Since the inception of sexology as an official science, female and male sexuality has not been considered as a topic of scientific research (thanks to old Freud). The main thing that we managed to find out: the sexual constitution of different people is radically different, while keeping within the framework of a healthy libido.
It’s okay to want sex once a week or twice a day. To fantasize about near-sexual topics, talk about their desires and even watch porn – too. How hypersexuality develops, what are the causes of its occurrence, are there negative consequences of this psychological disorder, and the differences between male and female hypersexuality – let us examine these issues from the point of view of sexology.
When craving arises at uncomfortable and unexpected moments, and it has to be suppressed, we can say that the libido is outside the normal range. If sexual desires are obsessive and uncontrollable, and the inability to immediately realize them causes irritability or aggression, there are reasons to suspect one of the forms of psychosomatic disorder called hypersexuality.
What is hypersexuality from the point of view of psychology
The term sexual psychopathy, or hypersexuality, was first coined by the Austrian psychiatrist Kraft Ebing in the 19th century. Its significance to this day remains unchanged and implies a pathologically increased sexual activity due to an increased need for a sensation of orgasm.
The term is formed from two Greek words: Hyper (excess) and Sexus (gender). People with an officially established diagnosis of “hypersexuality” are called erotomaniacs .
Over the past hundred years, many indicators that were previously perceived as signs of hypersexuality and perversion have become the norm for society. This was facilitated by the emergence of free access to pornographic materials, the widespread broadcast of external sexuality as a criterion of success, especially for girls.
Is hypersexuality dangerous?
Like any mental disorder, erotomania (often perceived at the initial stage as a positive feature), without adequate treatment, reduces a person’s quality of life.
The negative consequences of erotomania
- Sexual intemperance is a constant change of partners (sometimes within one day), while their appearance, age, gender, etc., lose their meaning.
- Increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- Decreased reproductive functions after suffering STDs.
- For women – unwanted pregnancies, abortions (control of contraception is lost), neglect of maternal responsibilities.
- Inability to build family relationships due to frequent cheating.
- Development of addiction to masturbation.
In the course of the progression of the disorder, the patient needs a constant increase in the “acuity of sensations”. He is no longer attracted to traditional intimacy. More and more perverse methods of stimulation are found that cause rejection from others.
In psychiatric practice, there are cases of the development of manic states in patients suffering from erotomania.
How to recognize hypersexuality
The symptoms of hypersexuality are diverse, and the clinical signs of the same disorder can vary significantly from person to person. Most often, erotomaniacs have:
- Uncontrolled sexual attraction to several partners at the same time.
- Increased excitability of the nervous system.
- Spontaneous erections or congestion of the genitals accompanied by painful sensations.
- Lack of satisfaction after reaching orgasm.
- Craving for violent actions or their imitation during intercourse.
- Attacks of irritability or shyness after intimacy.
- Waste of time on sexual fantasies and finding a partner at the expense of important matters.
- Increased attraction in moments of boredom, as well as in irritation, anxiety. Any stress generates a desire to have sex.
- Repeated unsuccessful attempts to independently correct behavior, not to think about intimacy.
- Inability to achieve orgasm in the usual way (additional stimulation is required, an exciting factor).
- Contacts with commercial employees of intimate services: operators of services “sex on the phone”, visiting brothels and clubs “of interest”.
The preservation of two or more of the listed signs for six months is a reason to seek medical help for the selection of corrective therapy. You should not expect that the problem will disappear by itself, and even more so – to self-medicate.
What causes hypersexuality to develop
Erotomania can be congenital and acquired: the first manifests itself in early adolescence and is practically not amenable to correction, the reasons for the development of the second type may be different.
Psychological lack of something, compensated by sex
The modern rhythm of life, stress give rise to a lack of positive emotions, which the body compensates for with an available means – physical pleasure.
Partner dissatisfaction
The difference in the sexual constitution of people is imperceptible at the beginning of a romantic relationship, when the lovers are driven by passion. Sooner or later, the intensity of emotions decreases, nature takes its toll. And it turns out that the husband needs sex every day, and the wife needs one intimacy a week. Or vice versa.
The difference in temperaments and sexual habits provokes an imbalance: if sex with a partner seems boring or overly intense, even reaching orgasm does not give a feeling of satisfaction.
Hormonal disbalance
Some chronic diseases and prolonged use of hormonal drugs disrupt the endocrine system. Similar processes occur in the body during the period of male and female menopause, puberty.
An increase in the production of estrogen in women and testosterone in men inevitably leads to an increase in libido, sometimes to a pathological state.
The reasons for the development of hypersexuality include head trauma, previous infectious diseases (encephalitis, meningitis), and the use of psychoactive drugs.
How to treat hypersexuality
A psychotherapist should be involved in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders. This is the first and most important condition that a person suffering from erotomania should realize. The specialist will select an individual treatment program and supervise the process of correcting the patient’s behavior.
With the help of psychotherapy
Revealing and eliminating emotional clamps can significantly reduce the severity of manifestations of hypersexuality. In some cases, it is enough for the patient to regularly visit a psychologist, but sometimes the treatment goes into the plane of psychiatry and hospital conditions. Climatic manifestations of hypersexuality can persist until the end of life and require regular medical supervision.
By placing a patient in a neuropsychiatric dispensary, the doctor gets the opportunity to observe in detail his condition and response to the methods used: physiotherapy, galvanization, soothing baths.
With the help of medicines
Drug therapy is required in cases where an increase in libido is associated with organic changes in the central nervous system (as a result of past diseases). Based on the symptomatic picture of the disorder, both mild sedatives and psychotropic substances can be prescribed.
Therapy is primarily aimed at lowering the level of sex hormones, suppressing libido. In parallel, a program for the treatment of identified sexually transmitted diseases and contraception is being developed.
Nymphomania and Satyriasis
In psychiatry and sexology, it is customary to divide hypersexuality into two types based on physiological characteristics.
Satyriasis
Male erotomania. The state of continuous search for new sexual partners against the background of a lack of sexual satisfaction. The reasons are an increase in testosterone levels, congenital pathologies of the central nervous system or its injury;
Nymphomania
This is the name of the female form of erotomania. It is characterized by a promiscuous sex life, a state of constant nervous excitement and enduring sexual desire.
The listed disorders in most cases are imaginary, that is, developed under the influence of aggressive transmission of sexuality in society. Only 0.025% are diagnosed with true nymphomania or satiriasis.
Female hypersexuality is much less common than male hypersexuality – only 20% of the total.
Interesting to know
Even in the last century, hypersexuality was equated with drug addiction. The mechanisms of behavior of the addict and the erotomaniac are identical: the first feels euphoria after using opiates, the second feels it after orgasm, at the time of release of endorphins.
There are clinics in Europe that treat both types of addictions using similar programs. Erotomaniacs also come together in groups for mutual support. Perhaps, soon in Russia, hypersexuality will be viewed as a disease: society will stop speaking offensively about erotomaniacs, and patients will have the opportunity to seek help without fear of condemnation.