual interests or sexual orientation
  • Compulsive sexual behavior
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Ejaculating too quickly (premature ejaculation)
  • Trouble reaching orgasm (anorgasmia)
  • Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
  • Intimacy issues related to a disability or chronic condition
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  • Talking about sex and intimacy can feel awkward, whether you know why you're having a sexual issue or you're baffled by the problem. Remember, though, that sex therapists are trained to understand these reservations and to help identify and explore sexual issues. Through sex therapy, you'll learn to express yourself clearly and better understand your own sexual needs, as well as your partner's sexual needs.