Thursday, April 3, 2008
Are You Addicted Sexually
Listen up! Join me tomorrow morning on "Love, Sex, Marriage and Relationships Show" on Blog Talk Radio. I am your host Michele Hughes and I have a Co-Host, Lauren Banks-Bolden.
Join us at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lovesexrelationships or call in at (347) 324-5083.
The show time is at 10:00 a.m. at Monday-Friday, Thursday, 8:00 p.m. and Friday, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
The topic at 10:00 a.m. is "Are you Addicted Sexually," and 1:00 p.m. "Are you Addicted to Drugs."
We look forward to hearing your voice on the show!
Michele Hughes and Lauren Banks-Bolden
Join us at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lovesexrelationships or call in at (347) 324-5083.
The show time is at 10:00 a.m. at Monday-Friday, Thursday, 8:00 p.m. and Friday, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
The topic at 10:00 a.m. is "Are you Addicted Sexually," and 1:00 p.m. "Are you Addicted to Drugs."
We look forward to hearing your voice on the show!
Michele Hughes and Lauren Banks-Bolden
Compulsive Sexual Behavior
Compulsive Sexual Behavior
Introduction
Sexual expression is a natural part of a well-rounded life. But if you have an overwhelming urge for sex and are so intensely preoccupied with it that your health, job, relationships or other areas of your life are affected, you may have compulsive sexual behavior.
Compulsive sexual behavior is sometimes called hypersexuality, nymphomania or erotomania. Others call it sexual addiction — comparing the “high” of sexual activity with alcohol, drug or gambling addictions. But compulsive sexual behavior is generally considered an impulse control disorder — a disorder in which you can’t resist the temptation or drive to perform an act that’s harmful to you or someone else. In compulsive sexual behavior, a normally enjoyable behavior is taken to an extreme.
No matter what it’s called, compulsive sexual behavior is a very real problem that interferes with everyday living and can even jeopardize your health. But with treatment and self-help programs, you can learn to manage compulsive sexual behavior and develop a healthier sexual life.
Signs and Symptoms
Compulsive sexual behavior symptoms vary in type and severity. The impulses to engage in sexual behavior can be chronic and intense, and may feel as if they’re beyond your control. In general, if your sexual behavior is compulsive, you may have these behavior patterns:
Having multiple sexual partners or extramarital affairs
Having sex with anonymous partners or prostitutes
Avoiding emotional involvement in sexual relationships
Using commercial sexually explicit phone and Internet services
Engaging in excessive masturbation
Frequently using pornographic materials
Engaging in masochistic or sadistic sex
Exposing yourself in public (exhibitionism)
People with compulsive sexual behavior often use sex as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress. You may continue to engage in risky sexual behavior despite serious consequences, such as health problems, the potential for sexually transmitted diseases and the loss of important relationships.
Men and women with compulsive sexual behavior may be married or in a committed relationship and appear to live otherwise normal lives. In reality, they often have trouble establishing and maintaining emotional intimacy. They seek gratification through sexual behavior, but are unlikely to achieve emotional fulfillment and their lives may feel empty. Compulsive sexual behavior can affect anyone regardless of sexual preferences, including heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual preferences.
Causes
It’s not known what causes compulsive sexual behavior. Scientific research into sex addiction is relatively new, and researchers are still investigating possible causes, including:
Brain abnormalities. Certain diseases or conditions may cause damage to parts of the brain that affect sexual behaviors. Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and dementia all have been associated with compulsive sexual behavior. In addition, treatment of Parkinson’s disease with dopamine agonist medications may induce compulsive sexual behavior.
Natural brain chemicals. The neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other naturally occurring chemicals in the brain play an important role in sexual functioning and may be related to compulsive sexual behavior, although it’s not clear how.
Androgens. These 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 how they may be related to compulsive sexual behavior.
Changes in the brain’s circuitry. Some researchers theorize that compulsive sexual behavior is an addiction that over time can 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 physiological reactions by engaging in sexual behavior and unpleasant reactions when the behavior is stopped.
Risk Factors
Compulsive sexual behavior affects both men and women of all ages. It’s not known with certainty, though, just how many people have compulsive sexual behavior. It’s generally estimated to affect 3 percent to 6 percent of U.S. adult. More men than women are diagnosed with compulsive sexual behavior. However, women may simply be less likely to seek treatment and so are diagnosed less often.
Some experts believe that other psychological disorders may increase the risk of developing compulsive sexual behavior as an unhealthy coping mechanism. For example, if you were sexually, emotionally or physically abused as a child, you may have developed an unhealthy attitude toward sex, or feel ashamed and unworthy. Such feelings can inhibit normal sexual expression and intimacy resulting in extremes in sexual activity. Many people who engage in compulsive sexual activity report a past history of sexual or physical abuse.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Most people with compulsive sexual behavior need professional treatment. Efforts to treat yourself or use sheer willpower to resist sexual compulsions are often unsuccessful because the urges are so powerful.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you contemplate whether to seek professional help:
Can I control my sexual behavior?
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 conceal my sexual exploits?
If you’re concerned that you’re obsessed with sex, look for a mental health provider who specializes in treating sexual behavior disorders. Your family doctor may be able to give you the name of a specialist, or you can contact a nearby major medical center and ask for a referral.
Seeking help for a sexual addiction can be difficult because it’s such a deeply personal matter. Try to set aside any shame or embarrassment you may feel and focus on the benefits of getting treatment.
Screening and Diagnosis
Because there’s been little scientific research about compulsive sexual behavior, many aspects of this problem aren’t yet fully understood. Some psychiatric experts believe it’s related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, while others believe it’s related to addiction and still others to impulse control disorders.
In any case, compulsive sexual behavior isn’t yet considered an official, distinct disorder. However, it can be diagnosed as a subtype of an impulse control disorder or a sexual disorder. Some forms of compulsive sexual behavior may be considered a paraphilia — a socially unacceptable or illegal sexual act, such as fetishism or pedophilia. Conventional forms of compulsive sexual behavior, though, are simply normal sexual activities, such as masturbation, taken to an extreme.
For most mental health conditions, a diagnosis is made based on criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
There are no specific DSM criteria for compulsive sexual behavior, however. And it’s sometimes difficult to determine when normal sexual behavior crosses the line into excessive or compulsive sexual behavior.
So to help make a diagnosis, mental health providers perform a thorough psychological evaluation. They ask questions about your sexual thoughts, behaviors and compulsions as well as your overall emotional well-being. They may ask about your use of drugs and alcohol, and about your family, relationships and social situation to determine if your behavior is negatively affecting your life. Your family and friends may be asked for their input. You may also have a thorough physical exam to see if a physical condition may be causing your sexual addiction.
Reprints and permissions
© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Introduction
Sexual expression is a natural part of a well-rounded life. But if you have an overwhelming urge for sex and are so intensely preoccupied with it that your health, job, relationships or other areas of your life are affected, you may have compulsive sexual behavior.
Compulsive sexual behavior is sometimes called hypersexuality, nymphomania or erotomania. Others call it sexual addiction — comparing the “high” of sexual activity with alcohol, drug or gambling addictions. But compulsive sexual behavior is generally considered an impulse control disorder — a disorder in which you can’t resist the temptation or drive to perform an act that’s harmful to you or someone else. In compulsive sexual behavior, a normally enjoyable behavior is taken to an extreme.
No matter what it’s called, compulsive sexual behavior is a very real problem that interferes with everyday living and can even jeopardize your health. But with treatment and self-help programs, you can learn to manage compulsive sexual behavior and develop a healthier sexual life.
Signs and Symptoms
Compulsive sexual behavior symptoms vary in type and severity. The impulses to engage in sexual behavior can be chronic and intense, and may feel as if they’re beyond your control. In general, if your sexual behavior is compulsive, you may have these behavior patterns:
Having multiple sexual partners or extramarital affairs
Having sex with anonymous partners or prostitutes
Avoiding emotional involvement in sexual relationships
Using commercial sexually explicit phone and Internet services
Engaging in excessive masturbation
Frequently using pornographic materials
Engaging in masochistic or sadistic sex
Exposing yourself in public (exhibitionism)
People with compulsive sexual behavior often use sex as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress. You may continue to engage in risky sexual behavior despite serious consequences, such as health problems, the potential for sexually transmitted diseases and the loss of important relationships.
Men and women with compulsive sexual behavior may be married or in a committed relationship and appear to live otherwise normal lives. In reality, they often have trouble establishing and maintaining emotional intimacy. They seek gratification through sexual behavior, but are unlikely to achieve emotional fulfillment and their lives may feel empty. Compulsive sexual behavior can affect anyone regardless of sexual preferences, including heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual preferences.
Causes
It’s not known what causes compulsive sexual behavior. Scientific research into sex addiction is relatively new, and researchers are still investigating possible causes, including:
Brain abnormalities. Certain diseases or conditions may cause damage to parts of the brain that affect sexual behaviors. Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and dementia all have been associated with compulsive sexual behavior. In addition, treatment of Parkinson’s disease with dopamine agonist medications may induce compulsive sexual behavior.
Natural brain chemicals. The neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other naturally occurring chemicals in the brain play an important role in sexual functioning and may be related to compulsive sexual behavior, although it’s not clear how.
Androgens. These 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 how they may be related to compulsive sexual behavior.
Changes in the brain’s circuitry. Some researchers theorize that compulsive sexual behavior is an addiction that over time can 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 physiological reactions by engaging in sexual behavior and unpleasant reactions when the behavior is stopped.
Risk Factors
Compulsive sexual behavior affects both men and women of all ages. It’s not known with certainty, though, just how many people have compulsive sexual behavior. It’s generally estimated to affect 3 percent to 6 percent of U.S. adult. More men than women are diagnosed with compulsive sexual behavior. However, women may simply be less likely to seek treatment and so are diagnosed less often.
Some experts believe that other psychological disorders may increase the risk of developing compulsive sexual behavior as an unhealthy coping mechanism. For example, if you were sexually, emotionally or physically abused as a child, you may have developed an unhealthy attitude toward sex, or feel ashamed and unworthy. Such feelings can inhibit normal sexual expression and intimacy resulting in extremes in sexual activity. Many people who engage in compulsive sexual activity report a past history of sexual or physical abuse.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Most people with compulsive sexual behavior need professional treatment. Efforts to treat yourself or use sheer willpower to resist sexual compulsions are often unsuccessful because the urges are so powerful.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you contemplate whether to seek professional help:
Can I control my sexual behavior?
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 conceal my sexual exploits?
If you’re concerned that you’re obsessed with sex, look for a mental health provider who specializes in treating sexual behavior disorders. Your family doctor may be able to give you the name of a specialist, or you can contact a nearby major medical center and ask for a referral.
Seeking help for a sexual addiction can be difficult because it’s such a deeply personal matter. Try to set aside any shame or embarrassment you may feel and focus on the benefits of getting treatment.
Screening and Diagnosis
Because there’s been little scientific research about compulsive sexual behavior, many aspects of this problem aren’t yet fully understood. Some psychiatric experts believe it’s related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, while others believe it’s related to addiction and still others to impulse control disorders.
In any case, compulsive sexual behavior isn’t yet considered an official, distinct disorder. However, it can be diagnosed as a subtype of an impulse control disorder or a sexual disorder. Some forms of compulsive sexual behavior may be considered a paraphilia — a socially unacceptable or illegal sexual act, such as fetishism or pedophilia. Conventional forms of compulsive sexual behavior, though, are simply normal sexual activities, such as masturbation, taken to an extreme.
For most mental health conditions, a diagnosis is made based on criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
There are no specific DSM criteria for compulsive sexual behavior, however. And it’s sometimes difficult to determine when normal sexual behavior crosses the line into excessive or compulsive sexual behavior.
So to help make a diagnosis, mental health providers perform a thorough psychological evaluation. They ask questions about your sexual thoughts, behaviors and compulsions as well as your overall emotional well-being. They may ask about your use of drugs and alcohol, and about your family, relationships and social situation to determine if your behavior is negatively affecting your life. Your family and friends may be asked for their input. You may also have a thorough physical exam to see if a physical condition may be causing your sexual addiction.
Reprints and permissions
© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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