Sex Is the New Addictive Drug
There is a new drug of choice and it is dominating the headlines, according to a report in The Sheaf. This preferred drug is not cocaine or heroin, it isn’t even prescription oxycodone. Today, the addiction seems to point more heavily to sex.
While sex addiction has been popping up in countless headlines, there is still some division in the mental health world in terms of the legitimacy of this condition as a truly mental disability.
Psychotherapist Jason Phelps believes that sexual dependency is real and can affect anyone. People rarely know that other people have this problem, but it can affect your dentist, your clergyman, your friend.
The issue gained more attention from Phelps three years ago when he noticed he was getting an abundant amount of patients coming in who were seeking help with sexual dependency issues. Since that time, he believes that one third of his patients are afflicted with such compulsions.
Phelps notes that the most common form of sex addiction is the desire to achieve an orgasm on a regular basis. This leads to addictions to pornography and masturbation. Phelps has determined that he can comfortably treat people dealing with such challenges, yet some mental health professionals are not completely convinced that sex can actually be a legitimate addiction.
A certified sex therapist, Marty Klein readily raises objections to the concept and treatment of what he refers to as the “sex addiction movement”. He believes this movement has led to the distortion of what constitutes a real sexual disorder counselor. He believes people not qualified to diagnose and treat sex addictions are attempting to do so, ensuring that those who don’t need the treatment are actually receiving it.
