3 Signs Your Sexual Activities Are Bordering on Paraphilic Disorder
Much like food and water, sex fulfills one of the body’s most basic needs. In effect, a good majority of people have ongoing needs for intimacy, touch and connection with another person.
Unlike decades gone by, sexual activity and expression is no longer a “hush-hush” topic with movies, magazines and pornographic media displaying sex in all its facets. For someone susceptible to sex addiction, these changes can tip the balance, leaving him or her unable to control these urges.
As one of the more severe forms of sex addiction, paraphilic disorders fall on the extreme end of sexual behavior. When accepted forms of sexual activity fail to provide satisfaction, the beginnings of paraphilic disorder can develop over time.
Knowing what signs to watch for can help you take steps towards getting needed help before a sex addiction spins out of control.
Call our toll-free helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) if you need help finding treatment that meets your needs.
Sex Addictions
Feelings of guilt and shame are common with paraphilic disorder.
Like any form of addiction, sex addiction drives a person to engage in compulsive sexual behavior. As there are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors of all kinds, so there are acceptable and unacceptable forms of sexual behavior.
According to the journal of Psychiatry, sex addictions fall into two distinct categories: paraphilic disorders and non-paraphilic disorders. Non-paraphilic-type addictions fall within the “acceptable” range and typically include the following:
- Repeated extramarital affairs
- Compulsive masturbation
- Frequenting strip clubs
- Paying for sex through prostitution
Paraphilic disorders include the most extreme forms of sexual activity, most of which are deemed unacceptable by cultural norms. Paraphilic-based addictions include:
- Fetishism, a preoccupation with certain props or parts of the body, such as whips or feet
- Exhibitionism
- Voyeurism
- Masochism
- Sadism
- Frotterurism, a need to rub up against others (in a sexual manner) without their consent
In effect, someone who has a paraphilic disorder can only be sexually satisfied when engaging in his or her preferred behavior.
3 Signs of Paraphilic Disorder to Watch For
Relationship Problems
Someone affected by paraphilic disorder has a warped perspective of intimate relationships. Oftentimes, this perspective develops early on during adolescence.
Unrealistic expectations surrounding sex, intimacy and relationships in general make it extremely difficult for paraphiliacs to enter into healthy, mature relationships with others, according to Illinois State University. Consequently, it’s hard for someone struggling with paraphilia to cultivate long-term, intimate relationships.
Symptoms of Paraphilic Disorders
Individuals with paraphilias experience sexual desires from things that most people do not. This may be considered a psychological issue, and can involve a certain degree of psychological distress.
Emotional Turmoil
As with any type of addiction or disorder, people unable to control paraphilic tendencies experience considerable distress and shame over their behavior. In the case of paraphilias, the sense of guilt and shame is compounded in the face of cultural norms and taboos.
If your sexual exploits border on the “unacceptable” and leave you feeling dirty or debased, this degree of emotional turmoil may indicate deep-seated issues or inner conflicts regarding sex and sexual relationships. Addressing these issues early on offers the best chance of overcoming a developing paraphilic disorder.
Disregard for Negative Consequences
Sex addictions are no different than any other form of addiction in terms of the obsessive urges and behaviors they breed. These obsessions drive addiction-based behaviors to the point where a person’s sense of right and wrong gradually fades away.
In effect, people struggling with paraphilic disorders reach a point where there’s a total disregard for whatever negative consequences result from their behavior. After a certain point, problems at work, financial difficulties and a decline in overall health start to surface as paraphilia disorders take over a person’s life.
Please don’t hesitate to call our helpline 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) if you need help finding a treatment program.
