Addicted to You

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, addiction, sexual content, and suicidal ideation.

Compulsive sexual behavior (or sex addiction) is characterized by an overabundance of sexual urges and behaviors that interfere with a person’s ability to function, causing the person significant distress. While sexual fantasies and urges are a normal part of human experience, they reach a compulsive level when a person’s relationships, work, health, and self-image are affected. Risks of this disorder include disease transmission, negative effects on work and relationships, injury, and the possibility of assault. People with this condition are also more likely than the average population to have thoughts of death by suicide, largely because sexual compulsions can become overwhelming and a controlling aspect of a person’s life. Many people with compulsive sexual behavior enjoy the experience at the time, but they often experience remorse or regret following the experience. Through various studies, it is estimated that somewhere between 5% and 15% of university-age people experience this condition, and while the majority of people who seek treatment are male, it is possible that women who experience compulsive sexual behavior are underreported due to stigma and societal shaming.