Your sexuality, no matter what it is, plays a significant role in who you are and how you connect with other people. Sexuality sums up your thoughts, beliefs, behaviors and emotions about intimacy with others. 

Sexuality is a complex web of who you’re attracted to, your own gender identity and how you express your sexual desires. Understanding your sexuality is a journey. It can lead to self-acceptance and having healthy relationships. But some people may experience hypersexuality, which can have an overwhelming negative impact on their life.

Hypersexuality is also known as compulsive sexual behavior (CBS) and is sometimes referred to as sex addiction. It means that you experience excessive, intense and repetitive sexual urges and thoughts. It can involve:

• Recurring sexual thoughts and fantasies
• Lack of control against sexual urges
• Risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sexual intercourse

Hypersexuality can interfere with your relationships and physical health and even increase the risk of legal or employment issues. It can also contribute to mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety and suicidality. 

Here are five things to know about hypersexuality and its impact on your quality of life:

• It can cause lying and secrecy that impacts your relationships.

If you’re experiencing hypersexual thoughts and behaviors, it can be tempting to try to hide them away from the people you care about the most. These people can be a family member, friend or significant other. You might lie about your whereabouts if they involve a sexual activity, such as watching pornography or attending sexual meetups/events. 

Lying and secrecy can result in trust issues in relationships, resulting in emotional distance or loss of respect.

• Hypersexuality can cause conflict and stress in intimate relationships.

When you’re in an intimate relationship with someone, the negativity that comes with hypersexuality can strain the connection. It can bring a set of challenges that affect the physical and emotional well-being of everyone involved.

Here are a few ways that hypersexuality can cause conflict with an intimate partner:

• Pressure to engage in behaviors they aren’t comfortable with
• Excessive pornography consumption that impacts real-life intimacy
• Potential risk of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) from other risky behaviors
• Questioning of their own self-worth and attractiveness

• Hypersexual thoughts and behaviors can interfere with your job or school performance.

Anything that causes overwhelming or unwanted negative thoughts can affect your productivity in your daily responsibilities, such as your job or education. Since the thoughts are out of your control, you may suddenly have recurring sexual thoughts or fantasies. They can break your concentration from your responsibilities and put you behind schedule.

It’s also possible that your urges or inappropriate behaviors can result in uncomfortable situations with your co-workers or classmates. This can lead to a risk of harassment claims or lack of collaboration on projects. 

• Hypersexual behaviors can increase the risk of STIs.

Being hypersexual doesn’t automatically mean that you throw all ideas of safe sex out the window. However, the uncontrollable sexual urges that come from the condition can lead to situations of risky behavior. For example, you might not use protection when your mind isn’t in a logical headspace from overwhelming desire.

Hypersexuality may contribute to the desire of having multiple partners at one time. This can increase your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.

• Feelings of shame and guilt can become overwhelming.

For people who experience sexual attraction, sex is often an important part of their romantic relationships. Having sexual intercourse can release feel-good hormones (e.g., oxytocin) that bring positive emotions; however, it can also cause negative emotions if it occurs due to distressing thoughts or circumstances. Hypersexuality can bring feelings of shame and guilt about the uncontrollable sexual thoughts and behaviors. It can affect your self-esteem and possibly lead to isolation.

If you believe that you’re experiencing hypersexual thoughts and behaviors, voice your concerns to your provider or talk to a therapist, especially if you’re also experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. 

Hypersexuality can sometimes develop as a coping response to trauma or emotional distress. It’s a destructive cycle that can be broken with the help of mental health professionals.

If hypersexuality feels like it’s taking over every aspect of your life, Lightfully’s four levels of care may help:

• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program 
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Virtual Services (vPHP/vIOP)

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.