Do you always have the desire to have sex now and then? Or it’s the case that your partner’s sexual demand is getting out of hand to such an extent that your relationship is gradually being affected?
If your answer to any of these question is Yes, there might be forces of hypersexuality at play in your life or that of our partner. Let’s open this up straight, it’s a sexual challenge and it’s bound to pass.
It’s just funny that a whole lot of people who’s got clothes on the go about this problem with no one to share them with – they cover their problems with their clothes.
However, this article will help to see this sexual problem. It is thorough in its analysis of hypersexuality as its definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment are well spelled out.
What’s Hypersexuality?
Hypersexuality or sexual addiction is a dysfunctional sexual behavior that is characterized by excessive sexual fantasy coupled with the obsessive pursuit of casual or non-intimate sex, compulsive masturbation, exposure to pornography, and sexual inclinations towards objectified partners for at least six months.
Hypersexuality is characterized by sexual obsessions that would linger despite personal efforts to correct the behavior; despite promises made to partners to stop exhibiting such; and despite the negative impact of sexual behavior on relationships, physical and emotional concerns.
It should be clarified that sexual addiction is a form of process addiction that takes off of one gradually. Other addictive habits such as binge eating, impulsive spending, and gambling are variants of a process addiction. What this reveals is the fact that sexual addicts of hypersexual persons spend much more time in the process of pursuit of sex and romance than in the act. Often, they become addicted to the chemical and dissociative high produced by their intense sexual fantasy life and sexual ritualistic behavior.
What can’t be seen as sexual addiction or hypersexuality
- If an individual engages in fetish ways of sexual arousal patterns, to such extent that the behavior makes them feel ashamed or secretive about their sexual life, this cannot be considered as being hypersexual.
- Homosexual or bisexual tendencies can also not be considered as being hypersexual
Usually, most people do not come clean with their sexual addiction problems. They are forced to seek medical attention when the bad storm cause wreckage to their health, finances, marriage, career, and relationships. Most men report initially seeking sexual addiction treatment to find relief and help with related negative life consequences such as pending relationship, legal or interpersonal crises, or threats of divorce or abandonment by a spouse or partner. Overt negative consequences related to sexual behavior, such as job loss and arrest, also drive individuals to seek treatment.
Although hypersexuality has not been viewed as a legitimate mental health disorder, it is fast becoming acknowledged as a neuropsychological disorder.
Causes of Hypersexuality
The following are the causes of hypersexuality:
- High levels of natural brain chemicals
Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are associated with your sexual life and help regulate your mood. When these chemicals are present at a high level, it could be associated with compulsive sexual behavior.
- Changes in brain pathways
Longings for sexual content and stimulation over time can cause changes to the brain’s neural circuit. Pleasure derived from sexual highness which is what a sex addict seeks to achieve every time can also affect brain patterns. This can further reinforce sexual addictive tendencies.
- Health conditions that affect the brain
Chronic health issues such as dementia and epilepsy may cause damage to parts of the brain that affect sexual behavior. Also, treatment of Parkinson’s disease with some dopamine agonist medications may cause compulsive sexual behavior.
Symptoms of hypersexuality
Some of the symptoms of hypersexuality include:
- Intense and recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, and sexual behavior that you find difficult to control
- Feeling of compulsion to act in specific sexual ways
- Failure to stop despite several attempts to do so
- Finding it difficult to maintain healthy and stable relationships
- Engagement in sexual escapades that pose serious consequences for spreading STIs.
You should seek medical help once you notice that you are always compelled to act in specific ways towards achieving sexual goals.
Tips on how to go about treating hypersexuality
- You have to set every form of shame aside and confide in your doctor.
- You are not the only one battling with the problem, so, don’t be reluctant to share your problem with those who can assist you.
- Remember that doctors are bound by oaths of secrecy never to disclose your condition to another person.
