Could Sex Addiction be Genetic?
Disclaimer: Though "sex addiction" is not an official diagnosis, the experience of having disruptive compulsions to engage in sexual behavior is realโsimilar to how people addicted to alcohol or drugs become reliant on those addictive behaviors. Whether sex can be considered an actual addiction or not is still an open discussion between experts.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ ๐๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐โฌ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. There are at least four โrisk factorsโ which could make people more or less likely to develop it:
๐ง From a ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น point of view, both the amount of enjoyment produced by sโฌxual activity and the โability to temper impulsive desires with rational thoughtโ vary among brains; theyโre all wired differently. However, letโs not forget that โnormal human brain functioning and brain chemistry make people vulnerable to addiction,โ since the brain naturally rewards you for engaging in feel-good behaviors.
๐ญ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ has taught us that โpeople have varying skills and abilities to cope with unpleasant emotions or circumstances.โ People with poor coping skills, high stress, and lack stress reduction skills are more vulnerable to addictions, as well as those suffering from disorders like depression or anxiety. In these cases, sโฌx can become a very attractive coping mechanism.
๐ Our ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ and ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ can also determine our vulnerability towards addiction. โResearchers have learned that certain groups of people are more vulnerable to addiction than other[s].โ This could be due to the level of freedom in such groups, internet availability, or even generational trauma. Groups who have been oppressed or colonized could be more vulnerable to addictions because theyโre more likely to perceive the world as an unsafe place, presenting more challenges in terms of stress and coping skills.
๐งฟ Our ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ or ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ also play a role. โA disconnection from, or loss of, life's meaning and purpose contributes to the development and progression of addiction. This disconnection causes a failure to live in harmony with the universal laws or principles that we hold to be important.โ
Learn more about sex addiction by watching our interview with
Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Dr. Kate Balestrieri.
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