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.
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.
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.
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
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:
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you decide whether to seek professional help:
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.
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
Compulsive sexual behavior often occurs in people who have:
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.
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:
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
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.