How Is Sex Addiction Treated?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Sex Addiction?Signs of Sex AddictionCauses of Sex AddictionTreatment for Sex AddictionCoping With Sex Addiction

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Sex Addiction?

Signs of Sex Addiction

Causes of Sex Addiction

Treatment for Sex Addiction

Coping With Sex Addiction

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Sex addiction(aka hypersexual disorder)is a condition that causes a person living with it to become excessively preoccupied with sexual thoughts and behaviors. In some instances, they might become so preoccupied that the condition disrupts their daily functioning.

They’ll also continue to engage in sexual activities regardless of any negative consequences they might cause.Sex addiction is sometimes referred to ascompulsive sexual behavior.

It’s important not to mistake a high libido for sex addiction. In most cases,sex addiction will disrupt a person’s day-to-day lifeand potentially affect personal relationships. A person with this condition will expend an extreme amount of time and means fulfilling their sexual urges. Sexual behaviors they might exhibit include:

Many people living with sex addiction operate under the false belief that they can manage their symptoms. However, without adequate treatment, the condition will not simply go away. This article looks into some of the mostcommon signs of sex addictionand how the disorder is treated.

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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which defines and categorizes mental health conditions, doesn’t list sex addiction as a mental condition. As a result,signs and symptoms of sex addictioncould be challenging to highlight.

Some of the most common indicators that you might have sex addiction include:

A combination of biological and physiological factors could cause a person to develop sex addiction. However, there is no single cause for it. Some research points at a chemical imbalance in the brain being the cause of sex addiction. But, there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that this could be a definite cause.

Certain medications like those used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease have been linked to the development of compulsive sexual behaviors.

An extensive look into your medical history will be done to make a definite diagnosis and ensure that you are not exhibiting symptoms of another disorder. Treatment for sex addiction first involves identifying the underlying cause or trigger for your compulsive sexual urges and behaviors.

The most common course of treatment for mental health conditions like sex addiction involvespsychotherapyand medication.While psychotherapy is typically the first line of treatment used for sex addiction, certain medication might be prescribed alongside therapy, depending on the form and severity of symptoms a person with this condition exhibits.

Depending on the severity of a person’s condition, treatment could either be done out of the comfort of your home or in a treatment center that’s specialized in treating addictions. Treatment centers have the advantage of helping you focus solely on recovery.

How Sex Addiction Therapy Works

Psychotherapy

There are many forms of psychotherapy used in the treatment of mental health conditions. For sex addiction specifically, the following are typically used:

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Medication

There’s currently no medication developed for the treatment of sex addiction. Certain drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been prescribed off-label to help a person living with this condition cope with the more disruptive symptoms of the disorder.

Medications that might be prescribed to help treat some symptoms of sex addiction include:

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Treatment Programs

While in a treatment program, both medication and psychotherapy will typically be employed to treat sex addiction. Treatment programs could be done in either an inpatient or outpatient facility.

While an outpatient facility gives you more freedom to dictate the pace of your treatment, inpatient facilities are highly recommended. Opting for an inpatient treatment center also gives you the opportunity to get the treatment you need in an environment that will be mostly free of triggers.

An inpatient treatment center also allows you to meet and listen to other people who understand the struggle you are going through.

In picking a treatment facility, it’s crucial to choose one that not only specializes in treating addictions but focuses on treating sex addiction specifically.

The first step to coping with sex addiction is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. Because sex addiction isn’t a recognized mental health condition, it can be difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms can also seem less apparent than other mental health conditions. If any of the signs of the condition listed above resonate with you or someone you know, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional and get a definite diagnosis.

Other things that could help you cope with this condition include:

A Word From Verywell

People with sex addiction often experience an immense amount of shame and embarrassment. They also sometimes falsely believe that keeping their symptoms to themselves will help them get rid of the condition. However, sex addiction can impact your physical and mental health, so it’s important to seek help from a certified healthcare professional.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Karila L, Wéry A, Weinstein A, et al.Sexual addiction or hypersexual disorder: different terms for the same problem? A review of the literature.Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20(25):4012-4020. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990619

Fong TW.Understanding and managing compulsive sexual behaviors.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(11):51-58.

American Addiction Centers.Sex addiction treatment.January 28, 2021.

George M, Maheshwari S, Chandran S, Rao SS, Shivanand MJ, Sathyanarayana Rao TS.Psychosocial intervention for sexual addiction.Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;60(Suppl 4):S510-S513.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Motivational Enhancement Therapy.

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