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There are so many things that need to be uncovered. Every day, sexual addiction is becoming more and more accepted in our society. It’s something we all know exists, but no one wants to talk about it or even think about it. Sex addiction has become a medical problem from which no one can escape – not pop stars, not movie stars, and not even athletes. It’s been a problem affecting celebrities around the globe for years, and while some refuse to admit it, others have sought help for the addiction.
People’s biggest misconception about sex addiction is that it only affects men, but this is untrue. Sex addicts can be both men and women who suffer from compulsive sexual behavior. In most cases, men fall prey to the addiction and are more likely to push through the symptoms without seeking help from a professional. Women have difficulty because they often become too ashamed or embarrassed by their actions and turn to illegal substances to cope with day-to-day life.
To understand sex addiction, one must first appreciate that it is a physiological and psychological sexual disorder. Even though the person who has the disease may feel they can stop whenever they want, this is not usually the case. Instead, the addict will seek out their drug of choice – whether it be porn, phone sex lines, or prostitutes – then use them in a way that damages them both physically and mentally. Those suffering from sex addiction use their encounters as a means of escape from the pressures in their lives. Like other addictions – such as alcohol, drugs, or gambling – sex addicts feel they have to resort to sexual activity to cope with their everyday lives.
Contrary to popular belief, no specific amount of sex, masturbation, or porn viewing classifies as sex addiction. Instead, the behaviors must persist overtime for someone to be defined as an addict. Determining factors include feelings of shame about their actions, comparing themselves to others, and having difficulty controlling their behavior even though they know it’s destructive.
Sex addiction can affect anyone, with no parameters put around race, economic status, or gender. However, it does seem to prefer the adult male. Males in their 30’s 40’s and older are most likely to be addicted to sex, porn, or phone sex and tend to live a double life by not having any difficulties balancing their behavior at work or home. Those considered sex addicts may be heavy porn users, have a history of molestation or incest, feel lower self-esteem than most people in their lives, and look for validation through sexual means rather than other activities.
The addict must admit to having an issue, seek help to change their destructive habits, and create a healthier balance in their life. They need professional help from medical professionals and those trained in sex addiction treatment and intimacy issues. Treatment often involves individual therapy sessions as well as group meetings with others recovering from similar addictions. While there is no fast-track recovery process for sex addicts, they need to realize that help is available. They may not think they need help – or even that their behavior has negatively affected them – but the repercussions of this can be devastating and even fatal if left untreated. A person suffering from sex addiction will find it nearly impossible to give up without professional treatment, and, eventually, those who are treated will discover that their sex addiction no longer has power over them.
One of the common questions people have is, “How much sex can be considered too much?” While there’s really no exact answer to this question, it all depends on each person’s situation. For someone to be diagnosed with sex addiction, the behavior needs to be causing them distress in their everyday life. Unfortunately, as with other types of addictions, it’s not always easy for a person to recognize when they’ve crossed that line from “normal” sexual activity into addiction territory.
Sex addiction can range from simply over-indulging in pornography or having frequent affairs on one end of the spectrum to engaging in sexual activities that may actually be illegal on the other. Therefore, it’s crucial for people who suspect they might have a sex addiction to seek professional help before things get worse and put themselves, or others, at risk of getting hurt due to their actions.
As with any other addiction, many factors can contribute to sexual addiction. But, just like most people turn to alcohol and drugs when they’re depressed or going through a rough time in life, sex addicts use sex as a way of either numbing the pain or escaping from it altogether.
-a history of physical or sexual abuse in childhood
-lack of healthy parental relationships during childhood
-pornography addiction as a teen and young adult
-feelings of shame about their behavior that make no sense given other parts of their life (for example, being a highly successful businessman but obsessed with pornography)
-comparing themselves to others (other people who are good at relationships, while they feel they aren’t)
Here are some facts you may not know about sex addiction.
– When a sex addict goes through treatment, it is common for them to have other addictions that need to be treated as well – usually drugs or alcohol – but they can also include compulsive games, workaholism, food, and shop addictions.
– Healthy sex lives in a relationship are totally different from people who may have sexual dysfunction or sexual addiction issues. Sexual addiction involves feeling out of control when it comes to having sex and engaging in behaviors that can cause harm to themselves or others. People who have healthy sexual lives have standards that they adhere to, and their sex lives are not out of control.
Sex addiction is NOT the same as having a high sex drive. A person with a high sex drive may be driven by hormones or other biological impulses. In contrast, someone addicted to sex has an unhealthy relationship with it and generally feels out of control.
For many people around the country, Sex addiction is nothing more than something found in movies. They dismiss it as a made-up condition that shouldn’t be taken seriously, but they couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sex addiction (sometimes called sexual compulsion) is a recognized disorder and sex addicts are just as gravely affected by this disease as drug addicts or alcoholics. As a result, sex addicts diagnosed with the condition will usually seek professional treatment for their addiction. Eventually, those who are treated will discover that their sex addiction no longer has power over them.
