The ambitious quote above belongs to John F. Kennedy. He suffered from hypersexuality, or satyriasis. Having sex every 4 hours, hmm... Does it sound amazing? You should think again after reading this.
“Who doesn't love sex?!” you might exclaim, and rightly so. Everyone loves it, of course. There’s nothing wrong with loving it, but what about when it becomes an addiction? That's what we call Satyriasis. Let's explain a bit.
What is Satyriasis?
We are sure many of you know that Lars von Trier, one of the world-renowned directors, made a film called Nymphomaniac in 2013. It caused quite a stir because the film depicted the experiences of a woman addicted to sex.
In fact, the film takes its name from "Nymphomania," which is the term for hypersexuality in women. The same condition, meaning excessive sex addiction, is called "Satyriasis" in men.
Let's be careful: Please do not confuse this with priapism. Priapism is a condition where one suffers from a penile erection even without any sexual activity, and it is often very painful. Satyriasis is not like that.
Let's Elaborate Further
First, let's briefly talk about what addiction is: Addiction can be fundamentally defined as an individual experiencing significant physical or psychological harm, and despite being aware of this harm, being unable to give up a substance.
However, when we say "substance" here, it shouldn't just bring to mind nicotine, drugs, or alcohol. We can call that substance addiction, but there are dozens of different types of addiction; such as shopping addiction, relationship addiction, internet addiction, etc. And sex addiction is one of them.
Neurobiologically, addiction can be briefly described as an excessive activation in the orbitofrontal cortex, which governs actions such as decision-making, reward, and punishment responses in the brain. While sex normally plays a role in increasing dopamine in the striatum, we can say that the actual short circuit occurs in the orbitofrontal cortex. An abnormal activation in this area causes the individual to focus solely on the reward. Punishment? That part is missing; they don't care one bit about punishment and thus the consequences of their actions. If they don't get their reward, they become an aggressive, hostile individual.
For those curious about the orbitofrontal cortex, which we still know very little about, and the potential consequences if it is damaged, you can look it up later. But not right now; we still have more to say about satyriasis.
Beyond High Libido
We have written about what libido is. Here, we are not just talking about high libido. We are talking about a condition that can have neurological dimensions, going beyond an impulse disorder, and its roots can trace back to childhood.
Generally (though we are embarrassed to say it, like all gentlemen), there is a tendency in our society among men to "keep score." The number of partners one has been with, the performance displayed during lovemaking, and many other unscientific misconceptions are perceived as indicators of masculinity.
Of course, this is not true. In fact, a man who has too many dates, finds himself with a different partner almost every night, and is only interested in the experience itself, might be suffering from satyriasis.
The Unseen Part of the Iceberg
Having sex with a different partner every night. For many men, this might seem like a dream. But believe me, such a thing can be a nightmare, the kind that points to one's deepest fears.
When looking at individuals suffering from satyriasis, there is certainly a sense of satisfaction in "holding power." They may think they are more powerful the more women they have sex with. In reality, there are many other underlying reasons for this uncontrollable, addictive behavior.
It is often observed that men with satyriasis, also known as hypersexuality, typically flee from negative emotions such as loneliness, anger, and self-hatred. In some men, it can also be seen as a defense mechanism against unconscious homosexual tendencies.
These men, who feel like Don Juan, may appear content from the outside, but the underlying reasons for hypersexuality suggest that they are not so happy.
Some of these reasons include:
- Growing up in a loveless and insecure environment in childhood,
- Mental disorders,
- Genetic factors,
- Organic brain diseases,
- Kleine-Levin Syndrome,
- Endocrine gland irregularities.
Photo: Deon Black
The Visible Part of the Iceberg
In hypersexuality, generally seen between the ages of 25-50, individuals may prefer partners who are not suitable for their social status, respectability, or social circles.
These individuals may also exhibit narcissistic traits and self-admiration. Additionally, they are incredibly articulate; they can elevate someone to the skies in an instant and then just as quickly bring them down and discard them.
Getting what they want is very important to them. If they don't get what they want, they can become ill-tempered and angry. Their general outlook on life is pessimistic, and they tend to seek pity.
Their filter settings are almost non-existent: the only thing they care about is pornography. They do not evaluate their partner based on an aesthetic appeal, nor do they value their intelligence or character. At the end of the day, the only thing they want is the act, which is sex.
A Research: Clinical Symptoms
In 1991, psychologist Dr. Patrick Carnes identified 10 clinical symptoms . These symptoms were most frequently affirmed by individuals suffering from satyriasis:
- Compulsive Behavior (94%)
- Loss of Control (93%)
- Attempts to Stop (88%)
- Time Loss (94%)
- Preoccupation (77%)
- Failure to Fulfill Responsibilities (87%)
- Continued Use Despite Awareness of Consequences (85%)
- Losses in Social, Career, and Recreational Contexts (87%)
- Withdrawal (98%)
After this, Carnes developed the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST). He found that 96.5% of respondents to this test were accurately classified when compared with diagnostic interviews.
There's another interesting piece of information that emerged from Carnes' research on a group consisting of 772 male and 177 female sex addicts, and 141 controllers. In this study, Carnes developed some behavioral subtypes that were significantly higher in men and women suffering from satyriasis compared to the controllers:
- Fantasy Sex (18%)
- Voyeurism (18%)
- Exhibitionism (15%)
- Seductive Role Play (21%)
- Intrusive Sex (12%)
- Sex for Money (15%)
- Pain Exchange (16%)
- Abusive Sex (13%)
What's Happening to the Iceberg?
It can take a considerable amount of time for patients to become aware of themselves and their behaviors. The realization that this issue goes beyond their own will and that they need support often arises alongside suicidal thoughts.
After 6-7 years, they realize that this addiction is negatively affecting their lives and seek professional help. So gentlemen, if you happen to have a friend like Lorenzo Van Matterhorn around, you might suggest that he needs to get help.
It's not untreatable; it can be treated. However, this process will not be easy or short, and it's good to be prepared for that.
Result?
We’ve saved another interesting piece of information for the end of the article: You might think that in geographical regions, especially in cultures like ours, such a disorder would not be encountered. After all, sex can still be a taboo subject. However, research also shows that these patients generally come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
The explanation for this is that the condition is more prevalent in individuals who cannot utilize their time constructively and suffer from a lack of activity in their social lives. And, let's admit, when it comes to interests, self-improvement, and acquiring new hobbies, these are not very common in this region.
Lorenzo Von Matterhorn, whom we also mentioned when talking about Premature Ejaculation, could be your friend. In such situations, we love to quickly find a label and stick it on people. Unfortunately, these are not labels, but matters of diagnosis. So gentlemen, both question yourselves and support your friends whom you think need to be enlightened. Knowledge, like love, is beautiful when shared, after all.