On the outset, nothing about Rebecca Barker seems out of place. She’s a mum of three from Tadcaster, Yorkshire, trying to live a regular life, except she cannot. The 37-year-old is battling a strange condition that affects four percent of the population – sex addiction. Rebecca has been diagnosed with nymphomania, a compulsive sexual behaviour that features repetitive sexual thoughts and a strong urge to have sex. According to The Sun, Rebecca’s sexual addiction has made her crave sex for every waking moment of her life. She explains that she once spent seven hours a day, having sex with one of her partners and still wasn’t satisfied. She has now migrated to France, living with her partner Jean-Marc. Going without sex for days cause an early death? what are the side effects of sex deprivation?

She described herself as having a “really high sex drive.” After having lost her virginity at 15, she had her children at 16. Despite making love to her then partner every day, she was dissatisfied with her marriage and wanted out by age 24. She soon met someone in France with whom she was “infatuated with” and had her third child with. She’d criticise herself constantly and felt that her partner never understood her. In 2014, her high sex drive became a full-blown addiction, and she spends every minute of the day thinking about sex. She confessed to crying each time her partner had to leave for work! Couple caught having sex on Mexico-bound flight, husband & wife shares explicit footage! Watch viral video.

Soon enough, her partner started suspecting her of having an affair, and the relationship unravelled. She met her present partner Jean-Marc in May 2015, and the new relationship has helped her calm down. She has gone from having sex three times a day to just once a day. “I'm finally in a stable relationship, my moods are tempered, and I don't constantly crave sex. If I ever have anxiety issues, I talk them through with Jean-Marc – we’re getting married this summer,” she explains.

What Is Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction is also known by other names such as nymphomania, satyriasis or hypersexuality. It is characterised by constant sexual thoughts and an insatiable desire to have sex. The person may be preoccupied with fantasies, urges and sexual behaviour that could interfere with the person’s day-to-day life. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, it affects four percent of the population.

Chronic failure to resist sexual urges, frequent engagement in sexual behaviour, spending too much time in obtaining sex, inability to fulfil domestic and social obligations due to sex addiction are causes for concern. This disruptive increase in desire doesn’t amount to any emotional satisfaction from sex.

Sex addiction also causes joint problems such as loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress. In some cases, hypersexual people can engage in reckless sexual behaviour that can result in sexually transmitted infections. Hypersexual people also have trouble maintaining healthy relationships and often shirk from commitment.

(Reference: Compulsive Sexual Behavior: A Review of the Literature; Hypersexuality Addiction and Withdrawal: Phenomenology, Neurogenetics and Epigenetics)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2018 06:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).