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Recognizing the Signs of Sex Addiction and Compulsivity
Addiction—noun--Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance or behavior.
For most people, sex contributes in positive ways to the quality of life. However, about three to six percent of Americans have sexual addiction. Like all addictions, its negative impact on the addict and on family members usually increases as the disorder progresses. Sexual addiction is best described as a progressive intimacy disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts. According to the findings of one study, 72% had been physically abused in childhood, 81% had been sexually abused, and 97% emotionally abused.
Addictions to behavioral processes are called "process addictions." The process of engaging in these behaviors leads to typical addiction symptoms (withdrawal, tolerance, heightened excitement or euphoria).
Over time, the addict usually has to intensify the addictive behavior to achieve the same results.
Addiction to sex can become just as destructive as addiction to chemical substances. For some, the addictive behavior does not progress beyond compulsive masturbation or an extensive use of pornography or phone or computer sexservices. For others, their addiction can involve illegal activities such asexhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, child molestation or rape.
Through their addiction and compulsivity, sex addicts risk injuring themselves and/or their partner physically (e.g., STDs), experiencing severe psychological distress, losing their livelihood, and ruining meaningful relationships.
Addictive Sexual Behaviors May Include:
· Compulsive Masturbation
· Multiple Affairs
· Consistent use of Pornography
· Unsafe Sex
· Sexual Anorexia
· Multiple or Anonymous Partners
· Phone, Cybersex
· Sexual Massage, Escorts, Prostitutes
· Prostitution
Even though those who suffer with sexual addiction are typically very aware of the negative consequences of their behavior, they are usually unable to successfully control their compulsions without appropriate professional treatment.
Negative Consequences Affect All Areas of Life, Including:
· Social
· Meaningful Relationships
· Emotional
· Legal
· Physical
· Financial
Compulsive sexual thoughts and/or behavior can lead to increasingly serious consequences in both the individual's internal and external worlds. The consequences may include severe depression, low self-esteem, shame, self-hatred, hopelessness, despair, helplessness, intense anxiety, loneliness, moral conflict, contradictions between ethical values and behaviors, fear of abandonment, spiritual bankruptcy, distorted thinking, remorse, and self-deceit.
Seventy to seventy-five percent of sex addicts have thought about suicide. Many suffer from broken relationships and more than forty percent experience severe marital and other relationship problems. Sexual activities outside the primary relationship result in loss of self-esteem to both partners as well as severe stress to their relationship.
The sex addict is frequently absent from their home life (physically and/or emotionally) and if they have children this usually results in a significant loss of necessary parental role modeling. Pressure is then placed on the partner to provide the majority of parental support and nurturing of the children. In response to added pressures, partners of sex addicts may develop their own addictions and compulsions, psychosomatic problems, or depression and other emotional difficulties. The cumulative effect of all of these factors can result in an unstable family environment. Physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse and neglect of the children may occur. Growing up in such a home increases the risk for the next generation to also have addictive disorders.
Serious health consequences of sex addiction may include HIV infection, genital Herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sex addicts have an increased risk of STDs. Genital injury may result from excessive sexual activity or the use of sex aids and foreign objects. Addictive sadomasochistic sex can lead to physical damage to the body.
Some sex addicts go to jail, lose their job, get sued, or have other financial and legal consequences because of their compulsive sexual behavior. Financial difficulties from the purchase of pornographic materials, use of prostitutes and telephone and computer lines, travel for the purpose of sexual contacts, and other sexual activities can tax the addict's financial resources, sometimes to the point of bankruptcy, as can the expenses of legal representation. Sixty percent of addicts have faced financial difficulties, 58% engaged in illegal activities, and 83% of sex addicts also had concurrent addictions such as alcoholism, eating disorders, or compulsive gambling.
Legal consequences of sexual addiction result when illegal behaviors such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, or inappropriate touching, result in arrest and incarceration. Child molesting and rape in some cases are addictive behaviors. Sexual harassment in the workplace can be part of a sex addict's repertoire, and may result in legal difficulties on the job. Over half the cases of sexual exploitation by professionals are perpetrated by sex addicts.
Reference source: The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity
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