Sex Addiction Treatment

Yet the intimacy and beauty of sex can be undermined by sex addiction, a disorder that causes an unhealthy obsession with seeking, observing, or engaging in sexual activity. Individuals with an addiction to sex will go to extremes to satisfy their cravings or live out their fantasies, regardless of the consequences to themselves or others.

Also known as hypersexual disorder, sex addiction is a condition marked by fantasies or urges that consume excessive amounts of time and resources. An individual with sex addiction typically spends hours planning for sex or engaging in sexual activity, at the expense of jobs, family activities, or social interactions. The person may also spend a great deal of money pursuing gratification in the form of pornography, prostitution, online sex forums, strip clubs, telephone sex lines, and other expensive outlets.

The costs of sex addiction can be enormous, affecting all aspects of the individual’s life as well as the lives of loved ones.

Sex addiction treatment programs can intervene in the destructive progression of this disorder and help clients rebuild their lives on a foundation of integrity, self-worth, and trust.

Can Sex Be an Addiction?

Like other positive, life-affirming behaviors — eating, exercising, and falling in love are similar examples — sex can become an addiction if the need for sexual gratification begins to take precedence over other needs, responsibilities, or values.

Although it is natural for some adults to have a stronger sex drive than others, those with a healthy approach to sexuality are able to keep their needs in perspective and set limits on their sexual behavior.

People with sex addiction, on the other hand, display the following characteristics:

• Displaying a lack of ability to set limits or boundaries on sexual urges
• Spending an inordinate amount of time pursuing or engaging in sex
• Experiencing negative consequences as a result of sexual behavior, such as the loss of a job, the breakup of a relationship, financial difficulties, or legal problems
• Ignoring personal obligations or social activities in order to spend more time indulging sexual fantasies
• Frequent use of impersonal sources of sexual fulfillment that do not require emotional engagement, such as pornography, prostitution, and cybersex
• The need to intensify sexual behavior or risk-taking activities in order to achieve the same high
• Experiencing a sense of shame, guilt, or self-loathing about one’s sexual behavior, yet still being unable to stop
• Engaging in frequent attempts to stop the behavior and relapsing during times of tension or distress

Even though sex is frequently associated with love and emotional intimacy, sex addiction usually lacks an emotional component. The drive for sexual fulfillment comes from an unmet psychological need to relieve anxiety, depression, or psychological tension, not from a need for closeness or the desire to form a relationship. Treating sex addiction requires an exploration of the underlying causes of the problem, along with the development of effective coping strategies to deal with triggers and resolve psychological needs.

Sex addiction is not included in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5); however, people who struggle with this condition are aware that it is all too real. The popularity of support groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous, a 12-Step program for people seeking freedom from sex addiction, and the growing availability of rehab programs for sex addicts offer evidence of the widespread need for treatment for this disorder.

Are There Sex Addiction Hotlines?

Sex Addicts Anonymous or SAA can be contacted at (1-800-477-8191). If you or someone you love is suffering from a sex addiction or porn addiction and substance abuse, our addiction hotlines are available to help you find treatment options.