One part of life that is still a little taboo to discuss is sex. It is a shame, too, because your sex life can affect your quality of life.
When many people think about sex issues, they tend to think of a lack of experiences or another disorder that prevents one from having sex. However, one disorder, which does not get enough attention, is sex addiction.
Let’s look at what it is.
What Is It?
The name of it sounds straightforward. It’s a person who can’t get enough sex, right? Well, it’s complicated. This disorder is quite controversial, with it being removed from the DSM-5. However, just because a disorder is removed doesn’t mean it won’t be discussed.
Simply put, sex addiction is when you have a need to have sex out of impulse. When you have sex, you get your fix, but the symptoms tend to come back.
Sex addiction may also not involve sexual intercourse but could involve chronic masturbation or pornography addiction. However, this is debatable.
What’s The Difference Between an Addiction and a High Sex Drive?
We should make it clear that people who have sex a lot are not necessarily sex addicts. Even the self-called nymphomaniacs who have multiple partners may not necessarily be sex addicts. So, what is the difference between someone who is an addict and someone who has a high sex drive?
Simply put, having a sex addiction is detrimental to someone, while a person who has a high sex drive can still enjoy parts of life. In order to figure out the difference a little more, it is important to look at the symptoms.
Symptoms
Sex addiction has similar symptoms to other disorders.
The main symptom is the ability to control one’s behaviors. Someone with sex addiction will have thoughts about sex that just won’t go away.
In order to have sex, the person may put themselves in danger, such as having constant unsafe sex or performing illegal activity to have sex.
In extreme cases, a sex addict may sexually assault someone to get their fix. However, there are sex addicts who will always have consensual sex, so labeling a sex addict as a potential sex offender should be avoided.
A person who has a high sex drive will feel good after sex, but a sex addict may feel guilty. In some cases, they may have to lie to others about their addiction, especially if they are committing infidelity.
Sex addiction can ruin someone’s life. It can make a person unable to progress in one’s life, and it can cause several trust issues.
What Causes It?
Sex addiction doesn’t have an exact cause. However, there are several factors that can contribute.
Genetics
Being genetically prone to having an addictive personality is one such reason that a person may have a sex addiction. This tends to apply to many other addictions as well.
Abuse
Some people who are sex addicts may have been sexually abused themselves, especially as a child. Having an addiction may be a coping mechanism.
Other Factors
Sex addiction may not be caused by something as extreme as abuse. Sometimes, being exposed to porn at a young age, or being rejected a lot may contribute to it.
Again, because this disorder is controversial in nature, its exact causes are a bit murky.
With that said, it is treatable.
Treating Sex Addiction
Sex addiction is a disorder that is discussed quite a bit, and because of that, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it.
One thing we don’t know is an official treatment. However, if you do have an addiction, there is hope.
Here’s how you can potentially treat your addiction.
Therapy
Many sex addicts find that going to therapy can help. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one such treatment that can help with many types of addictions. Your thoughts and your actions have a connection, and by changing your behaviors, it can change your thoughts, and vice versa.
In addition, a therapist helping with past trauma could help to treat sex addiction.
Medication
Some find that medication used to treat depression or other mental health issues could help with sexual addiction. Of course, medication should be taken alongside therapy.
12-Step Program
There is a Sex Addicts Anonymous, which is quite similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Like AA, addicts meet, discuss their problems, and try to take steps to improve.
Being Diagnosed
While not on the DSM, many doctors may still diagnose you with sexual addiction. Being diagnosed can help you take the first step towards treating your addiction.
In order to be diagnosed, you can do it remotely. One way for you to do so is to visit Mind Diagnostics.
Click the link below to get started.
https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/sex-addiction
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