Addicted To Sex With Sex Addiction

Table of contents:

Addicted To Sex With Sex Addiction
Addicted To Sex With Sex Addiction

Video: Addicted To Sex With Sex Addiction

Video: Addicted To Sex With Sex Addiction
Video: What is Sex Addiction? 2024, March
Anonim

Sex addiction

Endless sex. That may sound appealing to many people at first. But behind excessive sexual activity can hide sex addiction (sexual addiction). This is characterized by a lack of control over one's own sexual behavior. Negative, sometimes serious consequences are not taken into account. With increasing addiction, the feeling of pleasure is less or less the focus. There is a tendency to be driven, followed by feelings of guilt and shame. Sex and psychotherapy help to get the problem under control…

navigation

  • Continue reading
  • more on the subject
  • Advice, downloads & tools
  • Men and women affected
  • No control over sexual desire
  • How does sex addiction come about?
  • Diagnosis of sex addiction
  • Help with sexual addiction
  • Whom can I ask?
  • How are the costs going to be covered?

Men and women affected

Men seek help more often because excessive porn use can lead to relationship problems or financial difficulties. Women are more likely to turn to professional helpers in the event of uncontrolled promiscuity. In the past, sex addiction was known as Don Juanism in men and nymphomania in women. It is often harder for women to seek help. In men, a hyperactive sex life and promiscuity are more socially tolerated. However, men are more reluctant to seek support.

No control over sexual desire

People with sex addiction don't just have a lot of sex. They have lost control of their sexual behavior. Other features include:

  • very frequently changing sexual contacts (promiscuity),
  • excessive masturbation (masturbation),
  • excessive consumption of pornography, cyber or phone sex,
  • increased visits to prostitutes,
  • no relationship building during sex as well
  • compulsive living out of sexual fantasies.

So-called paraphilic sexual disorders / paraphilias (e.g. fetishism, sexual sadism or masochism) can also be addictive.

Concealed behavior with serious consequences

Those affected increasingly lose control over their sexual behavior and the resulting, increasing negative consequences. The uncontrolled sexual behavior is mostly hidden. It can be accompanied by the creation of situations with potential harm to oneself or others as well as financial, professional and social problems (e.g. in a partnership). In addition, unprotected sexual behavior can lead to sexually transmitted diseases.

People with sex addiction feel less and less satisfaction from their sexual activity and often feel helpless or inferior due to the uncontrollability they experience. The level of suffering increases. The addiction takes up more and more space and time in your life - until it possibly comes first. Criminal behavior (for example in the sense of a sexual offense) can also be a serious development of sexual addiction.

How does sex addiction come about?

How sex addiction develops is not exactly understood. However, the following factors can play a role:

  • Disorders of the brain metabolism (especially the hormones dopamine and serotonin),
  • sexual abuse or other traumatic experiences,
  • Relationship and attachment problems,
  • Internet pornography and cybersex as possible co-triggers (high potential for addiction) as well
  • Stress from life crises.

Sexuality is perceived as a short-term relief from negative feelings and thoughts, feelings of inferiority and loneliness. Little by little, sexual behavior becomes the most common reward strategy. The behavior is increased over time and placed above all other behaviors. Other ways of dealing with stress lose their reward character in favor of sexual activity.

Diagnosis of sex addiction

The focus of the diagnosis is the collection of the medical history (anamnesis). The main focus is on the topics of sexuality as well as sexual development and relationships. There are some special psychological tests for self-assessment (e.g. Sexual Addiction Screening Test / SAST or Hypersexual Behavior Inventory / HBI). However, the test results usually have to be assessed by a specialist in terms of their clinical relevance. A single psychological test, however, does not result in a diagnosis. Tests circulating on the Internet should be questioned to determine whether they are serious, but can serve as a guide to possibly seek professional help.

In the ICD-10 diagnosis manual, different diagnoses of sex addiction are assigned depending on appearance and severity, including:

  • increased sexual desire
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • unspecified sexual dysfunction
  • unspecified abnormal habit and impulse control disorder.

Paraphilias are shown separately in ICD-10. For a diagnosis, the symptoms must last at least six months and lead to significant difficulties and distress in everyday life. In addition, physical and other psychiatric (e.g. mania, emotionally unstable personality disorder / borderline type) or neurological causes (e.g. brain damage) must be taken into account. The risk of a further psychological disorder (e.g. anxiety disorder, depression, eating disorder) or other addiction as well as pathological gambling is increased for those affected.

Help with sexual addiction

Treatment options for sex addiction include:

  • Psychotherapy (individual, group or couple or family therapy)
  • Medication (e.g. antidepressants)

In psychotherapy or sex therapy, among other things, alternative behaviors are learned. Usually, sex addiction tries to resolve a non-sexual life issue. It is therefore also about working on this respective topic.

In addition, attending self-help groups (e.g. Sex Addicts Anonymous) can prove helpful. If the uncontrolled sexual acts lead to sex crimes, preparations are also used that inhibit the sex drive.

What can i do on my own?

Admitting to the problem is the first and most important step. However, this is usually very difficult. Distorted self-perceptions and justifications make it difficult to admit the problem. Feelings of shame and guilt don't make it any easier either. Still, try to get help quickly. Professional helpers do not blame or judge. You have got used to this delicate subject.

What can partners do?

Partners should watch out for possible signs of codependence. These include:

  • Try to maintain control over your partner's sexuality
  • Sex without lust,
  • Sex as a reward,
  • Sex despite pain as well
  • Denying the other's sex addiction.

For more information and assistance, see Codependency. In any case, you should not be afraid to accept support yourself if you are suffering from the behavior of your partner.

Whom can I ask?

If you suspect you have sex addiction, you can contact the following:

  • Psychiatrist
  • Sexologist
  • clinical psychologist
  • Psychotherapist

Under Health Search you will find helpful information on the search for a doctor or therapist.

How are the costs going to be covered?

For information, see Dependency: Benefits and Costs.

Recommended: