I thought I once saw an article in Science magazine that dealt with this issue. It said that brain scans of clinically diagnosed alcoholics and gambling addicts showed similar patterns of neurological activity. However, no such patterns could be detected in the brains of alleged sex addicts. To me this either means that the diagnostic procedure used to identify sexual addiction is invalid or that there is simply no such thing as sexual addiction.
I am inclined to believe that there is no such condition. I feel this way because the people who claim it exists are, IMHO, sexually hysterical themselves. Any other opinions out there?
There has to be an addictive element to sex. According to wikipedia (I'm looking REALLY hard for sources here, hehe):
"While sexually, and even romantically, stimulating activities are what they seek, internally the shot of brain chemicals released when they engage in these activities is what they crave. One such brain chemical released by their activities is the "feel good" neurotransmitter dopamine."
When the sex addict gets a shot of dopamine in their head, they feel better (aka, the relaxed feeling after an orgasm). When a guy is depressed, or has other problems in his life, this relaxed feeling after orgasm would be something used to cope. This very similar to every other type of addiction.
It is hard to tell if research found is completely unbiased. This is true for both sides, as the wikipedia article may be completely false and biased as well as your sources. For what it is worth, it makes sense to me that a person can get use sex as a coping mechanism in his life and thus become addicted.
I was citing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_addiction
Originally posted by ZahlanziExactly my point. Dopamine can be found in other ways, such as methanfedimine (sp? who knows) and other drugs. It is much cheaper to masturbate or, in the minds of VERY sick individuals, rape somebody. Either way, the pattern is the same.
hmm. i don't see deppressed people looking for a fix of dopamine. i mean, you must be happy to get it up in the first place. and dopamine can be obtained in other ways
Also, I'm pretty sure that depressed people can still get an erection 🙂
Originally posted by nihilismorSex addiction ain't no fiction:
Many who are addicted to sex are also addicted to recreational drugs.
Sex addiction is not fiction. There is Sex-aholic support groups with very large turn outs.
To say that only 75% of people are addicted to sex would be a very generous.
It's all about libido!
So ditch the dreary diction, girls:
Let's get it on rapido!
I need my fix of dopamine
Lest my mood goes slack
And so I truly hope to find
A nymphomaniac!
Originally posted by nihilismorThere is no consensus in the medical community that sexual addiction actually exists, and it is not presently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (D.S.M.). Those who support its diagnosis describe it as being in many ways similar to other addictions, where the activity comes to be used as a way to manage mood or stress and may become more severe with time. Diagnostic criteria have been suggested that are closely analogous to those the D.S.M. provides for other addictions
Many who are addicted to sex are also addicted to recreational drugs.
Sex addiction is not fiction. There is Sex-aholic support groups with very large turn outs.
To say that only 75% of people are addicted to sex would be a very generous.