About Sex Addiction
I choose sobriety,
one day at a time
The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who uses sex as a means to manage emotions and stress or negative core beliefs. The addict becomes preoccupied with sexual activity, making it difficult to maintain normal life activities and healthy personal relationships.
Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for their problems. They generally deny they have a problem and live a double-life of secrecy.
Sexual addiction is also associated with risk-taking. A person with a sex addiction engages in various forms of sexual activity, despite the potential for negative and/or dangerous consequences to themselves, spouse, family, friends, etc.
Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:
- Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
- Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
- Multiple or anonymous sexual partners
- Consistent use of pornography
- Unsafe sex
- Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
- Prostitution
- Exhibitionism
- Obsessive dating through personal ads
- Voyeurism (watching others)
- Sexual harassment
Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains momentary satisfaction from the sexual activity, often leaving them with feelings of shame, guilt or regret. A sex addict also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional).
How is sexual addiction treated?
Most sex addicts live in denial of their addiction. Treating an addiction is dependent on the addict admitting that he or she has a problem and is willing to seek help. In many cases, it takes a significant event—such as the loss of a job, the break-up of a marriage, an arrest, or health crisis—to force the addict to admit to his or her problem. Seeking treatment is the start of repairing damage done by the addiction.
Treatment of sexual addiction focuses on changing the addictive behavior and helping the person develop a healthy sexuality. Treatment includes education about healthy sexuality, individual therapy, and marital and/or family therapy. Support groups and 12-step recovery programs for people with sexual addictions (like Sex Addicts Anonymous) are also essential for effective recovery. In some cases, medications used to treat mood disorders may help to curb the compulsive nature of the sex addiction.