Is Sex Addiction Like Being Hooked On Drugs?
Posted on: 12 November 2019
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When people consider sex addiction counseling, one point of resistance that's common is the assumption that sex can't really be like drugs. Let's explore that question from a scientific standpoint and the implications it has for the counseling process.
Dopamine
One of the main pieces of scientific evidence justifying the comparison between sex and drug addiction is the role the neuroreceptor dopamine plays. Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that helps create your sense of reward. It serves the purpose of making sure you do basic things that are essential for survival, such as drinking and eating.
Almost any repeated activity that might bring you joy likely operates on this pathway. It's why there are addiction concerns related to activities like gambling and playing video games, too. For that reason, sex can also become a repeated behavior that becomes unhealthy.
Notably, other receptors in the brain also influence addiction. Serotonin, oxytocin, and naturally occurring opioids influence the reward process, too.
What Happens?
The problem with many neurological functions is that people get used to certain conditions. What once felt exciting starts to become normal to your mind and well-tolerated by your body. This follows a similar tolerance pattern that folks with substance use disorders encounter where it takes a bigger hit to get the same effect.
Many people also experience crashes as their levels drop following activities. Despair can set in after sex and the need for a dopamine-driven rush kicks in quickly. As they go back to the well more and more, the feeling without sex becomes more despairing. Likewise, it continues to get harder to get the same fix.
Seeking Solutions
It's worth noting that the role of dopamine as a motivator makes treating addiction tricky. After all, a doctor can't just prescribe an inhibitor that discourages you from basic pleasure-seeking.
Behavioral models, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, are frequently used to help patients regulate their actions. For example, a patient may be taught how to identify the onset of a crash into depression, happiness, and loneliness. They will then consider other activities that can be rewarding, such as exercise.
As with other forms of addiction, a doctor may prescribe drugs to foster treatment. Someone who goes from being highly depressed to extremely promiscuous, for example, might be prescribed medication to regulate their mood. Doctors will also look out for other potential co-morbid disorders, such as manic episodes.