Satyriasis: male sexual addiction

Sexual educator and psychologist Irene Bedmar Martín said a very illustrative phrase that is worth remembering at this moment: “make your body an ally, never an enemy.” However, satyriasis can make the male body and sex something even unpleasant for a man.

Because this sex addiction can become a really serious problem. By reproducing itself over time, it ends up making the man lose the pleasure of sex, of enjoying his own body and of enjoying something as beautiful as giving free rein to his sexual fantasies. Desire begins to translate into need and it is precisely the satisfaction of this need that ends up producing great anxiety, hoarding a good number of resources and strangling pleasure.

What is satyriasis?

Satyriasis is basically sex addiction or hypersexuality in men. That is, it is a disorder that is characterized by compulsive sexual behavior. Finally, one is unable to enjoy sex, the fantasies become unhealthy and recurring and the pleasure is lost.

As pointed out Groneman (2001), “Hypersexuality or sex addiction is a uncontrollable need for sex of all kindsfrom sexual relations with other people to masturbation or consumption of pornography”. Groneman adds that “is characterized by a frequent genital stimulation which, once achieved, may not result in long-term emotional (or sexual) satisfaction for the individual.”.

Because of this compulsion, the affected person needs to increase the behavior, and it can be both in intensity and frequency. Only then does he find some pleasure, and if it is not achieved, the feeling of dissatisfaction and discomfort is very deep.

However, once a high limit is reached, the sexual act itself does not cause pleasure in the affected person. His compulsion prevents him from obtaining any benefit, and the pleasurable sensation disappears. Simply His life revolves around the search for stimulation, even though he can’t find any fun.

However, according to specialists, There is still no agreement on considering satyriasis as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Many experts consider it within the group of “normal” addictions.

Characteristics of satyriasis or male sex addiction

Hypersexuality in men has a series of common characteristics that are usually found in a good number of profiles. The most common are these:

It is estimated that approximately 84% of those affected by hypersexuality began to show this behavior before the age of 25. What’s more, of this percentage, 54% affirm that before the age of 18 they already felt this addiction. Many people mistakenly think that this compulsive disorder is more common than any other. However, there are no studies that show that it is more likely to be addicted to sex than to drugs, for example.Hypersexuality does not appear due to the mere search for pleasure in all cases. There have been profiles with other needs, such as an escape valve, due to anxiety, stress, loneliness, pure sadness and even not knowing or not being able to handle negative emotions.

Sex addiction is not reduced to relationships and other particularities of satyriasis

Also It is a very common mistake to believe that satyriasis is the need for sex with another person or people. However, this compulsion is much more complex than that, since it can be caused by a need for self-stimulation and even consumption of pornography.

Furthermore, the threshold that determines where the problem of male hypersexuality begins is unclear. Experts have not yet agreed on what the point is, since male sexual desire can vary greatly among the various profiles of men according to their culture, religion, customs, etc.

Be that as it may, there is a consensus that when hypersexual behavior causes discomfort and discomfort we could be facing compulsive behavior, which can even affect the social functioning of the individual at various levels, such as personal, social, work, economic, family, etc.

Other experts on the subject have developed the repetitive cycle that is observed in those suffering from this disorder. They would be:

Obsession.Hunting.Recruitment.Sexual gratification. Return to normality.Justification.Guilt.Shame.Despair.Promises.

It is usual that men tend to hide their hypersexual behavior. That is to say, it is an inconspicuous disorder, especially in its initial stages. Only the person who suffers, upon recognizing the disorder, will be able to receive appropriate treatment.

Fortunately, today It is a condition that can be treated by psychology. That is why it is important that we all normalize these situations. This will make it easier to identify them and provide a professional remedy.

Satyriasis and other addictions

Carnes and Schneider (2000) point out the Similarity between patterns of sexual addiction with other addictions such as alcoholism, drug and gambling addiction:

There is a loss of control that manifests itself in a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to control or stop the addictive behavior. The maintenance of the behavior despite contrary consequences such as broken marriages, financial problems, arrests, etc. Preoccupation and obsession with continuing with addictive behavior despite knowing the harm they do to themselves and others.

As pointed out Saleme Negrete (2010), “Sex addiction provides a evasion mechanism, a temporary relief from personal, family, and social problems. It is also an escape route, a door to the existential void present inside the person, which leads him to search for illusory exits that fill said void.”.

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