Suffering any form of sexual abuse as a child can have long-term consequences for the victim. Whether the abuse occurs once or is ongoing, it can leave physical and psychological scars that impact sense of self-worth and degrade one’s view of sexuality. 

For many, it can result in hypersexuality. Definitions of hypersexuality involve having intense and persistent sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviors. These can make people feel out of control and can put them in dangerous situations where revictimization is much more likely to occur. Hypersexuality also impacts relationships and puts people at risk of diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and a variety of other issues. Can being molested as a child cause hypersexuality? Learn more about the impact that sexual abuse can have on your life and why pursuing a sexual abuse civil lawsuit can be the way to regain your power.

Is Hypersexuality a Trauma Response?

Hypersexuality is often a trauma response and can be one of the signs of childhood sexual abuse. But what is trauma, and why does it occur after this type of sexual harm?

A traumatic experience can refer to anything that triggers your body’s fight-or-flight-or-freeze response. When this occurs, your body and mind focus on escaping from danger, which causes all non-essential body systems to go “offline” until you’re no longer in peril. 

Sexual Trauma and PTSD

Even when you’re safe, your brain remembers the trauma and sets up a kind of alarm system for similar situations in the future. You can experience significant anxiety if anything reminds you of the abuse, for example, and can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This can mean experiencing flashbacks and engaging in avoidant behavior. 

Trauma affects your brain in many other ways. During the sexual abuse, activity in your prefrontal cortex can be suppressed, making it more difficult to control your emotions, reactions, and impulses. 

Trauma can also reduce activity in the area of the brain that helps you form and maintain memories, which is called the hippocampus. When this area is inhibited, you can have a difficult time learning from past experiences. Any time something triggers the trauma response, you can struggle with all of these issues, which may cause significant distress.

Sex Addiction Can Result from Abuse

You may struggle to make sense of the abuse and the feelings of shame or guilt that often accompany it. Engaging in sexual behavior can relieve some of these feelings in the short term, but it will ultimately lead to further symptoms and anxiety. This creates a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break without assistance. 

Hypersexuality is one of the most common effects of being molested as a child and can appear in many forms, including:

• Porn Addiction: You have a compulsive need to watch pornography and might not be able to experience sexual release without it
• Sex Addiction: You may experience a compulsive need to have sex, which can involve strangers and could put you in dangerous situations
• Masturbation Addiction: This causes the compulsive need to masturbate, especially after situations that trigger stress and anxiety

People who have repressed the sexual abuse are most at risk of developing hypersexuality, but anyone who has gone through severe trauma could struggle with this issue.   

Hypersexuality Causes

What causes hypersexuality? In many cases, sexual abuse at a young age creates pathways in the brain that trigger sexual arousal. When this occurs so early on, the brain is not ready to fully process the arousal, leading to an unhealthy understanding of sexuality and intimacy. The brain can connect these with shame, fear, confusion, and physical distress. 

Children who have suffered sexual abuse can grow up to be adults who use sex as a coping mechanism. Any time they feel any form of distress, they turn to sexual behavior to relieve it. Sometimes, they may unconsciously replay aspects of their trauma because the brain is still trying to process what happened, which leads to further distress. 

Hypersexuality can also be a way of regaining control over your body and choice. It’s similar to the way that some people develop eating disorders after abuse or assaults. If you were sexually abused, it’s possible to feel disconnected from your body. Sexual behavior can ease some of these feelings, even if only for a while. 

The Effect of Hypersexuality on Relationships

Those who have experienced sexual abuse may struggle significantly to build healthy relationships, resulting in feelings of isolation. Sexual encounters can momentarily ease these emotions. 

Because this type of abuse during childhood can impact your self-esteem, you may feel like your worth as a person is linked to your sexuality. Engaging in sexual behaviors can offer validation, causing you to compulsively seek out similar experiences in the future. 

Sex releases feel-good chemicals in the brain called endorphins. Just as with other forms of addiction connected with sexual abuse, your brain can latch on to these sensations and want to repeat them as often as possible. As occurs with alcohol and drugs, you can start needing more extreme experiences to reach the same “high.” 

Hypersexuality Symptoms

Hypersexuality can look different from one person to another, but there are some common symptoms. 

Persistent Urges

The most significant symptom of hypersexuality is having persistent and unmanageable sexual fantasies, impulses, or urges. These can feel impossible to control and cause distress. 

Compulsive Behaviors

You may engage in compulsive sexual activity to the detriment of other aspects of your life. It’s common to spend a lot of time thinking about or engaging in sexual behavior. 

Inability to Stop

Hypersexuality can result in the development of illnesses, unwanted pregnancies, job issues, relationship problems, and even encounters with the law. Despite all of these negative consequences, you may find that you can’t stop the harmful behaviors. 

Feelings of Distress or Guilt

After engaging in sexual activity, you can experience overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame. These create more distress, leading you to engage in further sexual activity. 

Escalating Sexual Behavior

To obtain the same sense of relief over time, you may need to engage in more extreme sexual activity. In instances involving male sexual assault victims, there is also the tendency to mix sexual behavior with violence, which could quickly get out of control.

Secrecy and Lies

Due to the stigma surrounding hypersexuality, you might do everything possible to prevent others from knowing about your sexual behaviors. This can harm your relationships and result in intense shame and anxiety.

Relationship Problems

It can be very difficult to form healthy relationships if you’re struggling with hypersexuality. You may have a lot of casual acquaintances and casual sex, but no long-term and stable connections. 

Hypersexuality in Children

Problematic sexual behavior in children is often a sign of having suffered sexual abuse. It’s not always easy to spot the problem, especially if the child is old enough to hide what they’re doing, but some of the signs of hypersexuality in children involve:

• Actions that use force or are coercive
• Simulation of penetrative or other sexual acts
• Fixation on sexual content
• Sexual behaviors that cause the child distress

Some sexual curiosity in children is normal, but if it becomes a strong focus and results in the exclusion of other activities, then that could be a sign that something is wrong. 

Adult Signs of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Recognizing adult symptoms of childhood sexual abuse is often complex, too, because the brain is very good at repressing traumatic experiences. Asking yourself, “Was I raped as a child?” or “Was I molested?” can cause such significant distress that you may not even try to look for the truth. 

Some symptoms can point to childhood sexual abuse, however. These include:

• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Lower pain threshold
• Musculoskeletal issues
• Eating disorders
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Chronic headaches
• Substance use disorders
• Obesity
• Sleeping problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Compulsive sexual behaviors
• Self-harm
• Suicide attempts

Dissociation is a serious symptom that could be present in adults, and it’s something that could continue to occur every time you engage in sexual activity. It refers to feeling separated from your body, memory, and consciousness. This can interfere with daily functioning and put you at further risk of revictimization.   

Am I Hypersexual?

If you suspect you may be struggling with hypersexuality but aren’t sure, asking yourself a few questions can help. These include:

• Have I tried to stop the sexual behaviors without success?
• Do I experience constant and persistent sexual thoughts or urges?
• Do I feel shame, guilt, or other negative emotions after sexual activity?
• Do I turn to sexual activity when feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious?
• Are my sexual behaviors negatively impacting my life?
• Are my sexual behaviors causing me or anyone else harm?
• Do I struggle to form and maintain healthy relationships?

If you’ve answered yes to some or all of these, it may be time to ask for help. Therapy can assist you in understanding what might be the cause of these issues so that you can begin healing. 

Your Legal Options After Childhood Molestation

If childhood molestation has led you to suffer from hypersexuality or other mental health concerns, you may be entitled to begin a claim to hold the perpetrator liable. You may be pursuing a criminal case, but keep in mind that a civil lawsuit allows you to receive compensation for your losses. 

You can file a lawsuit against the perpetrator or their estate if they’re deceased. In many instances, there could be more than one party you can hold responsible. For example, if you suffered abuse in school from another student or a teacher, you can file against the institution. It had a duty of care to ensure the environment was safe, and it failed to uphold that responsibility. 

With assistance from the child sexual abuse lawyers at Edwards Henderson, you can get a clear understanding of the various parties you could file against. We will also help you gather the most important evidence to prove that the abuse occurred. This is one of the most challenging aspects of these cases, especially if many years have gone by. 

The Statute of Limitations on Sexual Abuse

Getting DNA after so much time has passed is almost impossible, but we can focus on gathering witness statements, pictures, footage, and anything else that can prove you deserve compensation. One factor to consider is that the statute of limitations varies by state. 

In Florida, for example, there is no limitation on the amount of time you have to begin a lawsuit for sexual abuse that occurred when you were under the age of 18. We will carefully assess your case to ensure that you don’t miss any timelines that could prevent you from recovering losses. 

These cases are often resolved via settlements. This takes aggressive negotiation, and that’s not something you should have to worry about. Our lawyers can put a number to the damages you may be entitled to and then fight to obtain that for you. 

In some instances, it may be necessary to go to court. This is a longer process that involves a discovery phase and a trial, but if the other party refuses to settle for the amount that you need, going to court may be recommended. 

Edwards Henderson: Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Florida

At Edwards Henderson, we strive to help you recover from sexual abuse by holding the abuser liable. We have years of experience fighting for the rights of those who have suffered such significant harm, and our testimonials show the dedication we bring to each case. 

With compassionate and experienced representation, you can receive compensation for the medical expenses you may have incurred, as well as for the pain and suffering you have experienced. You can focus on healing and addressing the hypersexuality that may be impacting your life while we take care of the legal aspects of the case. 

If you’re struggling with hypersexuality symptoms as a result of childhood molestation, it may be time to fight for your rights. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate lawyers.