Addictions in general are identified through one's inability to control his/her urge towards anything in particular--be it drugs, food or sex. It's basically something that controls your life and commands all your decisions, whether you want it to or not.

Sex addiction is an oft-ignored disorder because of the stigma attached to it, especially in a country like ours. Recently, a doctor--who chooses to remain anonymous--claimed that rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is in fact a sex addict. The former self-styled godman has complained of discomfort and irritability during his days behind bars.

The same man who once claimed to be impotent is now on the lines of being declared a sex addict.

So, in the wake of the same, we take a look into the making of a sex addict, and how this addiction shapes one's personality and behaviour.

Who is a sex addict?

Anyone who is addicted to sexual intercourse or sexual pleasure on a regular basis--be it multiple times a day or multiple times a week--can be identified as a sex addict. Earlier, sex addiction was recognised as 'nymphomania' for women and 'satyriasis' for men.

How does one know if they're addicted to sex?

Some basic behavioural changes can help one spot an addiction. For instance, no control over one's urge to have sex--one does not need it, but despite it, cannot stop oneself from wanting it and in turn getting it one way or another.

Once the frequency of sexual pleasure drops, you can notice withdrawal symptoms like irritability or anger or general sense of discomfort, suggests psychiatrist Dr Samir Parikh.

What's the fine line between being fond of sexual intercourse and being addicted to it?

"It's one thing to have a high libido and quite another to let it run your life. If, for instance, you think about a couple consensually indulging in sexual activity on a daily basis, it is not identified as addiction. Sexual addiction is when one is unable to stop thinking about and indulging in just that one act even when carrying out other everyday activities," says Dr Parikh.

What goes into the making of a sex addict?

There are a lot of social and physiological factors that make a sex addict--that's the case with any form of addiction, actually.

"It's very easy to put a person under the umbrella term of a 'sex addict'; we usually don't realise what has led for him or her to be there, or if it's a phase they're going through because of other conditions or illnesses or addictions. For instance, if someone's having a manic episode, hyper-sexuality is a part of it--in this case, sex addiction cannot be viewed as a stand-alone disorder. Same is the case with hormonal disorders or substance abuse (some synthetic drugs make people hypersexual)," explains Dr Parikh.

What's the line of treatment for sexual addiction?

The first and foremost step for treatment of any addiction is the need for the addict to want to get cured--in short, insight and motivation. Basically, unless the addict himself/herself wants to get cured, there's nothing that can force him/her to.

"Though there are some medications we suggest for impulse control, sexual addiction is usually cured through counselling, which also includes rehabilitation, depending on the case at hand," says Dr Parikh.