If you notice intense and uncontrollable sexual fantasies and urges to engage in sexual activity, it may be a symptom of Hypersexuality Disorder. When a person cannot keep under control their sexual behavior, arousal, and desires usually result from a disorder called Hypersexuality. There are several factors that can provoke this condition including excessive masturbation, dementia, depression, and others. In this article, we will talk about Hypersexuality in detail.
Hypersexuality Disorder
This condition is also known as compulsive sexual behavior disorder, which involves excessive sexual behavior and sexual addiction. While this condition is rare, it may occur in both males and females. However, in males is more common. A person with Hypersexuality Disorder can watch porn and engage in excessive masturbation, cybersex, as well as sexual relations with many partners, according to the ICD-11.
In addition, it is important to note that high libido and Hypersexuality Disorder are different conditions. If you experience high libido, it may lead to Hypersexuality. High libido is a desire for any sexual activities and usually, these desires are uncontrollable.
Symptoms of Hypersexuality Disorder
Many symptoms may provoke Hypersexuality or sex addiction. However, the most prominent symptom is an uncontrollable desire for sexual activities. Check below some examples of symptoms:
- Intense and repetitive urges and sexual fantasies
- Feeling strong emotions such as guilt, remorse, depression, anxiety, and others
- You are unable to control or lessen sexual fantasies and thoughts
- Problems with maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner
- You cannot stop engaging in sexual activity (such as masturbation and sexual intercourse)
Additionally, a person with Hypersexuality is more likely to suffer from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) if they perform sexual activity without protection.
Causes of Hypersexuality Disorder
The following factors usually cause this condition. For example:
- Imbalance in neurotransmitters – Usually, increased or decreased levels of chemicals in the brain (such as Dopamine and Serotonin) cause this condition.
- Medical Conditions – There are many conditions that are believed to provoke this disorder. Examples include Kleine-Levin Syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, and others.
- Medicines – Certain medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease may cause Hypersexuality as an adverse effect.
Furthermore, roughly 83% of people with Hypersexuality Disorder also had compulsive gambling or addictions to alcohol and drugs.
Treatment
However, there are many treatment options for this condition but the effective treatment depends on individual symptoms, which may fluctuate among people. Hypersexuality may be treated with medicines or psychotherapy.
Medicines
Commonly, physicians prescribe any of the following drugs to treat this disorder. Examples include:
- Mood Stabilizers – Lithobid and Dapakene help to treat Bipolar Disorder, which may also be effective against Hypersexuality.
- Antidepressant Drugs – this category of medicines is used to treat anxiety and depression. However, antidepressants such as SSRIs may also help to manage this disorder, according to research.
- Naltrexone – This medication is usually used to treat alcoholism and drug addiction but according to a case study, it also may aid in the treatment of Hypersexuality Disorder.
Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are usually used in the treatment of this disorder.
