Sex Addiction
Sex Addiction
Is There Really Such A Thing
As Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction is a very real
issue that can occur in both men and women. Like all types of addiction it
occurs because of a change in the brain that creates a compulsion or impulse to
engage in an activity even though it is clearly a negative behaviour.
Sex addiction is often
portrayed on the television or in the movies as a biological response or an
inability to control one's libido. In reality, sex addiction is an attempt to
use sex as a way to fill a deep rooted need. Somehow and in some way, the
feelings that occurred during sex, at some time in the person's life, addressed
that need. As a result, the individual then gets stuck in the behaviour in an
attempt to recreate that positive feeling and address the deficit in their
life.
Most often, sex addicts have
a history, either diagnosed or undiagnosed, of depression, anxiety and high
levels of unmanaged stress. When they engage in the sexual behaviour they
immediately feel that the underlying issue is resolved, but then guilt and
shame take over. As they feel more guilt and shame, they sink deeper into
depression, anxiety or self-loathing until they simply cannot handle the
pressure and act out sexually again.
What Does Sex Addiction Look
Like?
Sex addiction is not just
the need to have sexual intercourse on a frequent basis. In fact more and more,
sexual addiction is related to viewing online materials on porn sites. Other
sex addicts may choose to have sex with high risk individuals such as
prostitutes or have sex in public locations. Excessive or uncontrolled
masturbation, usually in inappropriate places, multiple partners and multiple
affairs while being in a committed relationship may also indicate a sex
addition.
What makes sexual addiction
an addiction has to do with its impact on the person. To be an addiction the
behaviour must occur despite the very real and understood danger to the
individual. For example, a sex addict may use a work computer to view porn even
though he or she knows that this will result in termination. A sex addict may
have an affair with a co-worker despite the fact that the spouse has indicated
that he or she will leave if it happens again. In other words, the addict is
risking his or her own future by engaging in the activity.
Some people with sexual
additions also have an associated paraphilia. This can be diagnosed if the
source of the arousal is an action or an object that is atypical. These can be
fetishes, which involve sexual arousal by specific body parts or specific
objects, exhibitionism or voyeurism.
Treatment
Most people with sexual
addiction are in denial about the negative impact of their behaviour. They
typically do not seek treatment until something causes the behaviour to be made
public or to become significant enough for the individual to desire change.
Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy, group counselling and individual counselling for the addicted person
and the impacted spouse, partner or family can be very successful. Determining
the underlying cause of the addiction is essential to prevent a relapse or
simply moving the addiction to another aspect of life.
Posted by: Philippe Jacquet