Mental Margins: Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

In this excerpt from Episode 101: Rewriting the Conversation Around Sex Addiction, Havi Kang joins host Dominic Lawson to explore the evolving understanding of compulsive sexual behavior. The episode introduces CSBD (Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder) as recognized by the ICD-11, highlighting its absence from the DSM-5 and what that reveals about ongoing clinical hesitation. Havi breaks down the shift from the “classic sex addict” to today’s screen-based, often younger “contemporary sex addict,” shaped by easy access to sexual content and changing cultural norms.

The episode invites listeners into a deeper debate: Is sexual compulsivity an addiction, a trauma response, or something else? Havi’s insights offer both clarity and compassion, especially as the show challenges stigma and misinformation. To hear more from Havi Kang and dive into this nuanced, culturally critical conversation, be sure to check out the full episode of Mental Health Rewritten: Rewriting the Conversation Around Sex Addiction.