Sex addiction. What many people initially smile about because it sounds like a joke is no longer funny as soon as you notice what experts call an increased sexual desire. What exactly is sex addiction, hypersexuality or satyriasis? You can find all the important information in this article.
What is sex addiction?
Sex addiction is a psychological disorder that is comparable to alcohol addiction or anorexia. For addicts, sex becomes a substitute satisfaction for needs that they are unable to fulfil. Symptomatic of sex addiction is that those affected need more and more sex over time. And require ever more extreme kicks for satisfaction. As a result, other aspects of life such as work, family or friends fade into the background and become less important.
This can quickly lead to isolation. The view narrows and concentration is increasingly focussed on sex. Despite ever more frequent dates, greater risks and increasingly adventurous practices, it becomes increasingly difficult to experience satisfaction. This is very similar to alcohol abuse, because you drink more and more until the focus is no longer on pleasure. But on the drinking itself because you need the alcohol. In the “worst case” scenario, sex addiction can also lead to high levels of debt. And those affected increasingly endanger themselves through unprotected sex. Homosexual men are considered to be particularly vulnerable and frequently affected.
What technical terms are there when it comes to sex addiction?
In discussions on the topic, you will mainly come across the terms sex addiction, hypersexuality and satyriasis. In addition, the phrase “increased sexual desire” is very often used to describe the topic.
The frequently used, rather neutral term hypersexuality, which is used as a synonym for sex addiction, is increasingly being rejected in specialist circles. It is a term used primarily in medicine and psychotherapy, but also appears in clinical psychology and sexology. Hypersexuality, which can have both physical and psychological causes, describes not only an increased sexual desire, but also increased sexually motivated behaviour.
The reason for the negative attitude towards the term hypersexuality is the view that although it is used to quantify sexual motivations and sexual feelings, it is actually unsuitable. This also applies to the number of partner changes. It is also not suitable as the sole basis of a social norm for individual sexual behaviour. The problem is that the terms have at least proven to be indicators of possible pathological changes in a person’s goal-oriented sexual behaviour.
Satyriasis can be found in the ICD-10-WHO version 2019, number F52.7 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). Together with nymphomania, the female counterpart to male satyriasis.
Possible effects of sex addiction
In addition to the often excessive debt already mentioned, sex addiction can also lead to depression. In addition, partnership conflicts can hardly be avoided, at least if the partner is left in ignorance. The problem is usually that the partner tends to practise run-of-the-mill sex at home. While unusual, secret desires are satisfied via the internet, affairs or commercial sex. For these reasons, it is important that you watch out for signs of addiction. And, if necessary, start therapy before your life goes completely off the rails.
From theory to practice – What you should look out for in yourself
There are various clues that could at least indicate that you are affected by sex addiction. What doesn’t work is a diagnosis based purely on the number (quantity) of your sexual contacts. The more important aspect here is quality. Three main characteristics have now been identified that can be used to recognise sex addiction or hypersexuality, so you can tell whether you have a sex addiction.
- The first characteristic is masturbation that is experienced as compulsive by those affected. It has been shown that masturbation is the largest part of sexual activity for 70 per cent of those affected.
- Another characteristic is greater promiscuity among those affected. This means that they change sex partners more and more frequently. Such behaviour can be a major stress test, especially for the partner in a committed relationship.
- One of the main characteristics is the frequent consumption of pornography. A significant increase in the consumption of pornography on the internet has been observed, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic with its many restrictions on freedom of movement.
Maybe you recognise yourself in these characteristics and think about whether you could be at risk. However, the most important thing for experts is whether and to what extent you have your urges under control or not. A combination of behavioural addiction, compulsive disorder and defective impulse control is often considered to be the cause of sex addiction.
How can sex addiction be treated?
Admittedly, medicine is still in its infancy when it comes to hypersexuality, sex addiction and satyriasis. It is still controversial whether hypersexuality is actually a mental disorder. Whether it is one or not often depends on the individual’s perceived level of suffering. If you want to find a way out of sex addiction, the old adage that the first step to recovery is always insight applies. When you are a sufferer, first realise that you have a problem and cannot solve it without help.
If you are diagnosed with hypersexuality, behavioural therapy is usually prescribed. It is intended to support sexuals in controlling and regulating their impulses. It also tries to help those affected to realise that problems cannot be solved through sex. Those often affected no longer have access to this actually very simple realisation. What behavioural therapy should not teach patients is lifelong abstinence. This does not work with other addictions such as binge-eating either, because the organism is dependent on food. However, it is certainly possible to prohibit sex, for example by allowing the exchange of affection but not sex. This is about controlled sex consumption. In this context, it is important to know that having a lot of sex is not necessarily an indication of pathological behaviour.
In essence, the treatment of sex addiction is similar to the treatment approaches of other addictions. Research is conducted into the causes, i.e. the question of how the disorder developed. In addition, we look for the deficits that the sex addiction wants to compensate for and at the same time look at which needs may be neglected. The aim of any treatment for sex addiction is to relearn how pleasurable sex works and how to incorporate it into your life in a healthy way.
Can sex addiction be prevented?
Specifically developed methods for preventing sex addiction are not known. However, it is very likely that the regular consumption of pornography (whether as audio, image or video material) increases the risk. If you realise that sexually stimulating content is coming at you from almost everywhere these days, be it social media, advertising or TV, it becomes clear how difficult it has become to avoid such content. One preventative measure would be to make it more difficult for yourself to access the internet, for example by imposing time limits on your use of the “World Wide Web”.