Sexual Addiction: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
- sexblogger52
- Dec 16, 2023
- 3 min read

Within every one of us is the biological urge to mate. Most people have the ability to control their sexual behaviors. Yet, in some cases, certain other people have no control over their sexual impulses and this will lead a man or woman down the path of destruction if not treated early enough. This problem is called sexual addiction or hypersexuality.
Amongst the medical community there is a strong reluctance for many doctors to even call hypersexuality an addiction. These doctors do not even have a formal diagnoses for people who struggle with sexual addiction.
The two most prevalent symptoms of sexual addiction are: persistent, intense sexual urges and hard-to-control sexual behavior.[1]
The Reasoning for this lack of desire on the doctors parts to make a formal diagnosis of hypersexuality is because many of the symptoms of sexual addiction mimic compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) which simply means that these people have very high libidos and are preoccupied with sex but they can put off sex until later dates. It does not control their lives unlike hypersexual people.[2]
More causes of sexual addiction:
One key in determining if a person is hypersexual or else suffers from CSBD is the “duration, frequency and intensity of the symptoms”[3] (mentioned below), and whether or not they affect the person’s ability to conduct their day to day activities and carry on like a decent member of society.[4]
According to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), the most common symptoms of hypersexuality are as follows:
Being focused mainly on sexual activities
leading you to leave other aspects of
your life unattended, including personal
care.
Engaging in repetitive sexual activities
and fantasies that often cannot be
stopped at will or controlled.
Experiencing little to no satis-
faction from performing some
of these sexual activities.
Experiencing significant dis-
tress and conflicts in your
life due to your sexual urges
and behaviors.[5]
These symptoms must be present in the sufferer for at least six months in order to receive a positive diagnosis (from the doctors who will actually diagnose this disorder).[6]
There are ways to overcome sexual addiction. The following will explain in detail how to do this:
HOW TO OVERCOME SEXUAL ADDICTION
First and formost the sufferer has to determine to themselves whether or not there is anything out of the ordinary with their sexual drives and activities. They at least have to think there may be a problem even if they can not actually self-diagnose. If they think they might be addicted to sex and want to stop then they must go to a qualified psycho-therapist for intensive psychological counseling.
It is very important at this point in the story that the sufferer puts aside all shame and embarrassment about this disorder. If he or she was addicted to drugs it is unlikely they would feel shame at the point where they would not seek help because doing drugs was embarrassing. Sexual addiction is no different.[7]
Other things that the sufferer can do to help themselves is join a support group and get help from their loved ones. Also, write down positive changes that were already made as well as more changes coming. Write a mission statement that says in “no way will I quit. I will stick it out until the day I die.”[8]
These are some examples that all those who are hypersexual and who wish to seek help can do to better themselves and get out of a cycle of addiction to sex. The benefits for the people who can quit are bountiful. If they set their minds to it is certainly possible to quit but it will take time and lots of failures along the way. But, in time they will succeed.
[1] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, persistent, intense sexual urges… https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 1.
[2] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, mimic compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD). https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 1.
[3] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, “duration, frequency and intensity…” https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 1.
[4] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, person’s ability to conduct day to day activities… https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 1-2.
[5] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, “being focused mainly on… engaging in repetitive sexual activities and fantasies…experiencing little to no satisfaction…experiencing significant distress and… https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 9.
[6] What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction? Orford, Stephanie, PsychCentral, These symptoms must be present… https://psychcentral.com/lib/symptoms-of-sexual-addiction#resources, Apr 5, 2021, 9.
[7] How to Overcome Sexual Addiction, Griffin, Trudi. Wiki, It is very important at this point that the… https://www.wikihow.com/Ovecome-Sexual-Addiction, Feb 15, 2022, 3.
[8] How to Overcome Sexual Addiction, Griffin, Trudi. Wiki, Other things the sufferer can do…Write a mission statement.. https://www.wikihow.com/Ovecome-Sexual-Addiction, Feb 15, 2022, 3-4.




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