The Healthy Penis Primer: How to Spot Sex Addiction

Let’s be honest: Men love sex. Men love sex so much that sometimes, a guy might wonder if he has a sex addiction. A guy might do all sorts of things to foster his healthy penis, such as using a good penis health crème or otherwise taking care of his beloved tool, but it’s important to remember that not all penis health goes back to the penis itself. Sometimes it goes back to the mental and emotional issues that might lead to problems for that penis, such as sex addiction.

But how does a man know if he has a sex addiction or simply really, really loves sex?

Understanding Sex Addiction

Also known as hypersexuality, sex addiction is defined as a preoccupation with sexual fantasy. It can include elements of casual or anonymous sex, the excessive use of pornography, masturbating to a point where it interferes with daily life, romantic intensity, and objectification of partners. To be classified as sex addiction, these behaviors must last for six months or more. It must also continue despite the efforts to stop it or curb it. It will likely have serious impacts on a person’s personal life, social life, and ability to work. In fact, it can be easily compared to a gambling addiction, or even an addiction to alcohol and drugs.

But Is It Really Addiction?

There is some debate about what actually constitutes an addiction. That’s because the object of addiction - in this case, sex - is used to make a person feel better. However, men use sexual fun and masturbation all the time to relieve anxiety and stress. So is it really an addiction?

The answer lies in how often it happens, or how much of a crutch it becomes. If a guy is constantly turning to porn, masturbation, one partner after another, or intense sexual fantasy to stay on an even keel, or is doing it to excess in every way, then it’s a sex addiction. If a man is simply using masturbation and the like to feel good, however, that’s a different story. Though he might be capable of a sex addiction, if he can control what he’s doing, he’s likely not addicted.

Getting Help for Sex Addiction

If a man thinks he has a sex addiction, he owes it to himself to ensure a healthy penis - and a healthy mind. To that end, it’s important to speak to a counselor who knows a great deal about addiction, specifically sex addition. There are many groups that will open their doors to meeting those who are seeking recovery, just as is the case with alcoholics. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to help, as has certain medications to stabilize the mood.

It’s important to remember that sometimes, addiction can’t be kicked by a guy all alone. He needs support around him. It’s always a good idea to try to pull back from the addictive behaviors, but for the best results and regaining his life, a guy should always seek out professional help as well.

Maintaining a Healthy Penis

Men with a sex addiction often engage in very frequent sex, so they must be aware of how to protect their penis health. The use of a condom is always a good idea, as is the use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) . A man should look specifically for a crème that contains acetyl L carnitine, which can help restore sensitivity, as well as Shea butter, which can help protect and heal the raw skin.

Perpetually Erect Penis - Sex Addiction or Normal Male Desire?

At some point, most men probably wonder whether they might have a sex addiction or whether that always-ready erect penis is just part of being a man. Clearly, a tool that is always at the ready is a sign of good penis health, but even so, the possibility that he may have a sex addiction problem can make a man feel quite uncomfortable. So how is a guy supposed to tell if he is addicted?

What is sex addiction?

Sex addiction – also known by the term “hypersexuality” – is a cause for enormous debate among the medical and psychiatric communities. Some people believe that there is no such thing; others believe that it most certainly does exist. But even among the latter group, there is a range of opinions concerning how to define it – and how to diagnose it.

Writing on PsychCentral, Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, defines sex addiction as “a dysfunctional preoccupation with sexual fantasy, often in combination with the obsessive pursuit of casual or non-intimate sex; pornography; compulsive masturbation; romantic intensity and objectified partner sex for a period of at least six months.”

Weiss also states that an addiction may exist if this obsessive behavior continues despite efforts to stop it and despite the impact that it has on relationships, social life and work. He compares it to other obsessive addictive behaviors like gambling and binge eating.

If it feels good, is it addiction?

One of the traits of sex addiction is that sex is often used to make a person feel better; rather than soothing oneself in a non-sexual manner or talking to others about problems they are experiencing, sex addicts tend to turn to sexual behaviors to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.

That does not mean that a guy who occasionally fondles his tool when he’s feeling stressed or seeks to bed someone when he’s blue is a sex addict; but if this kind of behavior occurs with great frequency and if it cannot really be controlled by the man, then an addiction is quite likely.

The un-controlled aspect is key; many men have extremely high sex drives and engage in sex with an above average frequency; but they do this by choice. So, just because it feels good to have sex and a man does it often does not mean he has an addiction.

Seeking help

If a man does think that perhaps his sexual activity goes beyond normal and has the possibility of being an addiction, he should definitely seek help. There are recovery programs, such as Sexaholics Anonymous and Sex Addicts Anonymous, that can provide support and aid in dealing with the issue. Mental health professionals, such as psychotherapists, psychiatrists and some social workers, are another resource; those with training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can men develop strategies to meet their sex addiction challenges. Certain medications, such as SSRIs (often used in treating depression and anxiety), may be prescribed by doctors to help control sexually compulsive behaviors; various mood stabilizers may also be used. Seeking help for a sex addiction is very important; as more becomes known about this condition in future years, more therapies will be developed to help those suffering from it.

Many men who experience a sex addiction engage in sex so frequently or with such aggressive behavior that their erect penis can become damaged – raw and sore or even de-sensitized -- due to rough handling. And it’s not just hypersexual men who encounter this; many men find themselves in the same boat. This is why it’s crucial that men make a habit of using a superior penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) on a regular basis. A cream with shea butter and vitamin E will nourish and moisturize the skin; if the cream also contains acetyl L carnitine, which is neuroprotective, it can help restore sensitivity lost due to peripheral nerve damage caused by rough use. And if L-arginine is also present in the cream, there will be a benefit to penis blood flow, as that ingredient aids the process which keeps blood vessels open.