Endless media coverage of celebrity infidelities, celebrity nymphomania, and show business perversions provokes many people to pay closer attention to their own sex lives.
The more they read and hear about how sexual activity can be a symptom of illness, the more likely they are to consult a doctor, writes NEWSru.co.il.
The terms “sex addiction,” “sexaholism,” “obsessive-compulsive sexual disorder,” and the like are constantly appearing in article headlines—both in sexology publications and in the tabloid press. It's often claimed that all these mental illnesses are the result of modern people's unlimited access to pornography, primarily via the internet.
Meanwhile, leading sexologists tend to believe that the availability of pornography is merely a trigger for people suffering from so-called “sexual addiction,” rather than the cause of this painful condition. Without the internet, video, and television, these people would find other ways to arouse themselves.
Under the term “sex addict” (sexaholic)
It's commonly understood that a man or woman constantly seeks sexual intercourse or other sexual activity without regard for the consequences. Statistical studies conducted in recent years show that in 75-80% of cases, “sex addicts” are men—often married men with a “strong sexual constitution” who are dissatisfied with their sex lives.
Although women are less likely to become “sex addicts,” the condition can have more serious consequences for them, experts note. Research shows that women in this condition are capable of engaging in “serial” casual sexual encounters, sometimes deliberately entering into intimate relationships with men who are abusive and capable of violence.
Men who are sex addicts are also prone to using drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.), while women in this category are often prone to anxiety, depression, and gluttony.
People who genuinely suffer from such painful conditions are advised to consult their local doctors so they can recommend a qualified specialist—a psychologist or psychiatrist—who can provide effective assistance. However, often, “sex addicts” themselves turn directly to “private clinics” that advertise themselves widely in the media and employ poorly qualified psychotherapists or people without the necessary specialized training.
It's worth noting that in medical journals, alongside the term “sexual addiction,” one can also encounter the term “sexual anorexia” (coined by American psychologist Patrick Carnes)—an obsessive condition in which a person deprives themselves of sex (becomes celibate). “Sexual anorexia” most often affects women who have set out to control their desires and emotions.
Dr. Chong-Hsiu Yong, a psychiatrist representing the Australian Medical Association, says that “sex addiction” may simply be a behavioral symptom, not a sign of a serious mental disorder. He warns that in many cases, treatment for such addiction may be ineffective. Furthermore, according to this doctor, very often no treatment is required, as people are able to overcome their “phobias” and “manias” on their own.