Sex Addiction
It is difficult for most Americans to understand an addiction that isn’t caused by an easily identifiable drug, but sex addiction is incredibly common and just as destructive as any kind of drug addiction. Just like most drug addictions start because of some kind of mental issue, sex addiction is driven by feelings of inadequacy and for some people, breaking out of the cycle of addiction is as difficult as quitting smoking or giving up hard drugs. Many men and women never learn the reason why they have resorted to an unhealthy sex addicted pattern of behavior, but they can learn to help identify when risky behavior is about to be committed and step back to rethink things.
The Addiction
Any aspect of a person’s life can become an addiction when it is obsessed over. When you consider what an unhealthy attitude most Western cultures have towards sex to begin with, it is amazing most of us aren’t diagnosed with some kind of sexual problem. A sex addiction begins when a person knowingly engages in behavior that is dangerous, unhealthy, unwise, and cannot be stopped. A common sign of addiction is a man who continually cheats on his partner, feels guilty to the point of suicide once an act has been committed, swears never do it again, but then eventually does at a later time, and the cycle repeats itself. Sex addiction is difficult to treat and identify for some people because we all have different definitions of what is unhealthy sex. For instance, a married man who continues to masturbate on a regular basis may be seen to have a sex addiction by his wife or his pastor, but he may not feel that he is doing anything wrong, while other men don’t see a problem with occasionally cheating on their partner as long as they don’t hire a prostitute or practice unsafe sex. The bottom line is that what one person sees as signs of sex addiction may, to another person, seem within the bounds of normalcy, which is where much of the conflict in this area comes from.
The Impact of Sex Addiction
The impact of sex addiction on a person can be absolutely devastating. In people who are in relationships and trying to hide their sex addiction, there is a constant cycle of acting out, intense remorse and regret, and feelings of desperation and worry that their partner is going to find out. You don’t have to be in a relationship, however, to have a sex addiction take a toll on you. Any time you experience a cycle like the one discussed above where you knowingly engage in unhealthy sex, experience regret and guilt, swear off future acts only to succumb once again is incredibly harmful to your psyche. Sex addiction crosses every socioeconomic class and is common throughout Western culture. It is thought that sex addiction is just as common in many Asian cultures; however, it is not reported or treated nearly as frequently due to the idea that admitting such a condition would bring shame on your family.
Treatment for Sex Addiction
There are a number of addiction treatment centers that specializing in treating sex addiction or offer special tracks for people with sex addiction. One of the most well-known practitioners of sex addiction treatment, Rob Weiss of the Sexual Recovery Institute in Los Angeles, says, "[Sexual addiction treatment should] encourage clients to take a good look at how they manage their personal relationships, and speak openly about their fears and challenges with intimacy, while in a safe, clearly boundaried therapeutic relationship."
Because sex addicts tend to be secretive and suffer from shame, opening up and talking about their behavior in a safe, therapeutic environment offers them a way to move toward healthy sexuality.
