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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Am I a sex addict?
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Am I a sex addict?
by Deborah, Oct 25, 1999 12:00AM
I have heard that there is a disorder that has to do with sexual addiction. I'm not sure if it applies to me or not, but here is my problem: I'm female, 20 years old, and I tend to masturbate daily. I have a steady boyfriend and our sex life is great--I usually don't find myself masturbating on days when I am with him, but it makes me feel guilty that I have to do it on all the other days. I'm not sure if I just have an overactive sex drive, or some sort of hormonal imbalance, or if I do it more for the relaxation it brings me. I find myself doing it when I'm bored, or often after I'm done eating, when I'm alone. I do have an anxiety problem that I have started taking meds to treat it and I don't know if this is somehow related. Masturbating makes me feel relaxed afterward, but then I find myself feeling guilty and angry with myself for doing it. It's like a viscious circle. I realized it must really be a problem when I masturbated at work one time--I have my own office. Is this completely ridiculous?
Also, I take Estrostep oral contraceptives. Could this be contributing to the problem? Please Help!
Also, I take Estrostep oral contraceptives. Could this be contributing to the problem? Please Help!
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS.MD-AJ, Oct 28, 1999 12:00AM
Deborah,
The concept of "sex addiction" is not universally recognized or accepted by all clinicians, and refers to people who compulsively and/or impulsively seek sexual experiences. Signs of sexual addiction include persistent pursuit of self-destructive or high-risk sexual behavior, repeated unsuccessful attempts to limit or stop such behavior, severe adverse consequences (medical, legal, interpersonal, etc) due to sexual behavior, excessive amounts of time spent in obtaining sexual gratification, and sexual behavior causing impairment in social/occupational/recreational activities.
Masturbation is a common and normal activity, which only becomes "pathological" when it becomes a compulsive action that is beyond a person's control. It would be unusual for anxiety, anti-anxiety medications, or oral contraceptives to be the cause of your sexual activity or impulses. You may find it helpful to seek evaluation by a mental health professional, who may also help resolve your feelings of guilt about masturbation.
The concept of "sex addiction" is not universally recognized or accepted by all clinicians, and refers to people who compulsively and/or impulsively seek sexual experiences. Signs of sexual addiction include persistent pursuit of self-destructive or high-risk sexual behavior, repeated unsuccessful attempts to limit or stop such behavior, severe adverse consequences (medical, legal, interpersonal, etc) due to sexual behavior, excessive amounts of time spent in obtaining sexual gratification, and sexual behavior causing impairment in social/occupational/recreational activities.
Masturbation is a common and normal activity, which only becomes "pathological" when it becomes a compulsive action that is beyond a person's control. It would be unusual for anxiety, anti-anxiety medications, or oral contraceptives to be the cause of your sexual activity or impulses. You may find it helpful to seek evaluation by a mental health professional, who may also help resolve your feelings of guilt about masturbation.
RaxDax
RaxDax