Nymphomania or hypersexuality might seem like a new-age problem. Or it might seem like a direct result of sexual liberation. It all depends on your stance. However, in truth, it’s a disorder that’s been in the manual of mental disorders for a while now. Heck, even Ancient Greek had a word for it!
So why does it seem like a modern problem then? Well, we’re paying more attention to it now — and we’re defining it better. Many women who deal with an increased libido (or have a partner who does) seek medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment that would help them. That, in turn, increases the research.
Professionals are researching both the phenomenon of nymphomania and ways to treat nymphomania. And what’s the result? Well, better diagnoses and more effective treatment plans.
But, without further ado, let’s see the best ways to approach this disorder.
Seeking Professional Help
Nymphomania or sex addiction is a compulsive disorder. It has effects both on the emotional and behavioral plane.
Women who have a compulsive sexual behavior disorder are basically obsessed with sexual thoughts. These thoughts drive them to behave in a hypersexual way. That can include excessive consumption of pornographic content, as well as fixations on sex (both in terms of fantasizing about and doing it).
Now, although sex addiction is more prevalent in men, women are not immune to it. The image of a sex-obsessed man is actually quite widespread. Because of that, many people have trouble perceiving sex addiction as an all-gender issue, and because many people think women are impervious to it, they often go undiagnosed.
That’s why seeking out professional medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment is smart. Finding someone who will treat this disorder as what it is (a mental illness or a disorder) is a great way of dealing with it. Hypersexuality can become a real problem for women because they might be more prone to risky behavior. They’ll seek out partners more freely and without any inhibitions and generally engage in risky behavior.
A mental health professional will be able to curb this sort of behavior (with therapy or mood stabilizers) as well as point out the risk factors. Just getting a diagnosis might be life-changing for some women. After all, they’ve been going through life thinking they are “wired differently” or simply “broken” because their sexual activities and sexual fantasies don’t fall into the norm.
Guidance From Family and Friends
Treating nymphomania has to be holistic. That means that simply getting professional help isn’t enough. Just like with any other addiction, it’s difficult to stay on the road to recovery if you’re on your own. A support system is vital.
However, in order to be effective, the support system has to actually be supportive. Women who have family and friends they can turn to are more likely to keep trying to overcome their addiction. Those who don’t have that support and, instead, have friends and family that stigmatizes their behavior or doesn’t show understanding are more likely to relapse.
The road to recovery is about healing. Of course, professional therapy and medical therapy will help. However, overcoming sex addiction also has a lot to do with introspection and healing. To do that, it’s important that a woman has people she can turn to talk or reflect with. That’s why a support system that’s understanding (while also holding her accountable) is crucial. It’s also important to note that having a support system isn’t a substitute for professional medical help.
The Assistance of Support Groups
When dealing with a problem, no matter what it is, we tend to think we’re all alone in it and that no one could possibly understand us. They aren’t in our shoes, and therefore they don’t get it.
Although that isn’t necessarily true, it has some merit. That’s why support groups work when it comes to recovery. Sharing experiences with other people who have the same or similar issues as we do gives us more insight into the problem itself. It also makes us feel supported and less alone.
Others can inspire us to try harder or do better. Also, seeing others succeed in their recovery will make us more motivated to be consistent.
Getting Enough Exercise
Coping with an addiction is not an easy task. Many addicts (no matter what their addiction is) turn to other stimuli to get rid of the old habits. They just pick something more acceptable.
Although substituting one addiction for another isn’t really something we’d recommend, finding healthy ways to cope with excess energy is. One of the things that can help is exercise.
Exercise should be a part of every treatment plan. It’s a great way to keep your body fit and keep you focused on your goal. It’s also an excellent coping mechanism.
Sex addiction comes with a lot of negative and compulsive thoughts and emotions. If you’re working on finding a way to work through them (that isn’t sexual), exercise is an excellent solution.
Balanced Diet
Aside from keeping a regular exercise schedule, you should also maintain a balanced diet. Sexual addiction, like many other mental health conditions, demands that you completely change your lifestyle. Those changes go from big (being aware of risky behavior and avoiding it) to small (like a balanced diet). Watching what you eat or, better said, eating healthier will help you self-manage the symptoms of sex addiction. It won’t cure you, but it can help.
Proper Medications
There are different treatment options for women with sex addiction. Behavioral therapy is just one of them. That kind of treatment helps women cope with triggers for their behavior. It also helps them curb their desires.
Aside from that, a medical professional might include meds in the treatment plan. Mood stabilizers such as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, as well as anti-psychotics can sometimes be a part of sex addiction therapy.
These meds are notorious when it comes to lowering the libido. However, they’ll also work as they are primarily intended to work. After all, sex addiction is rarely an isolated issue. It often comes with anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.
