THE World Health Organization (WHO) classified the sexual addiction or compulsive sexual behavior as a mental health problem, adding to the 55,000 others they have catalogued. It is part of the “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD) of the WHO.
The organization defines sex addiction as ““a persistent pattern of inability to control intense, repetitive sexual desires or urges that results in repetitive sexual behavior.”. In short, sex becomes the center of their life for this person, which leads them to neglect themselves and their responsibilities.
The Infosalus portal interviewed Natalia Urteaga, biochemist, sexologist, evolutionist and member of the National Association of Sexology Professionals (AEPS). He said that humans have essential desires and needs, conscious and unconscious, that they seek to satisfy.
“The relief, euphoria, or pleasure felt from satisfying them creates patterns and habits in the personality. These habits can create emotional forms so powerful that they take control, thus changing the person’s behavior. When the temporary satisfaction of this need or desire leads to long-term negative consequences and, however, we cannot give it up, we could talk about dependence”, he remarks. The problem with these people is that they worry more about the act itself than the other person involved.
Addiction doctor Gabor Mate says that “seen as a response to human suffering rooted in adversity, and even in cases of trauma.” He points out that through erotic interaction, basic desires and needs can be satisfied because they can produce feelings of connection, security, power, calm, vital meaning. . which leave an imprint on the sexual subject.
In neurochemical terms, the expert emphasizes that during Erotic interaction increases the amount of dopamine in the limbic system. The sensation of well-being obtained is so pleasant that it awakens the desire to achieve it again. But when repeated frequently, the neurons become accustomed to these high levels of dopamine, secreting a greater quantity of dopamine receptors.
So the normal dopamine levels are not satisfactory and the statuses appear anxiety. This forces us to resort to increasingly intense, frequent, varied or novel encounters to obtain these high levels of dopamine.
Warning signs of sex addiction
Some of the warning signs to detect sex addiction are:
- Sex dominates the individual’s life to the exclusion of other activities and responsibilities.
- Repeated and intense sexual fantasies, impulses and behaviors that consume a lot of your time, difficult to control.
- Frequent need or impulse to engage in certain sexual behaviors and after feeling relief from tension, guilt sets in.
- Escape route from other problems such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress.
- Although they can cause serious problems such as the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted infections, losing important relationships and having problems at work, financial or legal problems, sexual behaviors continue.
- Difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy and lasting interpersonal relationships.
- Engage in phone sex, computer sex, using prostitutes, pornography, or exhibitionism.
- The person usually masturbates.
- He may have sexual partners or cheat on his partners.
- In the worst cases, they participate in criminal activities such as harassment, rape, incest or sexual abuse of minors.
Tips for Treating Sex Addiction
Some tips for treating sexual addiction are:
- Let go of any feelings of shame and think about the benefits of treatment.
- You need to remember that you are not alone since many people suffer from the same problem.
- The confidentiality that comes with speaking to a mental health specialist and the fact that these professionals can be trusted.
- Ask yourself the following questions. Can I control my sexual urges? Am I upset by my sexual behavior? Does my sexual behavior harm my interpersonal relationships, affect my work, or lead to serious problems, such as arrest? Am I trying to hide my sexual behavior?
