The public’s awareness of sexual addiction has increased dramatically in recent years. This has, at least in part, been attributed to several high-profile cases of sexual addiction described by the media. But what do we know about sexual addiction?

The remainder of this article will explain what sexual addiction it is, how to recognize it, how common it is, who it affects, and what treatment options there are.

It has only been the last few months that sexual addiction has been recognized as a clinical condition. It appeared for the first time in European diagnostic manuals in June 2018, coded as “compulsive sexual behavior disorder” (6C72 in the ICD-11 published by the World Health Organization). The essential feature is an inability to control intense repetitive sexual impulses leading to repetitive sexual behavior. People with sexual addictions don’t enjoy sex more than people without sexual addictions; rather they have a compulsion to have sex which becomes out-of-control and destructive. These compulsions include searching for multiple partners, fixation on an unattainable partner, compulsive masturbation or compulsive sexuality in a relationship. Characteristic of all disorders, sexual addiction is only considered a problem if it is associated with significant distress (e.g. frequent guilt or shame) and/or causes disruption in a person’s life. People with sexual addiction may encounter family/relationship problems linked to infidelity, health (e.g., higher risk of STIs) and even financial problems (e.g., due to frequent payments to sex workers). For some sexual addicts, sexual behaviors do not intensify (people may simply engage in compulsive masturbation, make extensive use of pornography or computer sex services over a long period of time). However, for others, over time, a sexual addiction can intensify - with the addict being compelled to engage in more sexual behaviors to achieve the same results. For some sexual addicts, their impulses lead to the violation of others/illegal activities such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls or even sexual assault.

The sex addiction treatment centre in Sydney Australia, “The Cabin”, identifies 10 different categories of sexual addiction:

- Anonymous: A compulsive desire to engage in sex with strangers.

- Fantasy: Genuine sexual feelings are replaced by an obsession with a sexual fantasy.

- Intrusive: Achieving arousal through the non-consensual touching of others – particularly in cases where one uses their position of power to gain sexual access.

- Voyeuristic: An obsession with secretly watching others engage in sexual acts while masturbating – in some cases to the point of injury.

- Pain exchange: A sexual obsession with either causing, or enduring, pain or humiliation.

- Exhibitionist: Experiencing sexual pleasure from engaging in sex in public or from the unsolicited exposure of sexual body parts to others.

- Paid-for: Avoiding genuine connection by paying people for sex – thereby reducing sex to a financial transaction.

- Trading: Trading goods or services in exchange for sex; avoiding intimacy by treating sex as a commodity.

- Seductive role: Gaining a sense of power by treating sexual partners as conquests that are won through charm or manipulation.

- Exploitive: Arousal from engaging in sex against someone’s will.

But how common is sexual addiction? And who is most likely to be affected? It is estimated that in the US alone, around 30 million people live with a sexual addiction. Sexual addiction affects people from all genders, races and economic classes; although, studies so far, suggest that men are roughly twice as likely as women to develop a sexual addiction. Research has also found that sexual addiction is more common among those who become sexually active unusually early on in life and have experienced trauma.

So what can we do if we think we are affected? To date, no peer-reviewed treatment protocol for sexual addiction exists. That is not to say that that support is unavailable. Indeed a variety of treatments, applicable to general addictions and maladaptive behaviors, do exist - which can apply to sexual addiction. Forms of treatment found to useful include cognitive-behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Specialized clinics such as The Cabin can offer support for those who feel that their sexual activities have come problematic. For people who are still able to sustain work and engage in other daily activities, treatment in the community (e.g., weekly therapy sessions) may be enough for a person to gain control over their problem. In more severe cases, in-patient treatment may be necessary.

Overall, sexual addiction is a relatively common condition affecting up to 30 million people in the US alone. It affects men and women and can have a negative effect on relationships. A wide range of symptoms characterize sexual addiction. Because of this, self-diagnosis may be a dangerous path to follow. However, recognition of those signs and symptoms should act as a catalyst to discuss them further with a General Practitioner and/or specialist. Through a suitable medical practitioner’s management there are medications, outpatient and inpatient options that could be of great benefit to anyone living with a sexual addiction.

Sources

1. https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-sexual-addiction/ (Michael Herkov, Ph.D)
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction/sex (Written by Mara Tyler and reviewed by Timothy J Legg, Ph.D, CRNP)
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182473.php (Written by Christian Nordqvist and reviewed by Timothy J Legg, Ph.D, CRNP)
4. https://www.recoveryranch.com/articles/common-sex-addiction/ (How common is sex addiction)
5. https://www.thecabinsydney.com.au/sex-addiction-treatment/ (Sex addiction treatment in Sydney, The Cabin)

By John Stand BPhty. | Edited by Thomas Brown BA (Hons.) PGCert. MBPsS

© 2019 Equanimity Psychological Services

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Bio

John Stand BPhty. is an avid blogger, university educated writer who has a strong interest in sexual habits and exploration with couples and single men and women. John runs toys4sex which is a long established web business that sells sex toys online for adults.