An inconvenient side-effect - can treatment for CPTSD also help with sexual paraphilia

[Needles]

Hi -
New to this malarkey, rejected it as total BS for decades. Still unsure I believe it, but at this point, I have little choice but to pursue all avenues.
Is anyone aware of whether or not treatment for C-PTSD can have any reparative effect on secondary sexual disorders? As a result of being raised in an environment of poverty, addiction and domestic violence, I developed a severe sexual paraphilic issue. There is categorically no treatment for this, I am repeatedly told. You're stuck this way forever. That is not an acceptable answer and thus I have been pursuing the possibility of aggressive surgical restructuring to remove the problem - at least the physical symptoms of such. At the same time however due diligence is being done on less extreme methods of resolving the problem. This has all been completely ineffective, and symptoms of paraphilia are constant and unacceptably damaging.
Anyone have any idea if successful treatment for C-PTSD may remove a sexual paraphilia?

 

[EveHarrington]

I’m not sure if treatment can fix a sexual paraphilia issue, but I do know that treatment can help fix sexual issues in general. It sounds like you’re in much distress, so pursuing a path of healing your trauma is definitely something to seriously consider. It’s not an easy road, and it may take years to work through it all, but it’s worth it in the end IMHO.

 

[someo]

Hi -
New to this malarkey, rejected it as total BS for decades. Still unsure I believe it, but at this point, I have little choice but to pursue all avenues.
Is anyone aware of whether or not treatment for C-PTSD can have any reparative effect on secondary sexual disorders? As a result of being raised in an environment of poverty, addiction and domestic violence, I developed a severe sexual paraphilic issue. There is categorically no treatment for this, I am repeatedly told. You're stuck this way forever. That is not an acceptable answer and thus I have been pursuing the possibility of aggressive surgical restructuring to remove the problem - at least the physical symptoms of such. At the same time however due diligence is being done on less extreme methods of resolving the problem. This has all been completely ineffective, and symptoms of paraphilia are constant and unacceptably damaging.
Anyone have any idea if successful treatment for C-PTSD may remove a sexual paraphilia?

I don't know what kind of paraphilia you are dealing with, but especially sexual abuse can cause distortions in sexuality which can I think can be effectively treated by treating the underlying trauma. Especially male survivors may struggle for example with thoughts of hurting other people (including children). I can admit to have had sexual fantasies of hurting other people (most of the time I would fantasize about me being the one hurt though), but even though I'm still pretty early on the process of recovery, thanks to therapy targeting my ptsd, I no longer have any fantasies of hurting other people. I'm not an expert in sexual paraphilias, but I would imagine that treating C-PTSD would at least reduce your stress levels, which would lead to a reduction in any compulsive sexual behaviors. I mean, sexual activity in the short term reduces stress and can also be used as a method of avoidance. In my case I definitely used masturbation as a stress release and now that I no longer use alcohol or drugs I find myself watching more porn as a method of avoidance.

So I cannot promise that treating C-PTSD will heal your sexuality, but it is possible that it could help with that and what I can say is that you have absolutely nothing to lose by seeking treatment for C-PTSD - or at least as long as you are being treated by a licensed professional who has experience in treating trauma.

 

[Nessa7]

There is some research out there about using EMDR to treat sexual paraphilias. The general idea is that maladaptive behaviors are the result of unprocessed disturbing memories. It would address past experiences that are the cause of the behavior and current triggers of the behavior. I think that information about using EMDR to treat sex addiction or addiction generally is more easily available, but the logic behind why it can be effective is similar.