A person with sex addiction may have a compulsive need to be sexually stimulated. This desire often interferes with their ability to live their daily life. Sexual addictions can come in many different forms, including addiction to: 

• Sexual acts
• Prostitution
• Watching or consuming pornography
• Masturbation or sexual fantasy 
• Exhibition or voyeurism

Sex addicts may alter their activities to perform sexual acts persistently, unable to control their behavior despite any consequences. This compulsive sexual behavior can have serious personal consequences. Like drug or alcohol addiction, sex addiction can impact physical health, mental health, personal relationships, and quality of life. 

Signs of a Sex Addict

Sexual addiction can manifest itself in many different ways, both physical and emotional. It takes a healthcare professional to make a clear diagnosis, but here are some signs that can point to potential sex addiction:

A. Obsessive Sexual Thoughts 

Someone dealing with sex addiction may find themselves thinking persistently about sex. These chronic thoughts of sex or sexual fantasies may become obsessive or interfere with other responsibilities. 

B. Spending Excessive Time on Sex

While seeking out sexual partners isn’t necessarily a sign of sexual addiction, if someone is spending excessive amounts of time and energy on sex, it might be a red flag. This can include spending time attempting to acquire sex, having sex, being sexual, or recovering from sexual experiences.

C. Feeling Shame or Depression 

If a need for sex crosses over into an addiction, someone’s sexual feelings might also be interspersed with feelings of anxiety, shame, depression, or regret. The individual may feel shame about their sexual urges and their difficulty controlling those urges. 

D. Masturbating Excessively 

While masturbation can be a healthy way to explore sexuality and express sexual drive, excessive masturbation can be a sign of sexual addiction. This might look like compulsive masturbation, masturbation during inappropriate times, or even masturbation to the point of causing physical discomfort or pain. 

E. Engaging in Risky or Inappropriate Behaviors 

In some cases, sexual addiction can lead to inappropriate and/or risky sexual behaviors. This can include exhibitionism, public sex, sex without protection, and sex with prostitutes.  In some cases, this can lead someone to develop sexually transmitted diseases. Studies have shown that those who identify as sexually compulsive are more likely to develop sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. 

F. Excluding Other Activities

A sex addict may fixate on sex to the point where they have difficulty engaging in their other activities. They may fall behind on responsibilities in school, work, or their personal lives or become socially withdrawn. They may also prioritize sexual behavior over other forms of relaxation or hobbies. Relationships with friends, families, and partners may suffer because of this. 

G. Cheating on Partners 

Someone with sexual addiction may feel compelled to seek out sex with new partners, even if this means cheating on a partner or having an extramarital affair. They may seek out one-night stands on a regular basis or even cheat multiple times with different partners. 

H. Committing Criminal Sex Offenses 

In some extreme cases, people may engage in criminal activities like stalking, rape, or child molestation. While some sexual offenders may also be sex addicts, there is no evidence that sexual addiction can lead someone to commit sexual offenses. 

WHAT CAUSES SEX ADDICTION?

There is no one trait known to cause sex addiction. However, research does point to several contributing factors.

A. Mood

Sexual compulsions may be a way to cope with emotional pain or stress. The most common triggers were Sadness and depression (67%), Happiness (54%), Loneliness (46%).

B. Brain Chemistry

Research suggests people with sex addiction may have neurochemical differences in their brain’s reward center. Chemicals released during sex, such as dopamine and oxytocin, may create a "high" similar to that obtained from the use of drugs or alcohol. A person may develop an addiction to this pleasure, requiring more sex to get the same feeling. 

C. Hormones

Androgen is a sex hormone that affects libido. When the body makes too much androgen, it may increase a person’s risk of sex addiction.

D.History of abuse

A large majority of people with sex addiction report a history of abuse. 72% report physical abuse, 81% report sexual abuse, 97% report emotional abuse. In many cases, sex addiction is caused by multiple factors working in tandem.

SEXUAL ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH

Most cases of sex addiction occur alongside other mental health issues. The most common comorbidities include depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance abuse, gambling addiction, compulsive shopping. Additional mental health issues can make sex addiction more severe. In some cases, a person may be using sexual activities to cope with emotional distress or past trauma. Thus, therapy for sex addiction will often treat all of a person’s diagnoses, not just sexual compulsion.

Tips To Help You Overcome Sex Addiction

Get rid of your triggers

If you continuously surround yourself with items that remind you about sex, it may be impossible to make progress in your treatment for sex addiction. Dispose or recycle your porn magazines, videos, pictures, and everything that may pose a temptation to you.

Replace sexual behaviors with healthy energy outlets

Next on tips for sex addiction treatment – pick up a new hobby. When you stop carrying out addictive sexual activities, you may find yourself with excess energy. It may help if you tried healthy activities such as exercise or other recreation. If one activity is not stimulating enough, you can combine several or otherwise find another activity. Aside from acting as an energy outlet for you, these hobbies can also be a distraction for you.

Get a support system

Your close friends and family can be of massive help to you when you finally decide to seek help on how to overcome sex addiction. As you pull away from your addictive behaviors, you should move closer to your loved ones.  Your partner, best friend, and family members can support you when the going gets tough. More importantly, investing in the people around you will reduce the need to use sex as an escape mechanism.

Join a support group

Support groups are a critical part of the sex addiction treatment and recovery process. This is because they offer a platform to meet with people who have either gone through sex addiction or are experiencing it themselves.

Seek professional help

Finally, there is no substitute for the treatment you can get from an expert in sex addiction. Encouraging you to seek advice from a sex addiction specialist is probably one of the most vital tips for sex addiction treatment.

Written by Dr.Deyn on 10 June 2021

Where can I get help if I am worry about sex addition?

Thailand
PULSE Clinic Silom Bangkok info.silom@pulse-clinic.com
PULSE Clinic Nana Bangkok info.nana@pulse-clinic.com  
PULSE Clinic Patong Beach, Phuket info.phuket@pulse-clinic.com 
PULSE Clinic Sukhumvit 37, Bangkok
PULSE Clinic Airport Link Phayathai, Bangkok 
EU Clinic – Executive Health Asoke, Bangkok 
EU Clinic – Executive Health Ploenchit, Bangkok (Coming soon)

 Malaysia
PULSE Clinic Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur info.kl@pulse-clinic.com  +601165388678
PULSE Clinic Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur info.kl@pulse-clinic.com +601165388678

 Hong Kong
PULSE Clinic Central, Hong Kong info.hk@pulse-clinic.com

 Singapore
Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic, Blk 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza