Sex Addiction Gains Recognition as Type of Chronic Disease; Impacts More Students

Diabetes, high blood pressure, alcoholism, sexual addiction. Sex addiction is beginning to gain more emphasis as being similar to chronic diseases that can go unnoticed for years and cause serious psychological and physical effects. It’s also gaining more attention among students at colleges and universities.

What was once considered behavior that might be related to a person’s desires for sex, or used as an excuse for poor behavior, is increasingly the focus of research studies – including MRI imaging – to determine how sexual behaviors impact the brain and other systems.

Like alcohol or drug addiction, people with sex addiction experience deep cravings and obsessive thoughts that they are unable to resist, despite the consequences. Over time, the sexual behaviors become much less about pleasure and more about the brain’s response to needing this act of release when facing negative emotions or stress.

Around five percent of people in the U.S. are believed to have sexual compulsivity or sexual addiction, and the number is likely higher due to the discreet nature of the condition. Recent research studies are helping shift sex addiction into the category of other illnesses and addictions, prompting new professionally-led treatment centers for people in their teens through older adult years.

Sex addiction is different than having a promiscuous lifestyle because the person continues to engage in high-risk behaviors and eventually, loses their ability to control the urges or thoughts related to them. The sex becomes a response to not only emotional stress, but is often related to deep-seeded problems with intimacy.

For college students, the independence of a campus, the constant access to late-night activities and online sexual material and the pressure to plan a course for the future may increase their risk of developing a sexual addiction. When paired with alcohol and multiple partners, sex addiction can lead to serious health risks like sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or an increased risk for violence.

Sex addiction is identifiable and treatable, but professional help is needed to start the recovery process.