Many studies show that obsession with sex, the desire to perform unsafe sex acts, and feeling unhappy after sex can be signs of psychological trauma.
Everyone deals with trauma differently. Some people don’t realize that current behavior is related to past trauma.
Psychological trauma can manifest through words, actions and even sexual behavior.
Research on Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that hypersexuality can be a response to past trauma, stress, or post-traumatic stress. For some people, high sex drive is a way to cope with previous traumatic events.
“Persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may find it difficult to regulate sexual desire and irritability, because their standards have been altered after the trauma,” says Allison Kent, MD, Ph. therapist at Favorite Wellness Counseling in Pennsylvania, says.
Experts point to several signs that a person’s sexual behaviors are related to past trauma.
Prioritize sex first
‘Preferences sex over anything else and maintains this mentality every day shows that you are leading an unhealthy life,’ says Dr Kent.
Manifestations include “difficulty controlling thoughts or words about sex, acting on sexual instincts that interfere with everyday life,” according to Omar Ruiz, a marriage and family therapist family at TalkThinkThrive.
Feeling bad about yourself after having sex
Frequent regrets about sexual encounters can be a sign of trauma. “People with a history of trauma often use sex as a way to deal with their insecurities. One of the warning signs is that they are unhappy or feel uncomfortable right after sex. education,” says Jacob Brown, a psychotherapist in San Francisco.
Dr. Kent suggests each person ask themselves a few questions to confirm the source of those feelings: Do you feel useless if you don’t have sex? Do you feel empty after sex? Are you equating sex with love, the feeling of being loved depends entirely on sex?
Having sex in a dangerous, risky way
Taking too much risk in sexual activities, such as not using birth control, not knowing the health status of a partner, are signs that a person has suffered psychological trauma in the past.
“Those who feel out of place, trying to prove their existence and connect with others, to escape chronic stress, are prone to developing sex addiction,” Gillian O’Shea Brown, teacher New York University assistant professor and author of “Healing Complex Post-Traumatic,” explains.
“The sense of urgency to alleviate psycho-physiological symptoms because of past trauma easily leads to ill-advised sexual behavior, indiscriminate choice of partners, and the removal of one’s own standards of safety and self-esteem. close,” she added.
High sex drive, deliberately taking risks in sex is a sign of psychological trauma in the past. Image: HuffPost
Using sex to control your own mind and the actions of others
People who have been hurt in the past tend to use sex as a form of control over their own thoughts or the actions of others, instead of showing intimacy.
“Some people want a sense of control and ownership over their own bodies. Others use sex to feel valued and loved. There are people who use sex to manipulate others. “, said Dr. Kent.
Sex allows some people to connect with others, because they lack emotional or spiritual connections. Psychosexual behavior resembles “using sex to solve problems, such as regaining composure, apologizing, or achieving a specific goal,” according to Jacob Brown.
Sex addiction
Sex addiction is different from enjoying a sex life. Sex addicts just want to have as much sex as possible, just like drug addicts or alcoholics. However, they don’t get real pleasure from their partner, says Omar Ruiz.
Marisa Peer, therapist and founder of the Center for Rapid Transformation, says hypersexuality is “manifested by a sudden or extremely frequent increase in sexual desire and is difficult to control”. Sometimes, they stem from psychological trauma, making the person feel unsafe with their body.
“Persons with childhood trauma often have a compulsive, ritualistic gratification desire that aggravates the addiction. Like other addictions, sex addiction can lead to feelings of emotional distress. The feelings of shame, regret, despair and re-trauma are even deeper,” said Professor Gillian O’Shea Brown.
Dr. Kent says treating sex addiction after trauma is not a linear, day-to-day process. It requires understanding the underlying causes, the motives behind the behavior.
The first step, he says, is to talk to a mental health professional who specializes in psychological and sexual trauma. Common treatments are cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical, perceptual-focused behavioral therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Some people will be prescribed medication or long-term therapy. Experts also recommend that patients contact an internal medicine or neurologist, as problems such as traumatic brain injury, endocrine disorders and thyroid conditions can sometimes cause sex addiction.
“The foundation of trauma healing begins with increasing the patient’s awareness and knowledge of the body’s response to trauma. The ultimate goal is to locate a sense of security in relation to trauma. sick people,” added Professor Gillian O’Shea Brown.
Thuc Linh (According to Huffington Post)
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