Hypersexuality
Compulsive sexual behavior, or hypersexuality, is defined as excessive sexual behaviors that are accompanied by social and personal distress. It is also referred to as a sexual addiction and has an intense focus on sexual fantasies with urges that cannot be controlled. The distress is accompanied by problems with one's health, job, relationships, or other aspects of a person's life. The natural unfolding of sexual curiosity at a developmentally appropriate age is damaged because of premature exposure. Typically, hypersexuality is the result of childhood sexual abuse and assault and is seen as the most common trauma response. The sexual behaviors involve different kinds of commonly enjoyable sexual experiences, however when the behaviors become a major focus in one’s life, are difficult to control, and cause personal distress it is likely compulsive sexual behavior.
There are three major reasons as to why this trauma response occurs with the first being a form of validation. If an individual is only shown attention or “love” during abuse, especially in their formative years, one can learn to believe validation is linked to sex. Secondly, it can be viewed as a way to regain control because engaging in risky sexual behaviors means that the individual has control which reverses the roles by having power over their body. Lastly, chemical dependency impacts hypersexuality because if a person is used to being hypersexualized it can make them want to seek out similar feelings.
There are many signs and symptoms surrounding compulsive sexual behaviors such as feeling unable to control compulsive sexual urges and an intense preoccupation with sex. Additional signs and symptoms include engaging to either feel pleasure (impulsive) or to escape emotions (compulsive), sexual behaviors leading to negative consequences, trouble maintaining healthy relationships, and intense sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviors that feel beyond your control. When deciding if you should seek professional help, ask yourself: Can I manage these impulses, am I distressed by sexual behaviors, are the behaviors hurting my relationships and causing serious problems, and do I try to hide my sexual behavior?
Source: Mayo Clinic