Symptoms & Signs of Sexual Addiction - Transformations Treatment Center. What Is Sexual Addiction? Sex addiction, also known as compulsive sexual behavior disorder or hypersexuality, is classified as a mental disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO). Sexual addiction is characterized by a “persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior.” It’s estimated that 3 to 6 percent of people experience compulsive sexual behavior in the United States. Like substance abuse disorders, sex addiction symptoms manifest differently.
On the psychological level, addicts use sex as their primary way of escaping physical and emotional pain, dealing with life stressors, and coping with problems in their daily lives. Sexual activities become the center of the addict’s life to the extent that their health and responsibilities are no longer pertinent. Like food, water, and sleep, sex is a normal and healthy part of life. Why Is Sexual Addiction So Difficult to Overcome? Need More Information?