What is nymphomania?
The word nymphomania takes its origin from Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, "nymph" is the name given to spirits that look like beautiful young women and are believed to hide in nature.
The word nymphomania takes its origin from Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, "nymph" is the name given to spirits that look like beautiful young women and are believed to hide in nature. Mania", on the other hand, means madness, excitement, excessive enthusiasm. It is characterized by discomfort, excessively frequent desire for sex or suddenly increased libido.
A person with sexual addiction, or nymphomania as it is called in women, is obsessed with sex or experiences an abnormally intense sex drive. The inability to control sexual impulses leads to the deterioration of a person's relationships and a decrease in the quality of life. The thoughts and behaviors of nymphomania patients have reached a point where sexuality dominates and this affects other interactions and activities. If these impulses become uncontrollable, it becomes quite difficult or impossible for a person to continue his social life.
What causes nymphomania?
The cause of nymphomania is not exactly known. However, some theories have been put forward about the reasons. They are associated with psychological and emotional problems caused by past sexual trauma. For example, women who have been raped can sometimes engage in extreme sexual behavior as a form of personal punishment. For some women, sex can be a coping mechanism with childhood abuse or trauma. Some factors that are thought to be associated due to nymphomania are:
* Imbalance in natural chemicals found in the brain. Some chemical agents in the brain called neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, help regulate people's mood. High levels of these chemicals may be associated with hypersexuality.
* Changes in the neural circuits of the brain. Compulsive sexual behavior can result in a sexual addiction that, over time, causes changes in the neural circuits of the brain. As with other addictions, more intense stimuli become necessary for satisfaction or relaxation as time progresses.
* Some psychiatric disorders. In some forms of psychiatric illness, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, hypersexuality can occur as a symptom.
* Neurological problems. Nymphomania can rarely be the result of a neurological disease such as epilepsy, a head injury or dementia. For example, hypersexuality is frequent in Klüver-Bucy syndrome, a disease of neurological origin. It is accompanied by symptoms such as obsessive overeating, constant placement of inappropriate objects in the mouth, and hypersexuality. As in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, individuals taking certain medications such as dopamine may develop hypersexuality as a side effect.
What are the symptoms of nymphomania?
People with nymphomania can show dependence on different types of sexual behavior. This makes it difficult to define the situation. Activities related to sexual addiction may include:
* Compulsive masturbation
* Multiple relationships, sexual partners and one-night stands
* Constant use of pornography
* Having unsafe sex
* Cybersex
•Exhibitionism
•Voyeurism
Behaviors and attitudes that develop due to nymphomania may include:
* Inability to curb sexual urges and respect the boundaries of other people engaged in sexual acts
* Not seeking emotional satisfaction in sexual activity
* Obsession with attracting others, falling in love and starting new romances, which often results in a series of relationships
* Feelings of guilt and shame
* Inability to control impulses despite financial, medical or social consequences
* Repeated failure to resist extremely intense sexual urges
* Numerous unsuccessful attempts to stop, reduce or control the behavior
* Excessive expenditure of time and energy to have sex or to improve a sexual experience
* Sexual behavior lasts longer than its purpose
* Abandonment of social activities due to sexual addiction or failure to fulfill work-related responsibilities
* Sexual anger disorder characterized by distress, anxiety, restlessness and anger that occurs when a person does not get what they want
Studies have shown that there is a strong link between sexual addiction and risk-taking. Sexual addiction can cause a person to continue to take risks, even if there are health consequences, such as sexually transmitted infections, physical or emotional injury.
What are the complications of nymphomania?
Untreated, compulsive sexual behavior can cause intense feelings of guilt and low self-esteem in a person. Some patients may develop severe anxiety and depression. Other complications may include:
* Family problems and divorces
* Financial problems
* Do not harm the environment, as in voyeurism and exhibitionism
* Contracting sexually transmitted diseases
* Exhibiting illegal behavior
If people feel that they have lost control of their sexual behavior, it is useful to seek help from a health professional, especially if this is causing problems for the person or others. Impulsive sexual behavior tends to escalate over time. Therefore, getting help as soon as it is realized that there may be a problem can facilitate treatment. Some of the situations that require urgent professional help can be listed as follows:
* The presence of other problems with impulse control and feeling that sexual behavior is out of control
• Because of uncontrolled sexual behavior, a person is afraid that he or she may harm himself or his environment
* The person is having suicidal thoughts in his head because of his problems
When deciding on the need for professional help, a person may manage some questions for himself, such as:
Can I keep my sexual urges under control?
• Am I tired of constantly thinking about sexuality?
Is my sexual behavior harming my relationships? Is it affecting my work? Does it cause various negative consequences?
Am I trying to hide my sexual behavior?
It can be difficult to contact a medical facility or seek help for hypersexuality, because this is a very private matter of the person. The person may need to be encouraged to seek help. For this purpose, the following can be tried:
• The person should put aside the feeling of shame and focus on the benefits that the treatment will provide for him.
• The person should know that he is not alone, many people struggle with excessive sexual urges.
• It should not be forgotten that mental health professionals who will assist in treatment are trained to act with understanding and common sense. However, not all mental health professionals are experienced in treating nymphomania. Therefore, it should be ensured that there is a competent therapist in this area.
• It should be remembered that everything a person says to a doctor or mental health professional is kept confidential, except in cases where the consequences, such as a person saying that they will harm themselves or someone else, are irreparable or constitute a legal crime.
What are the risk factors for nymphomania?
Nymphomania can affect any woman, regardless of sexual orientation. Some of the factors that can increase the risk of compulsive sexual behavior are:
* Ease of access to sexual content. As a result of developments in technology and social media, it is increasingly becoming easier to access such more intensive content.
• Privacy. The fact that forced sexual activities can be continued in secret can cause these problems to worsen over time.
In addition, an increased risk of sexual behavior may occur in people who have:
* Alcohol or drug addiction problems
* Individuals with another mental disorder or condition such as a gambling addiction
* Family members who have problems such as family conflicts or dependent personality structure
* Those with a history of physical or sexual harassment
How is nymphomania treated?
Sexual addiction requires the treatment of medical professionals experienced in this field, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or sexual therapist. Treatment may vary depending on the underlying cause, but is generally planned in the form of counseling and behavioral psychological support. If nymphomania is associated with mental illness, anxiety, or a personality disorder, medications may be given as part of a treatment plan.
In the treatment of nymphomania, psychotherapy and medications can be used. Medications for treatment may include antidepressants, anxiolytics, or antipsychotics, similar to those used in other obsessive disorders. Individual treatment and group therapies with individuals with a similar problem can help with sexual addiction.
Because impulsive sexual behaviors are risky, people with nymphomania have a higher risk of developing complications such as sexually transmitted diseases.