Sex addiction is the compulsive need to have sexual intercourse as frequently as possible. There are numerous theories as to why a person becomes a sex addict that include, but are not limited to:
- Personality disorder
- Psychological disorder
- Emotional issues
- Low self-esteem
- Childhood trauma
- And coping from a troubled past
If left untreated, an addiction to sex can lead to serious physical, mental and emotional issues. A sex addiction can happen to any person, but there is treatment available. Treatment options include programs such as:
- Group counseling
- Live in rehab
- Individual therapy
- And outpatient rehab
There is not one program right for everywhere, so before choosing a program a person should talk to a professional about how to better serve them during the recovery process.
Am I living with a sex addiction?
- Unlike other addictions, a sex addiction is often overlooked as a serious problem. Individuals often suffer from this condition and hide it from their families and loved ones. In determining if you have a sex addiction you should always look for warning signs such as:
- Paying for sex
- Choosing sex over important obligations or promises
- Having financial troubles, because of sexual adventures
- Having sex in public areas without concern for getting caught
- Having multiple partners, but it is something that you cannot control
- Spending many hours of the day thinking about sex or trying to have sex
- Continuing to have sex, despite the physical health problems it has caused
- Ruining relationships because of the inability to remain sexually active only with the significant other
These are only a few of the many warning signs of a sex addiction. This problem cannot be fixed overnight, in fact some recovering sex addicts have to live the rest of their life fighting the urge to act on their desires. However, getting treatment can help these individuals learn new and healthier ways to overcome temptations to avoid the dangers of an addiction to sex.
What are the risks if I have a sex addiction?
With every addiction, comes long term problems and a sex addiction is no exception. Whether you are a long time sex addict or you have just began noticing your struggles with the addiction, there are serious side effects that you need to consider. The most common sex addition side effects include:
- Depression
- Increased anxiety
- Contracting HIV/AIDS
- Loss of close friends
- Obtaining a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as herpes
- Never being able to stay in a long term relationship
- Having trouble with finances due to excessive spending
- Trouble with the law (sex in public, masturbation in public, or/and paying for sex and getting caught)
- Failure in personal or career/school duties due to the distraction that a sex addiction presents
- And obtaining a substance addiction that coincides with the sex addiction
All of the effects mentioned above can become a sex addict’s life and in some cases can cost them their life.
Treatment for sex addiction
Getting help is something that every person has to do on their own. He or she will get to a point in their life where they feel shame and embarrassment about their problem, but if they have not reached that point in their life, a loved one should plan a treatment approach and get them the help that they need. This can be done through an intervention loved ones can discuss the extent of the person's sex addiction and how it has corrupted every aspect of their life. During this time loved ones will also encourage treatment through a rehab program.
It does not matter how a person decides to get help for their addiction problem, it only matters that they get it. Many believe they will never be able to break free of the bondage of addiction, but this is far from the truth. There is help available to anyone who seeks it and this means no one has to live with addiction.
