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Sexual Addiction (Compulsive Sexual Behavior) Among Women and Men
 Sexual
Addiction or compulsive sexual behavior is quite common among women and men as
it is generally not reported and medical help sought by the patient. Sexual
addiction, which is also called sexual dependency, hypersexuality, nymphomania
(females), satyriasis (males), compulsive sexual behavior and sexual
compulsivity, refers to the phenomenon in which people cannot manage their
sexual behavior.
The individual is obsessed with sexual thoughts - thoughts which interfere with
their ability to work properly, have relationships, and go about their daily
activities. Many say that sexual addiction is a form of obsessive compulsive
behavior.
A person with sexual addiction obsessed with sex, or has an abnormally intense
sex drive. Their lives are dominated with sex and the thought of sex; so much so
that other activities and interactions become seriously affected.
It is not uncommon for the patient with sexual addiction to rationalize and
justify their behavior and thought patterns. People with a sex addiction may
deny there is a problem.
Experts say there is a strong link between sexual addiction and risk-taking.
Even though the risk of danger is clear, they may take risks regardless of the
potential consequences, even if this means possible health problems (sexually
transmitted diseases), physical risks or emotional consequences.
The sex addict may initially be involved in a healthy and enjoyable sexual
situation which eventually develops into an obsession. Fantasies and sometimes
actual acts may be well outside the radar of most people's idea of what is
sexually acceptable behavior.
Treatment available for individuals with sexual addiction
The World Health Organization in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
includes "excessive sexual drive" as a diagnosis of sexual addiction. Is sexual
addiction really a disorder? - researchers from UCLA wrote in Socioaffective
Neuroscience & Psychology that "sexual addiction" may be nothing more than
strong sexual desire. The scientists measured brain responses of hypersexual
participants who had difficulties regulating their reactions to sexual images.
The team found that individual brain responses were related to sexual desire
rather than levels of hypersexuality.
Sexual impulses, not weak self-control, make men cheat - a study carried out at
the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University and published in
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that human males are more
likely to be unfaithful than females because they have stronger sexual impulses,
rather than weaker self control.
Symptoms of sexual addiction
A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is
something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may
be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.
Even though there is no current official diagnosis for sex addiction, doctors
and researchers have tried to define the disorder using criteria based on
literature on chemical dependency. Some sex addiction behaviors may include:
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 Compulsive self-stimulation (masturbation)
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Multiple affairs, this includes extra marital affairs
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Multiple one-night stands
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Multiple sexual partners
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Persistent use of pornography
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Practicing unsafe sex
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Cybersex
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Using prostitutes
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Prostitution
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Exhibitionism
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Dating through personal ads, but in an obsessive way
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Watching others in a sexual way (voyeurism)
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Sexual harassment
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Molestation
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Rape
Detachment - the sexual activity does not satisfy the individual sexually or
emotionally. Bonding with the sexual partner is lacking.
Feelings of guilt and shameFeeling of lack of control over the sexual addiction,
even though he/she is aware of the financial, health, or social consequences.
The individual may have a recurrent failure pattern to resist impulses to engage
in extreme acts of lewd sex.
Individuals find themselves often engaging in sexual behaviors for much longer
than they had intended, and to a much greater extent.
There have been several attempts to stop, reduce or control behaviors.
 The person spends a great deal of time obtaining sex, being sexual, or
recovering from a sexual experience.
The person may give up social, work-related or recreational activities because
of their sexual addiction.
Sexual rage disorder - the individual may become distressed, anxious, restless
and even violent if unable to engage in their addiction.
Causes of sexual addiction
Nobody is sure why some people become addicted to sex while others don't. As
antidepressant medication and some other psychotropic drugs have been found to
be effective in the treatment of sex addiction in a significant number of cases,
experts believe sex addiction may be linked to a biochemical abnormality or some
chemical changes in the brain.
There may be a common pathway within our brain's survival and reward systems
which dictates our behavior with food, drugs (abusing them) and sexual
interests. The pathway may reach parts of our brain which influence our
judgment, rational thought and higher thinking.
Researchers found that lesions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) - a part
of the brain - result in compulsive sexual behavior. Some studies have found
that people with sex addiction frequently come from dysfunctional families. A
person with sexual addiction is more likely to have been abused than other
people. A significant number of recovering sex addicts have reported some type
of addiction among family members.
Complications of compulsive sexual behavior
If left untreated, compulsive sexual behavior can leave the individual with
intense feelings of guilt. His/her self confidence and feeling of self-worth may
be low. Some patients may develop severe anxiety, and even depression.
Other complications may include family relationship problems and even family
break-ups, financial problems, becoming infected with sexually transmitted
infections, and unplanned pregnancies. If the individual becomes involved in
stalking, exhibitionism and/or prostitution (client or prostitute) there may be
problems with the law.
Sexual addiction Diagnosis
 People who live with sexual addiction/compulsivity may have several symptoms
similar to those present in patients with other addictions. Health care
professionals and most members of the public used to, until recently, ignore
sexual addiction as a serious and debilitating condition.
The disorder became more widely accepted as a legitimate mental condition as
more and more examples came out into the open, and the devastating consequences
became clear.
A common characteristic of sexual addiction, as in many other addictions, is the
combination of denial and demonstration of loss of control - the patient denies
he/she has a problem, but it is clear they are not in control.
Psychiatrists commonly use the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders), created by the American Psychiatric Association, to help with the
diagnosis of sexual addiction.
Some experts have noted that "Addictive sexual disorders that do not fit into
standard DSM-IV categories can best be diagnosed using an adaptation of the
DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence." (Irons and Schneider). Others define
sexual addiction as "a condition in which some form of sexual behaviour is
employed in a pattern that is characterized at least by two key features:
recurrent failure to control the behavior and continuation of the behavior
despite harmful consequences" (Lowinson and team).
Patrick Carnes, Executive Director of the Gentle Path program at Pine Grove
Behavioral Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and a leading expert on sexual
addiction in the USA, believes that most experts agree with the WHO's (World
Health Organization's) definition of addiction.
Patrick Carnes proposed the following as diagnostic criteria for sexual
addiction:
*Recurrent failure (pattern) to resist impulses to engage in extreme acts of
lewd sex.
*Frequently engaging in those behaviors to a greater extent or over a longer
period of time than intended.
*Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to stop, reduce, or control those
behaviors.
*Inordinate amount of time spent in obtaining sex, being sexual, or recovering
from sexual experience.
*Preoccupation with the behavior or preparatory activities.
*Frequently engaging in violent sexual behavior when expected to fulfill
occupational, academic, domestic, or social obligations.
*Continuation of the behavior despite knowledge of having a persistent or
recurrent social, academic, financial, psychological, or physical problem that
is caused or exacerbated by the behavior.
*Need to increase the intensity, frequency, number, or risk of behaviors to
achieve the desired effect, or diminished effect with continued behaviors at the
same level of intensity, frequency, number, or risk.
 *Giving up or limiting social, occupational, or recreational activities because
of the behavior.
*Resorting to distress, anxiety, restlessness, or violence if unable to engage
in the behavior at times relating to SRD (Sexual Rage Disorder).
*Dr. Aviel Goodman, director of the Minnesota Institute of Psychiatry in St.
Paul, USA, proposed a maladaptive pattern of behavior, leading to clinically
significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least three of the
following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:tolerance, as
defined by either of the following:
*a need for markedly increased amount or intensity of the behavior to achieve
the desired effect
*markedly diminished effect with continued involvement in the behavior at the
same level or intensity withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
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characteristic psychophysiological withdrawal syndrome of
physiologically described changes and/or psychologically described changes
upon discontinuation of the behavior the same (or a closely related)
behavior is engaged in to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
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the behavior is often engaged in over a longer period, in greater
quantity, or at a higher intensity than was intended
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there is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or
control the behavior
a great deal of time spent in activities necessary to prepare for the
behavior, to engage in the behavior, or to recover from its effects
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important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up
or reduced because of the behavior
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the behavior continues despite knowledge of having a persistent or
recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been
caused or exacerbated by the behavior
Treatment for sex addiction
There is much more help available today compared to a few years ago.
Organizations include such self-help groups as Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sexaholics
Anonymous, Sexual Compulsives Anonymous and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.
 Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) - this has a 12-step program for sex addicts. The
group was founded in 1977 by some males who sought a greater sense of anonymity
in other 12-Step sex addiction programs. SAA says it is a safe place for
heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals who wish to treat their addictive
sexual behaviors.
A growing number of SAA groups initially give an enquirer a questionnaire which
is used to determine whether a prospective member is likely to be a sex addict.
An SAA member creates his/her own definition of sexual sobriety - a personalized
list of compulsive sexual behaviors from which he/she will abstain. SAA
encourages members to respect each other's definition of sobriety.
As well as regular meetings, SAA also has boundary meetings attended by doctors,
professional caregivers, psychotherapists and clergy who need to attend meetings
separate from clients, patients, and parishioners.
Sexaholics anonymous - on its website it says it is a fellowship of people who
share their experience, strength and hope so that their common problem may be
solved, as well as helping others to recover. The organization has no dues or
fees, and survives through contributions.
Sexaholics anonymous "is not allied to any sect, denomination, politics,
organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy;
neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sexually
sober and help others to achieve sexual sobriety." Their recovery program is
based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and received permission from
that organization to use its 12-Steps and 12-Traditions in 1979.
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) - "SCA is a 12-Step fellowship, inclusive of
all sexual orientations, open to anyone with a desire to recover from sexual
compulsion. We are not group therapy, but a spiritual program that provides a
safe environment for working on problems of sexual addiction and sexual
sobriety. There are no requirements for admission to our meetings: anyone having
difficulties with sexual compulsion is welcome." It also says there are no fees
or dues and that its survival is thanks to voluntary donations. It is not allied
with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution.
UCLA recognizes sexual addiction as a mental condition. A team of researchers
from UCLA, after carrying out an extensive study, concluded that sexual
addiction really does exist and can destroy families, relationships and lives.
They published their findings in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, October 20th,
2012, issue.
Team leader, Dr. Rory Reid, a research psychologist and assistant professor of
psychiatry at the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA,
said:
"In order for hypersexual disorder to be deemed an actual mental health
disorder, an individual must experience repeated sexual fantasies, behaviors,
and urges that last upwards of 6 months, and are not due to factors, such as
medication, another medical condition, substance abuse, or manic episodes linked
to bipolar disorder."
Hope this article is able to bring awareness to its readers about sexual
addiction or compulsive sexual behavior and if they have the symptoms they may
seek medical help.
Dated 21 April 2015
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