Why am I so horny? Is this Normal?

Increased horniness was first documented in literature hundreds of years ago under the terms of ‘nymphomania’ and ‘satyriasis’ which depicted excessive and insatiable sexual urges in women and men, respectively. Nymphomania is defined as “madness of the labia minora” and satyriasis means to “act like a satyr, a mythological beast, half man and half goat”.

Recently, sexologists showed interest in this topic and undertook various research to better understand this phenomenon, its causes, and the effects it has on individuals.

How can I know if my horniness is considered a problematic behavior?

Experiencing increased sexual arousal is a normal and natural part of human sexuality. However, sometimes people question whether their level of horniness is considered normal or excessive.

Although labeling excessive sexual behaviors as problematic is biased against non-traditional sexual behaviors, it is important to note that when sexual excitement becomes disruptive or causes distress, and when this situation spirals out of control and interferes with people’s various aspects of life, it should be considered problematic and should be addressed and treated to avoid negative consequences.

What are the reasons for excessive horniness?

There are several factors that can lead to excessive sexual arousal. These factors can be related to the individual’s past experiences, environment, lifestyle habits, hormonal changes in the body or used medications as well as general health problems or psychiatric disorders.

Factors related to past experiences and psychological disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Addiction disorders and hypersexual behaviors can both be prone to be triggered by traumatic situations. Sexual behavior disorders may develop as a consequence of traumatic experiences to cope with the symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder that starts during childhood and often lasts through adulthood. It is characterized by lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, as well as emotional lability and a diminished self-control. This condition has an impact on the individual’s overall functioning, including their sexual functioning.

Some studies have shown that individuals suffering from ADHD report increased sexual desire, higher masturbation frequency and lower sexual satisfaction than the general population. They also engage more than the general population in risky sexual behaviors.

History of child sexual abuse (CSA)

Early developmental events, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) or parental neglect, have a role in the development of hypersexuality. In fact, CSA has been linked to impulsive sexual conduct, and childhood emotional abuse has been found to be more prevalent among sexually addicted people.

Negative emotions

Negative emotions such as sadness often inhibit sexual desire, yet some individuals show increases in sexual interest and arousal after experiencing negative affect. Some people tend to exhibit increased sexual risk behavior following anxious affective states, but only if they have low trait anxiety. Thus, negative emotions have an impact on sexual interest and behavior depending on additional traits of the individual.

People with hypersexual activity frequently struggle with controlling their emotions.  According to several studies, hypersexual conduct helps in reducing unpleasant feelings. These actions give momentary peace of mind, but they eventually lead to feelings of guilt and shame over participating in risky sexual behavior, consequently reentering the cycle.

Bipolar and psychotic disorders

Bipolar and psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia) also are associated with sexual hyperactivity.

Factors related to the environment and lifestyle habits

Culture and religious views

Cultural norms and beliefs about sexuality differ between countries. While some cultures may hold more conservative or restricted views on this topic, others may embrace more permissive or liberal ones. Religious and moral ideas also have an impact on how people perceive sexual desire.

Substance abuse

Excessive drug usage can have a significant impact on sexual activity due to the effects it has on the body. The harmful consumption and addiction due to alcohol or illicit drugs can have both excitatory and inhibiting effects on sexual arousal: Its short-term use can improve sexual excitement, yet long-term use is frequently associated with deficits in sexual function. Among people that have a substance abuse habit, the prevalence of hypersexual behavior is considered to be approximately 40%.

Cybersex abuse/addiction

Cybersex is a common term that refers to sexually oriented online activities that aim to provide erotic pleasure. It includes a wide range of activities such as chatting, dating, webcam interactions, pornography and so on.

While modest usage of cybersex may help to expand sexual knowledge and improve sexual relations with partners. Some cybersex users may develop addictions of use, which may lead to bad outcomes. These habits are often defined as excessive and poorly managed use of internet-based sexual activities. Research proved that addictive cybersex usage is strongly linked to increased sexual desire.

Factors related to hormonal levels and fluctuations

Menstrual cycle

Women’s sexual desire and arousal vary because of the hormonal changes brought on by their menstrual cycle. Desire and arousal are raised during the late follicular and ovulatory phases (about in the middle of the cycle) when the probability of conception (POC) is highest, and drop during the early follicular and luteal phases when the POC is lowest.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy involves significant hormonal shifts that can have varying effects on individuals’ sexual desire, with some experiencing heightened libido especially during the second semester.

Testosterone levels

High testosterone levels can lead to an increased sexual drive and arousal.

Factors related to general (or non-psychiatric) health problems

Some general medical conditions can lead to increased sexual arousal, including:

• Neurological conditions including brain lesions and brain traumas, or neurological diseases that can cause damage to parts of the brain that regulates libido like dementia, Alzheimer, seizures
• Endocrinological disorders such as hyper-testosteronism.

Biological factors

According to certain research, exposure to virilizing hormones in childhood or in utero can lead to the development of hypersexual behaviors.

Factors related to medications

Some medical treatments can cause a high sexual arousal such as the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This can be explained by the fact that these drugs usually tend to increase dopamine levels. This latter contributes to sexual function as it increases sexual motivation.

Psychiatric sexual disorders

In some cases, having excessive sexual arousal can be related to a psychiatric disorder:

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD)

The World Health Organization has included Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) which defines it as: “persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges, resulting in repetitive sexual behavior over an extended period (six months or more) that causes marked distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning”.  These out-of-control sexual behaviors often lead to engaging in risky sexual behaviors. It has been estimated that 5%–6% of the general population may be affected by the disorder.

Hypersexual disorder

Hypersexual disorder is defined by a combination of frequent and intrusive sexual thoughts and fantasies, highly sexualized behavior, and a perceived inability to manage one’s sexuality despite its disruptive consequences on other life domains.

People with the condition are typically badly impacted by their sexuality, both subjectively (distress, shame, negative emotions) and objectively (negative behavioral outcomes).  They were shown to be at a greater risk of sexually transmitted infection and legal sexual offending, as well as experiencing financial, job-related, and relationship issues.

How to stop being always horny?

Some actions may be taken to help individuals reduce sexual excitement such as:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet
• Physical activities
• Keeping a good mental health
• Abstaining from illicit drugs
• Controlling the time spent on online sexual activities (pornography…)
• Controlling the use of Aphrodisiac substances
• Seeking professional help when needed

In situations of increased sexual arousal related to general health affections, treating the causal disease can help to regain a normal level of sexual desire.

In other cases including CSBD, hypersexual disorder and other psychological causes of this problem, experts considered several treatments including:

Psychological therapy:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): in the case of CSBDs, the first and highest priority of treatment is to stop (or significantly reduce) the problematic behaviors.
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• The twelve-step therapy: helps individuals to hold a sense of responsibility for their behavior in a safe environment.
• Couples therapy

Medications:

• Antidepressants
• Mood stabilizers

When to seek professional help?

It is important to consider consulting a healthcare professional when facing problematic sexual arousal in these cases:

• The urge to engage in sexual activities gets out of one’s control.
• The horniness interferes with one’s daily life.
• Sexual arousal becomes a source of distress or discomfort and makes a negative impact on one’s mental health (feelings of guilt, shame, depression).
• One’s sexual practices grow increasingly dangerous and may lead to illegal actions or conducts that violate their personal values and ethics.
• Sexual pleasure is persistent and cannot be satisfied with usual or common sexual activities.
• The increased sexual arousal is causing conflict or strain in the individual’s relationship(s).
• The individual is showing hypersexual behaviors after brain trauma or the use of a new medication.

How to prevent problematic sexual behaviors that can be caused by excessive sexual arousal?

Prevention should begin before addictive tendencies emerge. Sex education programs should be revised to include information on the dangers of developing compulsive sexual behavior or sexual dysfunctions. As a result, suitable sexual risk behaviors should be represented in an educational and preventative framework based on medical, psychological, and social views.

Overall …

Sexual arousal or horniness is perceived differently by various people depending on their personality features, culture and beliefs, prior experiences, habits and general well-being. Therefore, this issue is not deemed harmful as long as it does not interfere with one’s various aspects of life (professional, social, economic, etc.).

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