Sex Addiction

What is Sex Addiction?

Although the main purpose of having sex is to ensure the continuation of the species, in the evolutionary process some species have given new meanings to sexual intercourse. The most typical example is that we humans use it for pleasure. When sexual urges get out of control, cause physical and emotional harm, and turn into an “addiction” that becomes a priority by negatively affecting life, we encounter sex addiction.

Sex addiction is a condition in which a person cannot control their sexual thoughts and behaviors. It is a problem defined as the inability to prevent the urge to have sex and to act on it indiscriminately with different people. The pleasure derived from such relationships is not real pleasure and the person is aware of this false pleasure. The purpose here is to perform that action, the person feels temporary relief at that moment, but soon sexual urges become dominant again and this continues in a vicious circle.

Nymphomania is the specific name given to hypersexuality in women. Its male counterpart is called satiriasis. People with sex addiction use sex unconsciously not for pleasure but to escape from pain, to get away from anxiety, to satisfy themselves or to get away from stress. Generally, all people with sex addiction experience intense feelings of guilt and shame, feelings of loneliness, feelings of uselessness and hopelessness, and behavior that goes against personal values and beliefs.

What are the Risk Factors Causing Sex Addiction?

%3 in men and %1 in women. Its prevalence also increases in women with internet use. In the USA, %8 in men and %3 in women; in Italy, %4.2 in men and %1.5 in women were reported to have sex addiction. It is mostly seen in the 25-50 age group. The fact that people do not disclose honestly about these issues makes it difficult to estimate the social dimension of the problem. Almost anyone from an ordinary housewife to a senior judge can be a sex addict, and it is not related to career or education. It is more common in women with good socioeconomic status and in men with poor socioeconomic status. In low socio-economic status, there are no opportunities for pleasure outside of work and therefore sexuality is perceived as exaggerated.

Only of sexual offenders and of rape offenders meet the criteria for sexual addiction.

The cause of sex addiction is not known exactly. However, many theories have been put forward about its causes. One of these theories is thought to be caused by emotional and psychological problems caused by past sexual traumas. For example, women who have been raped may sometimes engage in excessive sexual behavior as a form of self-punishment. For some women, sex may be a coping mechanism for childhood abuse or trauma. Other factors thought to be related to the causes of sex addiction include

An imbalance of natural chemicals in the brain: Sex stimulates the reward and pleasure system by increasing the secretion of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. It has been shown that an imbalance in these hormones can lead to addiction. High levels of these chemicals may be associated with sex addiction.
Some psychiatric disorders: The presence of a comorbid psychiatric illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder or another addiction (gambling, alcohol, substance...) is also a risk factor. In addition, it has been observed to be more common in those with a history of sexual and physical abuse.
Neurological problems: Rarely, sex addiction can be the result of a neurological disease such as epilepsy, head trauma or dementia. For example, sex addiction is common in Klüver-Bucy syndrome, a neurological disorder. In Klüver-Bucy syndrome, memory loss, agnosia of the eyes (inability to process sensory information) and sex addiction can be seen.
Biological dependence: A person who is biologically addicted to sex experiences intense arousal in response to photos and fantasies. In these people, the brain is constantly looking for a neurological high, releasing endorphins as the behavior occurs. However, the proportion of such people among addicts is only .
Psychological dependency: People with sex addiction were ignored in their childhood or grew up in a chaotic environment. They use sexual arousal in their fantasy worlds as a solution to the resulting damage to their moods. Studies have shown that or more people with sex addiction were abandoned as children or had a bad childhood. In these people, sexuality serves as a spiritual unification and integration. They are trying to fill the spiritual void that exists in themselves.
Sex addiction may develop as a side effect in individuals taking certain medications such as dopamine, which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Other causes such as exposure to virilizing hormonal drugs in the womb, frontotemporal lobe damage and dementia have also been identified.

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How to recognize if someone is a sex addict?

Symptoms seen in people with sex addiction; symptoms such as continuous masturbation, one-night stands, virtual relationships, one-night stands, voyeurism, being with more than one person, exhibitionism. At the same time, people with sex addiction do not seek emotional satisfaction in sex, feel intense feelings of guilt and shame, cannot stop their sexual urges and do not respect the boundaries of the opposite sex.

Hypersexual Disorder was added to the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013 and diagnostic criteria were determined. These are:

It is defined as recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors that have been going on for at least 6 months and are related to at least 4 or more of the following criteria.

1. Excessive time spent planning and practicing sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors.
2. Sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors in response to unpleasant emotional states (anxiety, depression, distress...).
3. Sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors in response to stressful events.
4. Repeated unsuccessful efforts and attempts to control or significantly reduce sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors.
5. Engaging in repetitive sexual behavior in a way that disregards the risk of physical or emotional harm to self or others.
  1. There is clinically significant personal distress and impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning associated with the frequency and intensity of these sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors.
  2. These sexual fantasies, urges and sexual behaviors are not caused by the direct psychological effects of any substance (drugs, alcohol, medication...) or manic episodes.
  3. The person is at least 18 years old.

What are the Problems Caused by Sex Addiction?

An untreated individual with sex addiction may face many problems in social life.
Constant sexual desire and intense feelings of guilt and shame following sexual acts can lead to low self-esteem.
They may face family problems and relationship problems that may lead to divorce if they are married.
He/she may have financial problems due to constant one-night stands.
They are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases due to promiscuous relationships.
They may exhibit illegal behavior because they cannot control their sexual urges.
People can become depressed because of these situations and there is a risk of suicide.

What Are the Most Common Psychological Problems Associated with Sex Addiction?

Since people with sex addiction cannot control their sexual urges, they become unstoppable and start to create problems in many areas of their lives. The sex addict spends a lot of time pursuing sexual behaviors or fantasies and feels shame, guilt and sometimes even self-disgust about their sexual acts. They may become depressed as a result. Since they cannot control their sexual urges, their anxiety levels increase and anxiety disorders may develop. Since sex addiction, like other addictions, has a similar mechanism in human physiology, when they cannot perform sexual acts, they may turn to drug use, which in turn leads to substance addiction.

How is Sex Addiction Treated at Moodist?

People with sex addiction often suffer from depression and traumatic events in childhood. At Moodist Hospital, our specialists support people with sex addiction with different psychotherapy methods. Psychotherapy facilitates the emergence of traumatic memories from childhood and then aims to eliminate them. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization) is one of the other treatment methods used in the treatment of trauma-induced sexual impulse control disorder. Medications for treatment include antidepressants, anxiolytics or antipsychotics, similar to those used in other obsessive disorders.

Information for People with a Relative with Sex Addiction

It can be difficult for people with sex addiction to seek help or seek medical attention because it is a private matter. The person may need to be encouraged by relatives to seek treatment. For this purpose, the following can be said:

First of all, the health professional should be aware of the person's intimate details and that all the information they talk about from the moment they first sit down with the specialist will be kept confidential.
The person should focus on the fact that feelings of shame are normal, but that the specialist is there to help him/her and that the treatment will benefit him/her.
The person should be told that he or she is not alone, that this is a psychological problem and that many people like him or her are receiving treatment for it.
It is important to remember that mental health professionals who assist in the treatment process are trained to act with understanding and common sense. However, not all mental health professionals are sufficiently experienced in sex addiction treatment. Therefore, it is important to make sure that a competent therapist is available.

The information on this page has been prepared by the Medical Team of Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital.