The term sex addict is used quite often these days, though most people do not know what it really means to live with this condition. We live in a society where we inaccurately label things as addictions, especially when it comes to behaviours. People tend to believe that a sex addict is a person who has a higher libido than what is considered to be normal or has weird fetishes, whilst others use it as an excuse for particular behaviours like cheating. However, the underlying problems are the same. People who suffer from sex addiction cannot or do not know how to get their needs met in healthier means. Additionally, the internet has made it even easier for individuals with compulsive sexual behaviour to look for ways to gratify their compulsions. Ultimately, sex addiction has the same consequences as any type of behavioural addiction , which is why the addict must treat sex addiction before it ruins their life.

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Introduction
Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. Compulsive sexual behavior, otherwise known as sexual addiction, is an emerging psychiatric disorder that has significant medical and psychiatric consequences. Until recently, very little empirical data existed to explain the biological, psychological, and social risk factors that contribute to this condition.
How Do You Treat a Sex Addict?
Your doctor or other mental health professional can do a psychological evaluation, which may involve answering questions about your:. With your permission, your mental health professional may also request input from family and friends. There's an ongoing debate in the psychiatric community about exactly how to define compulsive sexual behavior because it's not always easy to determine when sexual behavior becomes problematic. Many mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 , published by the American Psychiatric Association, as a guide for diagnosing mental health problems. Because compulsive sexual behavior doesn't have its own diagnostic category in the DSM-5, it may be diagnosed as a subcategory of another mental health condition, such as an impulse control disorder or a behavioral addiction.
Sex addiction the compulsive sexual behavior described here should not be confused with disorders such as pedophilia or bestiality. For some people, sex addiction can be highly dangerous and result in considerable difficulties with relationships. Some report that it may manifest itself as a compulsive need to masturbate, view pornography, or be in sexually stimulating situations. A person with sex addiction may significantly alter their life and activities in order to perform sexual acts multiple times a day and are reportedly unable to control their behavior, despite severe negative consequences. One characteristic may be secrecy of behaviors, in which the person with the disorder becomes skilled at hiding their behavior and can even keep the condition secret from spouses, partners, and family members. But sometimes symptoms are present and noticeable. A person may have a sex addiction if they show some or all of the following signs:.