Low Sexual Desire and addiction frequently co-occur — each substantially increases the risk for the other, and both must be addressed for lasting recovery.
Why Low Sexual Desire and Addiction Occur Together
The relationship is bidirectional:
- Many people use substances to self-medicate low sexual desire, creating dependency
- Substances temporarily relieve low sexual desire symptoms but ultimately worsen them
- Addiction itself creates the neurological conditions that drive low sexual desire
- Shared risk factors (trauma, genetics, stress) predispose to both
The Challenge of Treating Both Low Sexual Desire and Addiction
Treating only one condition while ignoring the other leads to poor outcomes. Integrated dual-diagnosis treatment addressing both simultaneously is most effective.
Treatment for Co-occurring Low Sexual Desire and Addiction
Integrated programs address low sexual desire and substance use together through:
- Trauma-informed therapy (often underlying both)
- Medication-assisted treatment where appropriate
- Peer support that understands both conditions
- Addressing the low sexual desire symptoms that drive substance use