"You read too many books." "You drank brandy." "You like women"— You might have heard these lines from a doctor in the 1800s, when nymphomania was considered a common disease among women. But what does nymphomania really mean?

The word has its roots in ancient Greek, where nymph means young woman and mania denotes "furious madness". Why these words? In the 19th century, when the condition was first mentioned, doctors believed that a woman's sexual desire for her husband, or—even worse—for someone she wasn't married to, was a sign that the woman was suffering from a disease that could be so severe as to cause death. Back then, because sexuality wasn't understood, if you didn't conform to social norms, you were considered a "nymphomaniac" and committed to mental asylums or forced to undergo gruesome surgeries.

Fortunately, today the term "nymphomania" is no longer used, as it is outdated and inappropriate. Instead, today we refer to sex addiction or hypersexuality. And in this article, we will try to see what is behind it: what are the characteristics, how can you recognize it, what treatments are there?

Nymphomania (Hypersexual Disorder) - What is it?

In the 20th century, researchers like Masters and Johnson (you may have heard of them if you've seen Masters of Sex ) demonstrated that female sexual desire is normal and part of human sexuality. With more and more research, the term nymphomania has fallen out of use.
Instead, hypersexual disorder began to be studied and recognized in both women and men, regardless of sexual orientation.
The condition has been described as hypersexual disorder, hypersexuality, compulsive sexual behavior and sex addiction. However, the American Psychiatric Association has decided not to introduce hypersexual disorder as a distinct diagnostic category due to a lack of research on valid diagnostic criteria.

Nymphomania - Symptoms

  When a sexual behavior is considered compulsive, in general, the characteristics of hypersexuality include:

• Intrusive sexual thoughts or desires that are repetitive and for an excessive amount of time

• Difficulty reducing or stopping these behaviors

• Engaging in sexual fantasies, urges, or acts to cope with stressful situations

• Multiple sexual partners

• Anxiety and depression, feelings of guilt

While they are not the only characteristics, they are some of the most disruptive and can affect a person's mental and physical health.

Nymphomania in Men - Satire

We say of a person, because although it was considered a female-specific disorder, men could also suffer from nymphomania. The male equivalent of nymphomania in men has been described by the term satyriasis since ancient Greece, and in the 1900s, it was known as "Don Juan syndrome".

Over the years, prejudice has had a negative impact on men, not just women: from socially acceptable behavior to the belief that gender affects one's "masculinity", men have also had to conform to certain norms, otherwise they were considered weak or "effeminate".

How do you recognize a nymphomaniac?

And while hypersexual behavior is more prevalent among men, women also struggle with such disorders. But the use of the term "nymphomaniac" has no meaning and logic these days.

Recent studies and research so far identify some worrying signs when it comes to hypersexuality: excessive masturbation, excessive pornography use, and indiscriminate sexual acts.

Today, hypersexual disorder can be seen as an attempt to regulate the level of tolerance to stress through intensely stimulating sexual fantasies. Furthermore, it can be associated with personality disorders and/or people who have suffered abuse and trauma.

Causes of Nymphomania

In most situations, the causes of hypersexuality cannot be identified. At the beginning of the "discovery" of this condition, doctors believed that nymphomania could be caused by drinking brandy , reading too many books (exactly!!), divorce, and even attraction to other women. The treatments were equally absurd and worse, they had drastic and irreversible repercussions following clitoral removal surgeries.

Even today, there is no clear cause for hypersexual disorder, mostly because each case is unique—with its medical history, social condition, and other important factors that are strictly individual. But according to research, there are some common factors that can cause or contribute to hypersexual behavior:

• Trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence

• Imbalance in brain chemicals

• Certain environmental triggers

• Neurological conditions and drugs used to treat them (Parkinson's)

• Psychological conditions (bipolar disorder, for example)

Risk factors - Nymphomania

So, from the data and studies that exist so far, we can write today about several risk factors in the emergence of hypersexual disorder: a traumatic event, history of mental disorders, alcohol or substance abuse, extreme stress conditions, mental health problems or impulse control disorders and gambling addiction.

Certain conditions can also be risk factors, but do not necessarily cause hypersexuality. Among them are:

• Hyperthyroidism, which can increase libido excessively

• Very high level of estrogen

• Medicines administered in the treatment of Parkinson's

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Very high level of serotonin and dopamine

• Family history of mental disorders

• Sexual abuse and other traumatic events

Diagnosing Nymphomania (Hypersexual Disorder)

The diagnosis of hypersexual disorder is made by consulting the doctor and a series of important data about the patient's sexual experiences, impulses, fantasies and behaviors. The doctor can also analyze the medical history to exclude other conditions and the psychological history as well as the family context.

Nymphomania: treatment

Treatment for hypersexual disorder includes various methods by which other compulsive disorders are treated. For example, mental health education can generally help reduce the stigma and shame associated with such disorders. Because when patients can have open conversations, without being judged, they can understand what is behind the behaviors, with the help of psychotherapy.

And if we're still talking about psychotherapy, here are some treatment methods:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

• Couples psychotherapy

• Drug treatment (anxiolytics, antidepressants and antipsychotics)

Besides these, there are also recommendations to speed up the healing process, for example, enrolling in a support group for people with addictions. In any case, because each case is unique and personal, a detailed, thorough evaluation is needed to clearly identify the symptoms and to determine the necessary treatment or other recommendations.

How can the face be made easier?

In addition to treatments and recommendations, it is important to know how to speed up the healing process and how to cope more easily. And the first step is removing the stigma. Other strategies for finding balance and well-being relate to self-care and include:

• A daily care routine

• Observance of sleeping hours

• Balanced diet and regular exercise

• Support group

• Management of sexual impulses

• Identifying the triggering factors

• Addressing states of shame, guilt

While asking for help can be difficult (it is, after all, a deeply personal subject) if you or someone close to you is dealing with hypersexuality, it's important to:

• Put aside any shame and focus on the benefits of finding treatments and solutions

• Remember that you are not alone: there are many people who experience sex addiction.

• You are looking for a therapist who is trained in treating hypersexuality and has the necessary skills

• Be sure that meetings and consultations are kept confidential.

Complications Hypersexual Disorder

In conclusion, hypersexuality is a complex condition, for which studies are still being done, and which can cause other complications at a personal, social and professional level. In fact, it negatively affects all areas of activity. From a mental health perspective, hypersexual disorder can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone close to you can identify with any of the symptoms and characteristics described in our article, do not hesitate to seek professional help.