Sex addiction occurs when a normal sex drive has become an obsessive and overly active sex drive, to the point that sexual behavior is out of control.
The behavior of sex addicts is comparable to behavior of alcoholics and addicts, where sex functions like a drug. Sexual acts or obsessively thinking about sex consume the sex addict’s life. These obsessions can profoundly negatively impact an individual’s job performance, family and social life. Sexual addiction is referred to as a process or behavioral addiction, as opposed to a substance addiction like alcohol or drugs. In a behavioral addiction, the euphoric feeling or the high comes from chemicals released into the brain, rather than from an external source like a drug.
Sexual addiction can take on many forms, from the compulsive use of pornography and masturbation to repeated sexual affairs, using prostitutes, and voyeurism. As is true with drug and alcohol addiction, the many forms of sexual addiction have one thing in common, and that is that the behavior is done in secret. Much like with drug and alcohol addiction, the sex addict becomes skilled in hiding this secret life from those closest to him. Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for problems. It is common for sex addicts to deny the problem. Sex addicts typically engage in high-risk behaviors. A sex addict may participate in various forms of sexual activity regardless of the negative consequences. In addition to damaging the addict's relationships and interfering with his or her work and social life, a sex addiction also puts the person at risk for emotional and physical harm. For some people, their sex addiction can escalate to voyeurism, obscene phone calls and even molestation or rape. However, it is important to note that not all sex addicts become sexual offenders. For many sex addicts the damage is done to their lives and the lives of those closest to them quite similar to drug and alcohol addiction.
Medicinenet.com outlines several behaviors observed in individuals with a sexual addiction below.
Behaviors associated with sexual addiction can include:
- Compulsive masturbation
- Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
- Multiple or anonymous sexual partners
- One-night stands
- Consistent use of pornography
- Unsafe sex practices
- Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
- Prostitution or use of prostitutes
- Exhibitionism
- Obsessive dating through personal ads
- Voyeurism(watching others) and/or stalking
- Sexual harassment
Unlike an individual who is addicted to love, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sex. They do not seek to form an emotional bond with their sex partners. Even so, sexual addiction causes profound feelings of guilt and shame. And like a drug addict or alcoholic, a sex addict also experiences a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences to their life and repeated efforts to stop.
Sexual addiction is not listed as a disorder in the DSM IV. It is considered a process or behavioral addiction and has come to mean an addiction where an individual obsessively and compulsively seeks out sexual gratification to the degree that various aspects of their lives become compromised and their behavior is impaired. The prior third version of the DSM used to mention sexual addiction as “non paraphilic sexual addiction” under Sexual Disorders not otherwise specified. Some clinicians put sexual addiction with Impulse Control Disorders not otherwise specified.
Sexual Addiction is typically treated by psychotherapy, support groups such as 12 step groups and sometimes medication for accompanying anxiety or depression. Like drug and alcohol addiction, denial is component that must first be overcome so recovery can begin.