Sex Addiction

Some say that sex addicts are having a lot of sex, but in reality that does not mean they are enjoying themselves or intimacy is achieved.

Sex is a type of coping mechanism for a sex addict instead of a way to connect with a love one or partner. Compulsive sexual behavior often times is called hyper-sexuality, hyper-sexual disorder, nymphomania or sexual addiction. This comes with strong sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors that affects a sex addicts health, job, relationships or other parts of your life.

As an example, not all sex addicts are visiting prostitutes or having affairs; some of the behaviors may involve

• Pornography

• Masturbation

• Sexual Behavior With Consenting Adults

• Cybersex

• Telephone Sex

• Strip Clubs

• Swinger clubs

• Voyeurism
   Voyeurism

The difference between an addiction to sex and a healthy sex drive is when the person continues to act out in spite of negative consequences.

While compulsive sexual addiction is not yet fully acknowledged as a legitimate mental health disorder in the clinical literature sexual addiction and hyper-sexual disorder nevertheless is becoming identified in the public consciousness as a legitimate neuro-psychobiological disorder.

Symptoms:
Over a period of months, a person experiences recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, sexual urges, and increase sexual behavior in association with four or more of the following five criteria: 
 

• Excessive time is consumed by sexual fantasies and urges, and by planning for and engaging in sexual behavior.

• Repetitively engaging in these sexual fantasies, urges, and behavior in response to dysphonic mood states such as anxiety, depression, boredom, and irritability.

• Repetitively engaging in sexual fantasies, urges, and behavior in response to stressful life events. 

• Repetitive but unsuccessful efforts to control or significantly reduce these sexual fantasies, urges, and behavior.

• Repetitively engaging in sexual behavior while disregarding the risk for physical or emotional harm to self or others. Untreated compulsive sexual addiction behavior can damage one’s self-esteem; relationships with love ones, career and hurt other people. But with treatment and self-help groups and support, a sex addict can manage compulsive sexual behavior and keep your urges in check.