Sex addiction occurs when sexual behaviour is compulsive, obsessive and out of control. Depite being aware of and experiencing negative consequences of a particular behaviour or behaviours, people find themselves repeating it time and time again. This causes a lot of guilt, shame and despair. A persistent and regular addictive cycle is entered into and if the cycle is not broken the problem becomes more embedded. One of the signs of sex addiction is increased tolerance and a subsequent escalation into other often more risky behaviours.
Sex addiction has been defined as an addiction to a mood altering experience and as an intimacy disorder. Sex addiction is also known as sexual compulsivity and sexual dependency. Sex addiction can affect anyone regardless of their gender, race or sexual orientation.
The following are some examples of behaviours that become addictive: viewing pornography, internet chat rooms, masturbation, hiring prostitutes, phone sex, multiple affairs, anonymous sexual encounters, fantasy,voyeurism, and exhibitionism. It is important to state that not everyone who, for example, views pornography is or will become a sex addict - the issue is whether this behaviour becomes compulsive, obsessive and out of control.
The internet in particular has played a crucial part in an escalation of sex addiction with its ease of availability, affordability and perceived anonymnity.
There are many consequences of sex addiction. There is the potential loss of a relationship and the danger of contracting and transmitting a sexually transmitted infection to a partner. There are emotional consequences with feelings of isolation, shame and despair. Physical health can be compromised due to high levels of stress. There are consequences relating to work with decreased productivity. Some people run the risk of losing their job by accessing pornography in the workplace.
Finally, it is not unusual for those affected by sex addiction to have other addictive problems with, for example, some of the following: alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, money and work. Successful treatment of sex addiction will need to address these addictions and how they interact with one another.
Sex addiction has been defined as an addiction to a mood altering experience and as an intimacy disorder. Sex addiction is also known as sexual compulsivity and sexual dependency. Sex addiction can affect anyone regardless of their gender, race or sexual orientation.
The following are some examples of behaviours that become addictive: viewing pornography, internet chat rooms, masturbation, hiring prostitutes, phone sex, multiple affairs, anonymous sexual encounters, fantasy,voyeurism, and exhibitionism. It is important to state that not everyone who, for example, views pornography is or will become a sex addict - the issue is whether this behaviour becomes compulsive, obsessive and out of control.
The internet in particular has played a crucial part in an escalation of sex addiction with its ease of availability, affordability and perceived anonymnity.
There are many consequences of sex addiction. There is the potential loss of a relationship and the danger of contracting and transmitting a sexually transmitted infection to a partner. There are emotional consequences with feelings of isolation, shame and despair. Physical health can be compromised due to high levels of stress. There are consequences relating to work with decreased productivity. Some people run the risk of losing their job by accessing pornography in the workplace.
Finally, it is not unusual for those affected by sex addiction to have other addictive problems with, for example, some of the following: alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, money and work. Successful treatment of sex addiction will need to address these addictions and how they interact with one another.