Nymphomania
Hypersexuality describes an extremely frequent or suddenly increased sex drive. The terms nymphomania (for women) and satyriasis (for men) used to be used for the phenomenon of hypersexuality. However, these terms are no longer used in modern psychology because the word mania refers to a mental illness that is not necessarily present in hypersexuality. Only some prostitutes still like to describe themselves as nymphomaniacs. However, only as a kind of advertising slogan to emphasize their natural, above-average lust and insatiability. Other terms for nymphomania are clitoromania and man madness. In both men and women, an unusually high interest in sexual activity or overindulgence in sexuality are signs of hypersexuality. Historically, by societal norms, affected women were more likely to be considered sick or mentally disturbed than affected men. Triggers for hypersexuality can be both physical and psychological. Hormonal fluctuations, for example, can be responsible for an increased libido. Through sex, the hypersexual also often wants to cope with loneliness, insecurity, and despair. Often, a desired increase in self-esteem is also the trigger for hypersexuality and sex addiction. Sex helps to repress problems and can increase self-esteem.
Sex addiction is generally considered a compulsion or a disorder of drive control. This includes not only sexual intercourse, but especially masturbation, porn use and phone sex, etc. A hypersexual person thinks about sex all the time throughout the day. The distinction from sex addiction cannot always be defined exactly. However, people are called sex addicts if they are so sexually active that the consequences are seriously negative. Social contacts and even working life can be burdened by sex addiction. Signs of hypersexuality can be, for example, when someone is fired for surfing porn sites in the office. Or when someone goes into debt for visiting a brothel or using sex hotlines. Hypersexual people also often risk their relationship by cheating until they get caught. In addition, the diagnosis of sex addiction includes several unsuccessful efforts to significantly reduce the excessive sexual behaviour. Similarly, a deadening is often observed in sex addicts, as orgasms often no longer lead to the original climaxes. In sex addiction, sexual activities and thoughts become so much the focus of the person's life that obligations, health and other interests and activities are neglected. Addiction potential already exists in someone who masturbates several times a day and is constantly looking for sexual stimulation. Some therapies for sex addiction recommend total abstinence at first, followed by slow relationship building. Before treatment, a comprehensive medical diagnosis is recommended in any case to be able to exclude physical reasons or psychiatric disorders.