Article on Sex Addiction

[tugon (imported)]

This article might be of interest to some of us who have felt we were addicted to sex. In a previous thread one poster felt it did not exist. Another felt it was a compulsive behavior. When I could not get enough I felt addicted. I think this is an issue that deserves to be revisited.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sex ... &gt1=31028

The Shadowy Science of Sex Addiction

Tiger Woods' philandering has talking heads chattering about compulsive sex. But research on sex addiction is fuzzy.

By Matthew Herper, David Whelan and Robert Langreth, Forbes

Can you be addicted to sex?

Nobody really knows for sure—though you can certainly get treated for sex addiction if you think you have it.

Last year, X-Files and Californication star David Duchovny checked into rehab for sexual addiction. After a string of women went public with claims they were mistresses of golfer Tiger Woods (the best-paid athlete on the planet and a married man), it took only days for talking heads to speculate that Woods might be an addict. Reports indicate that he may have attended and completed a rehab program.

The idea of sex as a drug is deeply seductive to journalists and reality TV producers. But the idea of being addicted to sex is actually quite controversial. No such diagnosis is even recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), psychiatry's bible.

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The DSM-IV assiduously avoids the word "addiction," preferring to talk about dependence, withdrawal and compulsion. A new condition, called hypersexuality, might be something close, but some psychiatrists bristle at the idea of talking about human sexuality as an addictive force unto itself.

"I don't buy it as a disease ... it is an excuse," says John J. Lucas, a forensic psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medical College. In modern society, "we have an unfortunate practice of proliferating illnesses ... in response to various practices in terms of reducing the stigma of certain behaviors."

Craig Fabrikant, a clinical psychologist at Hackensack University Medical Center, says that he doesn't believe that sex addiction exists in the same way that alcohol or cocaine addiction does. Real disorders, however, might cause behavior that is interpreted as sex addiction. For example, someone in the manic phase of bipolar disorder can be overly sexual, and a person with obsessive compulsive disorder might look at pornography frequently.

The idea of sex addiction, however, got a big boost in 1983 with the publication of a book called Out of the Shadows by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., who has treated patients with the disorder at several clinics (he currently works at a Mississippi facility). The idea is that because sex releases dopamine in the brain and provides a momentary high just as many drugs do, problematic sexual behavior could be understood as being very much like a chemical dependency.

"I see guys who start when they are 13, and now they are 30. They've never been able to stop," says David Delmonico, a professor of counseling at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and author of In The Shadows of The Net: Breaking Free from Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior. In order to have hypersexual disorder, Delmonico says, a person must feel as if he doesn't have the ability to stop, and think about little else but sex. Delmonico favors calling the disorder hypersexuality, and notes that it isn't easy to diagnose: It takes at least two or three hours of discussion with a patient to determine if he or she is hypersexual.

As with other compulsive behaviors like gambling and drinking, Delmonico recommends therapy and 12-step programs, although antidepressants (drugs like Paxil or Zoloft) and antipsychotics (these include Abilify and Zyprexa) may help. There is a report of a single case in which Topamax, an epilepsy drug, reversed hypersexuality. Testosterone suppressors are reserved for criminal sexual offenders.

There isn't a lot of science to back up this path of treatment, though. The National Institutes of Health's PubMed database lists every article published in a major medical journal going back decades. There are 67,700 references for "alcoholism" or "alcohol dependence," but just 286 studies related to "sex addiction," "hypersexuality" or "sexual dependence."

But is compulsive sexuality really similar to pathological gambling or even compulsive shopping? One small brain-imaging study says maybe not. Researchers at the University of Minnesota compared eight people who had been diagnosed with hypersexuality with others who had been diagnosed with impulse-control disorders like gambling or attention deficit disorder. There was also a control group.

The subjects were asked to look at a flashing letter on a screen and quickly press a button if they saw any letter other than "X." Patients who have impulse disorders usually press the button more often; this held true for both the patients who had traditional problems as well as the sexually compulsive people.

Things changed, however, when the researchers had their subjects do this task inside an MRI machine. People with impulse disorders had reduced activity in the bottom front of the brain (as seen in previous experiments), but the people with sexual disorders had reduced activity at the top front of the brain, indicating that something different was going on.

Michael H. Miner, one of the University of Minnesota researchers, cautions that his study is too small to draw any firm conclusions. In his normal work, treating sexual offenders, he says that he does not believe that compulsion and bad behavior necessarily go together, and he's skeptical of calling the increased sexual behavior an addiction.

He would, however, like to do more research on it. That's difficult, he says, because there is no recognized diagnosis for people who seem sexually compulsive.

"There's a lot of conceptual writing; there's a lot of theoretical writing; there's not a great deal of empirical data," Miner says. "If this is a disorder, what is it? Is this really a disorder at all, or is it a series of symptoms that is part of something else?"

[ramses (imported)]

All through history, rich and powerful men have been able to have all the women they wanted and it was expected of them. Now in modern times, we expect these rich and powerful men to give up the spoils of money and power? Hell, what good is money if you can't get lots of women with it! (or whatever your preference may be).

[SplitDik (imported)]

Some people just don't like the "word" addiction for something that comes from within. However, our own bodies are powerful chemical factories, and in fact many recreational drugs (like Meth and Ecstasy) simply manipulate our internal drug factory.

But as a sex addict, I strongly believe that the drive IS chemically driven. For a while after my last sexual outlet I am fine, don't think about sex at all. Then testosterone kicks in and I start feeling horny and it is definitely a bodily feeling (not just thoughts), then I start thinking sexually and that triggers an adrenaline rush that is so intense my teeth chatter and I can't sleep. That rush is addictive. Even though I don't want to act on the feelings, they grow in strength until I pretty much have to. After sex, the tension immediately and totally subsides. I'm sure there is a dopamine, endorphin, prolactin and other such reward chemicals at play. I also get a bit of a hangover (bad body ache and depressed brain feeling) for about a day.

Anyway, it happens in cycles. It creates an immense rush equivalent to taking many drugs. It is irresistible like an addiction. Once you get your "hit" you are fine for a while, until the urge builds again.

So it is fine if they want to call it "compulsion" but it is exactly the same as an addiction -- i.e. seeking a chemical rush even if it is self-destructive.

I don't know why they'd argue about it not being an addiction. What is the difference from taking Meth that triggers dopamine and norepinephrine and from having dopamine triggers just happen internally?

I'd argue that sex addiction (and other internal addictions like over-eating) are worse than external drug addictions because you always have a supply of the drug. Sex addiction is like a meth addict having a magic bag with an endless supply of the drug.

[nullorchis (imported)]

How about "craving". ?

The craving needs to be satisfied. For whatever reason the person can not control the craving.

It happens in a lot of people.

They crave something, like food.

And they eat and eat and eat, even though they know they shouldn't and it isn't good for them. They know better, they see the results, but they can't stop.

I personally think an addiction is something that creates a chemical dependency.

Tobacco, alcohol, heroine, etc.

But some internal imbalance within a person's body that causes them to eat compulsively or have sex incessantly doesn't seem like an addition to me.

For the individual, they can not control it on their own until outside assistance provides inner balance within their body. So it should be treatable.

And if the above train of thought holds true, I suppose the individual could be forgiven for their cravings. The difference between Tiger Woods and a rapist is that Tiger had money and position so he could buy what he needed. While a rapist could still have money and power, generally speaking they don't, and thus they rape in order to satisfy their cravings.

Just blabbing my thoughts. I'm not a Dr. Can't learn unless you participate.

[SplitDik (imported)]

How about "craving". ?

The craving needs to be satisfied. For whatever reason the person can not control the craving.

It happens in a lot of people.

They crave something, like food.

And they eat and eat and eat, even though they know they shouldn't and it isn't good for them. They know better, they see the results, but they can't stop.

I personally think an addiction is something that creates a chemical dependency.

Tobacco, alcohol, heroine, etc.

But some internal imbalance within a person's body that causes them to eat compulsively or have sex incessantly doesn't seem like an addition to me.

For the individual, they can not control it on their own until outside assistance provides inner balance within their body. So it should be treatable.

And if the above train of thought holds true, I suppose the individual could be forgiven for their cravings. The difference between Tiger Woods and a rapist is that Tiger had money and position so he could buy what he needed. While a rapist could still have money and power, generally speaking they don't, and thus they rape in order to satisfy their cravings.

Just blabbing my thoughts. I'm not a Dr. Can't learn unless you participate.

I'm not against making a distinction between "external" chemicals and internal chemicals. Except that many of these external drugs are just manipulating the internal chemicals.

Furthermore, overeating, sex, etc. ARE stimulated externally. I mean food is certainly made up of chemicals that trigger reward responses. External sexual triggers are usually more visual or tactile, so maybe there is a distinction there.

Also, what is the point of the word. If it you're defining types of self-destructive behavior, then I don't see the difference. As a sex addict I risk my health, job and financial security in order to get regular fixes, even though my rational thought doesn't want to do this. Behaviorally, prowling for prostitutes isn't really much difference than looking for a score.

Again, I'm not really that adamant about it, except I do want people to realize that there ARE strong chemicals working within the bodies of individuals with eating disorders, sex disorders, etc. even if those chemicals aren't injected or smoked.

[devi (imported)]

Sex addiction has something to do with starting another religion or cult or something.

[tugon (imported)]

Reading the responses to the article on sexual addiction I remember how I behaved in those days. My sexual addiction was causing financial problems and potential problems on jobs. Between the money I was spending to fuel my addiction and having sex at work or looking for sexual stimulation at work my addiction was putting my employment at risk. My addiction was also putting my health at risk since the desire for sex was greater than the desire to be safe. As an addict would drive around looking to score drugs I was cruising around looking for sex.

My behaviors mirrored those of alcoholics and drug addicts.

As far as it being chemically driven I would have to say that once the addiction started T fueled it. Castration and lack of T was the kill switch to many of my behaviors. I remain fearful that any T I might use in the future will once again restart and fuel the addiction. My addiction sits idle like a car without gas.

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

As usual, I am "way out there in left field" on the issue. My views and opinions are... unique? unusual? odd? wierd? Well, suffice to say, I seem to be the only one who holds with my opinion on "sex addiction."

Firstly, let's start of with my ever present suspicion and outright distrust of any "experts," or "wise men," or any other human being who is telling us that they have a better understanding of something than the rest of us. Please do note, that at one time... the "smartest" and "best educated" people in the world firmly believed that:

-The earth was flat

-The earth was the center of the universe

-Anyone who contradicted their view on anything was a heretic and should be burned at the stake

Throughout history, even recent history, especially recent history, there are NUMEROUS and glaring cases of the "experts" being so totally wrong in how they interpret the information they get. (It is a sort of sappy movie, but watch "Lorenzo's Oil" for a perfect example of the best educated and most learned people in a certain field being so totally wrong... And some upstart "heretic" who knows nothing of the science, actually having a better understanding of what is really happening.)

Secondly, throughout history, "wise men" and "experts" have manipulated the information, twisted the facts, and just outright LIED to get other people to do what they wanted them to do. The lying "wise men" started out by claiming that their ideas were "the will of God." "God spoke to me in a dream! He says...."

Now, it seems we have a new "god" thing, we call it "science," or research, or "studies have shown that..." etc. etc.

I have little faith at all in anything, and I sure as hell do not easily give my trust to other men - especially not elitist intellectuals who in my opinion are more often than not simply very articulate and eloquent LIARS. I would just as soon believe the insane rantings of some "holy man" who says the Haitians made a deal with the devil and the earthquake is "God" punishing them... I do not accept either form of collective delusion, sorry, I have very little faith, in anything, not the "men of God," nor the "men of science," nor "experienced professionals," etc.

Is there anyone here so naive that they belive "men of science" cannot be bought or coerced into saying whatever the "men of substance" want them to say? IF some wealthy person has a little chat with the dean of a college or university, offers to buy a couple of high resolution MRI scanners and the facility to run them, and funds a study there... do you think that might have some influence on just what they "discover" in that facility?

The "leading scientific minds" of Nazi Germany "scientifically proved" the inferiority of some races, and the superiority of others... does anyone here truly put their faith in the men of science? They are after all, only men, and not the "science" itself. So the "men of science" can be compelled to lie just as the "men of God" can be compelled to lie.

Now FINALLY... back to the subject of this thread. (Took me long enough didn't it?)

When someone hyperventilates, would you describe that as "he had and air addiction and overdosed on air!" When someone drowns, would you describe that as "the baby fell in the swimming pool and died from an overdose of water!" When someone chokes to death from a bit of food caught in his larynx, do you say "he had this food addiction, one day he got a fatal overdose and died!"

On this point, you can put you "faith and trust" in the good old "Deacon of NO faith and little trust," there are people out there who very much want to "criminalize" sex, and a lot of other things too. They want to criminalize and demonize sex for the same reasons that Al Capone actually heavily contributed to the campaigns of politicians who wanted to maintain and/or re-instate the "prohibition" or criminalized status of alcohol.

The eloquent LIARS on TV and in the media love to inject complete non-sensical fear in to everything they tell us. Today's public media is little more than a paid shill for the megarich class. Use you OWN brain! Think! Sex in a completely natural process, like breathing, drinking water, or eating. But by criminalizing or demonizing a very natural and popular behavior, the few who hold the reins of power can increase their power, and wealth.

I completely reject the notion of "sex addiction," it is a natural process, which some people become inordinately obsessed with, like a person who hyperventilates. I think every living person I know has an "air addiction," but I do not think of them as "air junkies."

[tugon (imported)]

I completely reject the notion of "sex addiction," it is a natural process, which some people become inordinately obsessed

I just want to say that no one told me I was a sex addict. I decided I was due to my behaviors and the negative effects on my life. I did not just want sex but the sex had to be kinkier and sometimes more dangerous than in the past. I was always looking for that greater thrill. Normal sexual acts had become a complete bore. I went for years without having sex in a bed but in a car, bathroom, park or any place that would be risky enough to provide a thrill. Since that need for a greater and riskier thrill I began to wonder how I will behave in years to come as I became more out of control regarding sex. As the addiction grew I found people had less importance to me other than the sexual thrill they could give me. The addiction was taking over. I am only speaking for myself but I believe there is sexual addiciton and I was an addict.