Understanding Hypersexuality: When It’s Too Much

According to a 2016 study, 10.3% of Indian men aged between 18–50 reported difficulty in controlling their sexual feelings, urges, and behaviours and experienced hypersexuality. At the same time, Around 70 per cent of Indian women might not have experienced an orgasm or just don't know what an orgasm is all about. In the most populated country in the world, if the conversation on sexual satisfaction is a huge taboo, a blog on Hypersexuality is definitely going to raise a few brows. But then, someone has to say it, right?

Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD), as defined by the ICD 11, involves intense, uncontrollable sexual urges that lead to a lot of distress and functional impairment. People suffering from CSBD often go through emotional turmoil and disrupted daily life, while their relationships may crumble due to a lack of trust and intimacy. The reality is far from the pornographic movie-induced imagination.

Aiming to explore the symptoms of sex addiction and the nature of CSBD, this blog seeks to outline its effects on individuals and relationships and showcase effective treatment options and therapy for sex addiction to help in managing and overcoming this disorder.

CSBD, or sexual obsession, is characterised by intense and repetitive sexual urges or impulses that people experience as irresistible or uncontrollable. This involves a constant preoccupation with sexual thoughts and activities, leading to constant stress or functional impairment.

These behaviours are indulged in despite adverse consequences, making a difference in life's personal, social and occupational aspects. The disorder can cause emotional distress and ruin relationships, highlighting the requirement for precise diagnosis and effective treatment to address such overwhelming and distressing sexual behaviours.

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) can cause a range of emotional, psychological, and relational issues.

Emotional Distress: Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or anxiety.

Impaired Functioning: Difficulty managing daily responsibilities and maintaining work or personal relationships.

Relationship Issues: Problems with intimacy and trust in relationships.

Risky Behaviours: Engaging in sexual activities that may put oneself or others at risk.

Compulsive Patterns: An inability to control or reduce sexual behaviour.

Physical Health Problems: Potential issues related to sexual health.

The emotional distress caused by CSBD can lead to performance anxiety, which might explain why so few Indian women orgasm.

Perceptions of regular sexual behaviour can vary widely between partners thanks to differences in cultural backgrounds, personal values and sexual preferences. What one partner considers a healthy expression of sexuality can be seen as deviant or problematic by another.

Compulsive Sexual Behaviour becomes problematic when it leads to distress or impairs daily functioning, irrespective of whether it aligns with societal norms. When CSBD does occur, you find that you cannot control your sexual urges at all - this causes relational issues, making it quite different from consensual, varied, mutually acceptable sexual preferences.

Distress and Functional Impairment

If you have CSBD, chances are that you are experiencing profound emotional and psychological distress. This preoccupation all the time can make you feel guilty, anxious and shameful and make a massive difference to your self-esteem and mental health. It can completely ruin daily life by creating issues at your office, spoiling your concentration and resulting in social withdrawal. If you are in a relationship, CSBD can completely ruin trust, communication and intimacy, which leads to issues with you and your partner and dissatisfaction. If seen from a holistic perspective, the constant pursuit of sexual behaviours can ruin personal well-being and functionality, which means you need treatment to bring back balance and improve your life’s quality.

Difference between CSBD and Other Conditions

First, let us rule out paraphilias - these are sexual interests or behaviours that result in behaviours like voyeurism or fetishism, which are utterly different from compulsive behaviours driven by the CSBD.

Paraphilias can be a part of your sexual expression. They don’t cause distress or impairment unless significant personal or relational issues exist. Distinguishing between paraphilias and CSBD is vital for accurate diagnosis, as CSBD means uncontrollable urges cause distress and isn’t just your regular sexual interest.

Secondary Mental Health Conditions

It is absolutely imperative that you completely disregard other mental health issues like OCD, mania, ADHD and hypomania, which can be there and have symptoms overlapping with CSBD. Mania and hypomania can result in increased sexual activity, OCD can mean intrusive sexual thoughts, and ADHD can result in impulsive behaviours. Accurately diagnosing the issue ensures appropriate treatment.

If you have CSBD, you have to take sexual addiction treatment so that you constantly stop thinking about only sex all the time.

Relational Sex Therapy -

This takes care of individual and relationship aspects of CSBD, with both partners working to foster communication, improve intimacy and learn each other’s sexual needs and boundaries. This therapy enables couples to circumvent the emotional and relational aspects of CSBD by fostering a deeper connection and mutual understanding.

Individual Psychotherapy -

Individual psychotherapy, especially CBT, is imperative for managing CSBD. It assists in formulating effective coping strategies and taking care of dormant issues like self-esteem or past trauma. By narrowing down to the root cause of CSBD, you can promote healthy and appropriate sexual behaviour and boost overall emotional wellness.

Seeking professional help -

Asking a mental health professional for help is vital for correctly diagnosing and treating CSBD. An expert can adequately assess and distinguish CSBD from other conditions, providing you with an appropriate treatment plan according to your needs. Effective management and long-term recovery is the name of the game.

Building a support network -

Support networks allow you to share your experiences and strategies with others facing the same issue and foster a sense of belonging. Therapy will provide personalized assistance so you can stay focused on your recovery.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes -

Lifestyle changes augment overall well-being, brings down stress in you and helps you manage your urges better and shows you a holistic way to take care of CSBD. You will sleep better, eat healthier, and participate in at least one physical activity to burn out any excess energy. Feeling imbalanced? Take care of your holistic health. If you want to get fit, you can do so in minutes.

Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder is characterised by intense, uncontrollable sexual urges that cause a lot of stress and hamper daily functioning. The disorder ruins emotional well-being and relationships, making it essential to distinguish it from paraphilias and other mental health conditions like ADHD, OCD and others for accurate diagnosis.

Effective treatments include relational sex therapy, which boosts communication and intimacy between partners and individual psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioural therapy, which addresses underlying issues and helps control urges.

By reaching out for support, engaging in therapy and making positive lifestyle changes, individuals can overcome the challenges of CSBD and work towards a healthier, more balanced life.

What is hypersexuality?

A person is said to be suffering from hypersexuality when they can't control their sexual urges, and it starts affecting their daily life.

Is sex addiction terrible?

Addiction to anything leaves you powerless. Sex addiction may not be like substance abuse addiction because there's no tangible substance to abuse. However, that doesn't mean it isn't equally harmful to you.

How much sex is too much sex?

It's not how much sex you have; it's whether your whole day is preoccupied by it, and it starts hampering your everyday life.

How do I know whether I have a sex disorder?

When you constantly think about sex the whole time and can't concentrate on anything else, you know you have a problem.