Sexual Addiction

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.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Addiction please visit Addiction Advice

The Best Drug Treatment Programs and Drug Addiction Treatment
THe best drug treatment program is a term thrown around quite easily these days. Whether there is a best drug treatment program is up for debate , but there are drug treatment programs that are better than others.What Makes One Drug Addiction Treatment Program Better Than AnotherWhile all drug addiction treatment programs state they are the best, t...

Need Help With Porn Addiction?
If you suffer from porn addiction or know someone who does you may understand that like all behavioral addictions like gambling addictions and so on they are not so easy to break by just sheer willpower. Not to dismiss willpower as an important aspect of recovery but help with porn addiction needs to start at the root causes of the issues that have...

Gay Addiction Treatment vs. Heterosexual Addiction Treatment
Gay Addiction Treatment Program: Its about Time As addiction treatment programs have sprung up across the country, there has been a focus on many different substance abuse populations. We have numerous eating disorder programs for women, countless drug rehab programs for men, sex addiction and sexual trauma programs for both men and women, but wha...

A Look At Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Treatment for cocaine addiction is of the utmost importance for anyone suffering from cocaine addiction. Cocaine addiction treatment is often the only way someone suffering from cocaine addiction can overcome his dependency on cocaine. It is a very addictive drug and difficult to shake off on your own.Cocaine addiction treatment can come in a vari...

The Causes Of Addiction
There is much debate about the causes of addiction. Because there are two components to addiction --the physical addiction and the psychological addiction-- it is likely that many factors create a risk for addiction. In the case of certain drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, almost any individual who comes into contact will become addicted. On...

The Ugly Truth About Cruise Ships
Everyday life holds many dangers and one of them is the fact that sexual assaults and rapes occur everyday, so when we see advertising for a cruise, the sun the fun, the excitement of being on the sea this makes us assume it is a safe way to vacation.The ugly truth about cruise ships is that sexual assaults and rapes occur on them more often than a...

How To Stop Porn Addiction
Step one: Do you admit you have a problem? Do you realize just how much damage porn addiction can do to your life and your relationships? Do you really want to know how to stop porn addiction? OR are you just hoping there is an easy one click cure?If you are looking for a quick fix then the same problems that cause your porn addiction are still act...