overview
Compulsive sexual behavior is sometimes referred to as hypersexuality, hypersexuality disorder, or sex addiction. It is an over-preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that are difficult to control, distress you, or adversely affect your health, work, relationships, or other areas of your life.
Compulsive sexual behavior can involve a variety of generally enjoyable sexual experiences. Examples are masturbation, cybersex, having multiple sex partners, using pornography, or paying for sex. When these sexual behaviors become a major concern in your life, are difficult to control, and disturb or harm you or others, they can be viewed as compulsive sexual behavior.
symptoms
Some clues that you may be struggling with compulsive sexual behavior include:
You have recurring and intense sexual fantasies, food cravings, and behaviors that last a long time and feel like you are out of your control.
They feel pressured to adopt certain sexual behaviors and then feel relaxed, but also feel guilty or remorseful.
You have tried unsuccessfully to reduce or control your sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors.
The reasons
While the causes of compulsive sexual behavior are unclear, they can include:
An imbalance in the brain’s natural chemicals. Certain chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine help regulate your mood. High scores can be associated with compulsive sexual behavior.
Changes in the brain pathways. Compulsive sexual behavior can be an addiction that, over time, can cause changes in the brain’s neural circuitry, particularly in the strengthening centers of the brain. As with other addictions, more intense sexual content and stimulation is usually required over time to gain satisfaction or relief.
Risk factors
Compulsive sexual behavior can occur in both men and women, although it is more common in men. It can also affect anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Factors that can increase your risk of compulsive sexual behavior include:
Easy access to sexual content. Advances in technology and social media are making it possible to access increasingly sexual images and information.
Private life. The secrecy and confidentiality of compulsive sex activities allow these problems over time.
Complications
Compulsive sexual behavior can have many negative consequences that affect both you and others. You can:
- Combats feelings of guilt, shame, and low self-esteem
- Developing other mental health problems such as depression, suicide, severe stress, and anxiety
- Neglect or lie to your partner and family, harm or destroy meaningful relationships
- Lose your focus or engage in sexual activity or search the internet for pornography at work to risk your job
preventions
- Since the cause of compulsive sexual behavior is unknown, it is not clear how to prevent it, but there are things that can help control this type of behavior:
- Get help early on with problems with sexual behavior. Identifying and treating the early symptoms can help prevent compulsive sexual behavior from worsening over time or escalating into a downward spiral of shame, relationship problems, and harmful actions.
Seek early treatment for mental health problems. Compulsive sexual behavior can be explained by depression or anxiety.
Identify and seek help with alcohol and substance abuse problems. Substance abuse can lead to loss of control and unhappiness, which can lead to poor judgment and unhealthy sexual behavior.
Avoid risky situations. Do not endanger your health or the health of others by putting yourself in situations where you are tempted to engage in unsafe sex.