Out of Control: AIDS in Black America-- ABC special

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by southernelle25

This was a very informative and powerful episode. But I wonder, how many more times does it have to be aired, how many more times must the message be delivered, in how many ways, for people to get it?

I don't even have to watch Oprah to know what goes on with HIV in women...

After having planned 2 Health Forums where HIV/AIDS is discussed often, I really think our options are limited.

Sexual libido is an extreme strong "feeling" and very difficult "overcome". Some people are strong willed, but most people are sex-crazed maniacs who get busy with a tree if they could.

Having illicit sex with multiple sex partners not only increases one's HIV and STI risk, it also misaligns the neural pathways in the brain. Sex is just as addictive as heroin, crack cocaine and ecstasy...

So in someways, illicit sex with multiple partners has to addressed from an addiction medicine/mental healthcare perspective...

Sincerely,

GC Hospital Chief Medical Officer
Dr. AKA_Monet

[southernelle25]

I wasn't aware of the misalignment, but I figured there was a psychiatric component. Is there a connection between this type of addiction and early childhood abuse?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by southernelle25

I wasn't aware of the misalignment, but I figured there was a psychiatric component. Is there a connection between this type of addiction and early childhood abuse?

Think about the errogenous zones in the body and those being highly stimulated.

Now think about how "kids" are still developing these zones and what happens if there is inappropriate stimulation.

How does the body know it's being "touched"?

There are either chemicals or electric-like impulses that are transmitted to the brain. They are either interpreted as pleasure or pain. The ability to be emotionally mature (Emotional Quotient), which is a learned behavior, how does a sexually abused child properly make the pleasure and pain distinction? They don't usually if there is no therapy...

Same thing happens to rape victims...

I am reading a lot of scientific articles in top-tiered journals (Science and Nature, as well as JAMA and NEJM), that are only beginning to elucidate the mechanisms of this process.

Dr. AKA_Monet

[So blessed!]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Having illicit sex with multiple sex partners not only increases one's HIV and STI risk, it also misaligns the neural pathways in the brain. Sex is just as addictive as heroin, crack cocaine and ecstasy...So in someways, illicit sex with multiple partners has to addressed from an addiction medicine/mental healthcare perspective...

The med student had to come out for this one! AKA_Monet is right... childhood trauma may affect brain function and size of certain areas of the brain-- particularly those that affect memory (e.g., hippocampus) and emotional reactivity (amygdala). The clearest associations have been made with physical and sexual abuse.

My point is that the workings of the brain can be altered over time and with trauma to perform differently than the brains of people who did not undergo trauma. Research seems to support the idea that some individuals who
have undergone childhood abuse may have blunted emotional reactivity and memory development, etc. due to the abuse. This may affect sexual behaviors and prompt high-risk behaviors in general.

Those people who engage in sex with multiple partners and with apparent recklessness (but who haven't undergone childhood trauma) may still have neural alterations in response to this behavior. The behavior itself may be considered a form of self-abuse, and perhaps feeds back to the brain in a way that's similar to childhood abuse. Perhaps it even lowers their ability to have a "normal" emotional reaction in subsequent encounters (which is why they can continue to have high-risk sex over and over again).

Interesting idea...