BY: Team Mentriq
counsellor / Family / Individual / MENTAL HEALTH / therapist
Comments: No Comments
In a very stereotypical matter, it’s only men who are seen as sex addicts. Whenever someone says sex addiction, they instantly think it is a man. But, sex addiction is not only limited to men but can also happen to women. Being a sex addict is a serious mental illness, and it requires effective and immediate treatment.
As any other illness, sex addiction also doesn’t discriminate between man or woman. Anyone can become addicted to sexual behaviour, or any other kind of addiction. As mentioned in our previous posts, sex addiction is a compulsive behaviour, where the person is no longer interested in the pleasures of the activity.
But, there is a difference between sexually addicted men and women.
Thus, below are few Signs of Sex Addiction in Women:
Addiction to Love or Relationship:
Women who are suffering from sexual addiction are constantly looking for new love and relationships. But, these relationships are not from a need of having a relationship but they are out of compulsion.
Other Addiction:
Often women who are suffering from sexual addiction will also have other kinds of addiction along with this. This may include, nicotine addiction, alcohol addiction, shopping addiction etc.
Masking Feelings:
Women who are addicts often don’t indulge in their feelings. Whenever they feel anxious, depressed, stressed, bored or discomfort they resort to sex or sexual pleasures as their escape.
Negative Feelings After:
Every time after they have had sex, feelings of guilt or shame will take over. Sometimes, after sex, they will start feeling immense sadness which often leads to depression.
Needs for Arousal:
There are a certain want and need which meets their fantasy for arousal. Thus, these needs or fantasy can be of seductive roleplaying or involvement of pain etc. If these specific needs are not present in sexual activity, there is no level of arousal.
Excessive Porn:
Women suffering from sex addiction have an excessive reliance on pornography. They try to find and fulfil their fantasies through the pornographic material. Also, they try to enact the same situations they see in pornography and try and bring it to their bedroom.
Masturbation:
There is a certain compulsion to masturbate among women who are suffering from sexual addiction. They will constantly find places to masturbate which becomes a compulsive act.
Interference with Work-Life:
Pre-occupation with sex and sexual behaviour starts interfering with their daily life and routine. Often, they will find different places to have sex or masturbation, which include their workplace, house, restaurant, etc. Hence, affecting their work-life and creating a hindrance or even massive dire consequences.
Dependent Relationship:
Since women suffering from sexual addiction often find partners who are addicts themselves. Thus, they will form a co-dependent relationship with those partners, and their addiction to justify them.
Sexual Addiction in women has always been a taboo topic. But, it is as common in women as men. According to survey around 8% of men suffer from sexual addiction and about 5% of women suffer from sexual addiction. Hence, if you or someone you know is suffering from this mental illness, then please visit a mental health professional immediately.
To take our test on Sex Addiction Click here
Read our Previous Blog on Signs of Sexual Addiction in Men.