Behavioral addictions (such as sex addiction) are patterns of behavior, which follow a cycle similar to that of substance dependence.
This begins with the individual experiencing pleasure in association with a specific behaviour and then seeking that behaviour, initially as a way of enhancing their experience of life, and later as a way of coping with stress. The process of seeking and engaging in the behaviour becomes more frequent and ritualized until it becomes a significant part of the person’s daily life. When the person is addicted they experience urges or cravings to engage in the behavior, which intensify until the person carries out the behaviour again, usually resulting in a feeling relief and elation.
While negative consequences of the behaviour may occur, the individual persists with the behavior in spite of this.
Symptoms of Sex Addiction:
- Frequently engaging in more sex, and with more partners than intended.
- Being preoccupied with or consistently craving sex; wanting to cut down and unsuccessfully attempting to limit sexual activity.
- Thinking of sex to the detriment of other activities or continually engaging in excessive sexual practices despite a desire to stop.
- Spending considerable time in activities related to sex, such as cruising for partners or spending hours online visiting pornographic web sites.
- Neglecting obligations such as work, school or family in pursuit of sex.
- Continually engaging in the sexual behaviour despite negative consequences, such as broken relationships or potential health risks.
- Escalating scope or frequency of sexual activity to achieve the desired effect, such as more frequent visits to prostitutes or more sex partners.
Other behaviours associated with sex addiction include:
- Feeling irritable when unable to engage in the desired behaviour. Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
- Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
- Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
- Consistent use of pornography
- Unsafe sex
- Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
- Exhibitionism
- Obsessive dating through personal ads
- Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
- Sexual harassment
- Molestation/rape
You may have a sex addiction problem if you identify with three or more of the above criteria. Generally, sex addicts tend to organize their world around sex in the same way that cocaine addicts organize theirs around cocaine. Their goal in interacting with people and in social situations is obtaining sexual pleasure.
The term “sexual addiction” is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict’s thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.
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