Here is a BBC article on a self-labelled ‘sex addict’ who also did a documentary, apparently spurred by Steve McQueen’s film Shame. Steve McQueen speaks about the issue here (probably UK only).
The creation of a label like ‘sex addiction’ makes me profoundly uncomfortable. The average psychiatrist is quick to dismiss Szaszian criticism, but its history as a profession that has served to exert moral and social control is undeniable. ‘Sex addiction’ smacks of moral condemnation, implicating sex in itself as unhealthy, and increased number of partners as such. This isn’t to say there isn’t some truth to that, but it’s not psychiatrists’ place to form that principalist judgement.
Any behaviour can become problematic. It’s not a problem until it’s a problem. Carrot may be a healthy food, and food that I enjoy. However, if I eat nothing but carrots, then there’s a problem. The problem isn’t ‘carrot addiction’, it’s a profound underlying issue that leads me to that behaviour.
Similarly, sex is essential to our human survival. We are inherently sex addicts. From an evolutionary perspective, we as humans exist solely because we propagate ourselves efficiently. The evolutionary ‘healthy’ behaviour is to do all we can to propagate our genes. Promiscuity in itself, especially in the male of our species who have been especially designed for a promiscuous reproductive strategy, is not necessarily ‘unhealthy’ in that sense.
Sex can be hijacked in all of us. We can have unhealthy attitudes to relationships and sexual associations that limit our enjoyment of the activity or toy with our sense of sexual self. Precisely because sex is so crucial on many levels, there are so many ways it can deviate from any set norm. There are almost as many sexual issues and attitudes to sex as there are individuals. Psychological issues have an effect on the body, and the state of our body effects our affect. In all of this, sex is one of the first manifestations of a dysfunction.
We shouldn’t confuse the symptom with the disease.
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Yet another example of human stupidity: “sex addiction” is a big problem, but “sex deprivation” is not only no problem but doesn’t exist at all.
The hindus believe that the sexual orgasm drains a person of life energy. This is why some hindus try to limit the amount of sexual activity they have and not have it very frequently. Some hindus go so far as to try to be totally celibate.
Even if the sexual orgasm is draining upon someones life energy I do not think that frequent sexual activity should be labelled as being a disorder.
The psychiatric industry has been labeling all sorts of things disorders in order to increase their profits. How much sex a person has is their own business and not the business of hospitals. Historically people have looked at the potential of governments to threaten liberty, maybe people should take a look to see if hospitals pose a threat to liberty.
Sex is a main part of our lives. We must accept the real nature of sexuality too. Every one must protect the acceptable sexual lifestyle as well.
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