Sexual Addiction 101 Part 2

Signs of a sexual addicts vary but in general include the following:

-Excessive masturbation

-Infidelity and multiple affairs outside the marriage

-Multiple known and unknown sexual partners

-Always interested in pornography

-Practicing unsafe sex

-Habit of practicing phone or cybersex

-Frequenting prostitutes

-Impulsive behavior such as exhibitionism, voyeurism

-Frequent use of “sex” dating agencies

-Stalking

-Molestation of minors

-Continued verbal talk about sex and having bizarre fantasies

-Spends most of his/her money on “sex” related items

Sexual addicts generally never attain satisfaction from any of their activities and always feel unsatisfied- this is why the behavior progresses. Most sexual addicts never form bonds or relationships with their sexual partners. At the end of the usually short relationships, there is always a feeling of guilt, shame or sorrow. A common theme observed among sexual addicts is that even though they know the impulsive behavior can be destructive or dangerous, they generally have no control over the thoughts.

Sexual addiction is difficult to treat because most individuals deny they have a problem. Most cases come to recognition when there is a tragedy, family break up, divorce, arrests or a medical crises. Even at this point the sexual addict will generally blame others for the problems.

While medications like prozac may help control the obsessive thoughts, the major emphasis of treatment is based on some form of psychotherapy. Treatment is like any other addiction and involves education, counseling and some type of family therapy. Reports of success are few and far between. Part of the problem is that we live in a very liberal society with lots of freedom. As soon as these individuals complete their treatment sessions, many return back to their original lifestyle.- and start surfing cyberspace.

Sexual Addiction 101 Part 1

In the last few years, the term Sexual addiction is often mentioned in the lay press. What is hard to define is what constitutes Sexual addiction? The term sexual addiction is generally used to describe behavior of an individual who has an extraordinary sex drive or is fixated on sex.

The individual’s entire thinking is surrounded by thoughts of sex, thus making it very difficult for him/her to engage in any type of healthy interpersonal relations. While most people believe that sexual addicts are male this is not entirely true. The exact numbers of individuals with this type of behavior are lacking but there are also a number of women with such disturbed thinking.

Most of these individuals live a secrete life but often friends and family notice the obsession with sex. Besides distorted thinking, these individuals also have a habit of making excuses and generally tend to blame everyone else, except them.
It has been observed that sexual addicts are also risk takers or have impulsive behaviors. The individual for example may have sex with stranger(s) without first thinking of the consequences- which are generally negative and dangerous. Most of these individuals have such a strong preoccupation with sex, that it affects their jobs, lifestyle and social life.

In the beginning, the sexual addict may simply be watching pornographic videos on the internet, but more often than not, this progresses to reckless and illegal behavior such as exhibitionism, molestation, peeping, voyerism, or making obscene phone calls. While the majority of these sexual addicts do not become sex offenders, a few do have violent thoughts and go on to become sexual predators.