sexual Addiction
by Bertil Hjert
Sexual addiction can be defined as an obsessive sex drive that
has gone out of control of the individual. It is termed as a
process addiction & quite different from substance addiction
such as alcohol or drug addiction.
In case of a process addiction, the individual experiences a
high from chemicals released in to the brain & not from any
external source.
At a stage, the mind gets accustomed to the release of these
chemicals & it searches out for extended sources of high. Now
this can be in any form such as eating, putting oneself in
dangerous situation or even from sexual stimuli.
Addiction to sex can take several forms such as the use of
pornography, masturbation, repeated sexual affairs, voyeurism,
extra martial affairs & patronizing prostitutes.
Under extreme cases, addiction to sex can even result in rape,
murder or molestation. In most forms of sexual addiction, the
behavior is done in secret & the addict becomes an expert in
hiding his secret life from others around him.
Sexual addiction can be caused due to exposure to porn at a
young age. Under these circumstances, the addict keeps up to his
habits even after marriage.
A sexual addict tends to affect his personal relationships. The
individual experiences a higher sex drive as compared to his
partner & when his desires are not met, he rebels in different
ways. When denied for favors, a sexual addict stops providing
emotional support to his spouse & ultimately damages the
relationship. In most cases, the problem results in divorce or
bitter feelings among the partners. The sex addict becomes
extremely obsessed with meeting his own needs at the expense of
those around him. This damages his relationships.
The problem keeps on increasing for a sex addict. He craves for
more stimulation & ends up acting out the fantasies that are
formed in the mind. The wife becomes an object of sexual
gratification in this relationship. The addict does not mind
seeking thrills of an increasingly illicit nature.
Sex addicts often deny having a problem & try to blame others
for problems or make excuses for their actions.
Some of the behaviors related to sexual addiction include
compulsive masturbation, extra marital affairs, having more than
one sexual partners, one-night stands, molestation, sexual
harassment, rape, voyeurism, obsessive dating through personal
ads, use of prostitutes, phone sex, computer or cyber sex,
exhibitionism & consistent use of pornography.
Usually, a sex addict gains less satisfaction from the sexual
activity & forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners.
Most sex addicts deny their problem. The treatment is provided
only when one accepts that he has a problem. In most cases, the
addict faces problems such as breakup of relationship, loss of
job, health crisis or an arrest. The circumstances often force
the addict to admit to his problem.
While undergoing a treatment the individuals is encouraged to
lead a healthy lifestyle. The treatment includes education on
healthy sexuality, individual counseling, family therapy &/or
marital therapy. There are several programs arranged for people
with sexual addictions.
In some cases, health care practitioners suggest using
medications to treat the disease. Some of the common medications
used to treat sexual addiction include Prozac & Anafranil.
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