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Cybersex addiction has become a specific sub-type of internet addiction. It has been estimated that 1 in 5 Internet addicts are engaged in some form of online sexual activity (primarily viewing porn and/or engaging in cybersex).
How much is too much?
According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
• Mild HD is when the person spends 15-30 minutes fantasizing about sex on an average day and indulges in hypersexual activity once in an average week.
• Severe HD is when the person spends more than 2 hours a day preoccupied with sex and displays hypersexual behaviour (masturbation and/or partner-related) six or more times in an average week.
Warning signs of cybersex addiction
1. Routinely spending significant amounts of time in chat rooms and private messaging with the sole purpose of finding cybersex.
2. Feeling preoccupied with using the internet to find on-line sexual partners.
3. Frequently using anonymous communication to engage in sexual fantasies not typically carried out in real-life.
4. Anticipating your next on-line session with the expectation that you will find sexual arousal or gratification.
5. Finding that you frequently move from cybersex to phone sex.
6. Hiding your on-line interactions from your significant other.
7. Feeling guilt or shame from your on-line use.
8. Accidentally being aroused by cybersex at first, and now find that you actively seek it out when you log on-line.
9. Masturbating while on-line while engaged in erotic chat.
10. Less investment with your real-life sexual partner only to prefer cybersex as a primary form of sexual gratification.
Treatment
If hyper sexuality behavior is untreated it might lead to loss of a partner, severe marital or relationship problems, loss of career opportunities, suicidal obsessions, exposure to STDs. Sadly, cybersex addicts are often reluctant to seek help because they don’t view their solo sexual behaviors as a cause of their life problems. It is very common that it is the partner of the cybersex addict who generally seeks help from the therapist.
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