A person engages in sex to “numb out” or feel a high in order to escape problems or avoid intimacy, but the consequences of shame, guilt, or broken relationships incite more and greater acting out behaviors. Sexual addiction is often progressive, meaning the compulsive acting out behaviors become progressively worse over time. A sex addict may compulsively look at pornography may engage in compulsive masturbation may engage in sex for pay activities (via phone, internet, or in person) may engage in compulsive voyeurism or exhibitionism may seek repeated anonymous sexual encounters or may feel unable to stop behaviors which lead to repeated infidelity. Both men and women experience sexual addiction. A sex addict is someone who experiences life disruption or dysfunction due to habitual sexual obsessions and compulsions. Still, to date, there is no APA supported diagnosis for sexual addiction, although many APA affiliated therapists and recovery centers treat individuals who experience both sex and love addiction symptoms. “Hypersexual disorder” is how the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and its publication, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM), propose to term the disorder. Since that time, many therapies have been devised and many more treatment centers have opened their doors to those suffering sexual addiction. In 1983, with the help of an addiction treatment center called the Hazeldon Foundation, Patrick Carnes published his seminal work, Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. A sex addict may have a problem with pornography or repeated anonymous sexual experiences, while the love addict acts out in relationship-by clinging to a partner (sometimes one who is destructive to him or her), by avoiding love and/or intimacy with a partner, by moving from one relationship to the next, and/or by not being able to cope when a relationship ends. The difference between these addictions lies specifically in the types of acting out behaviors which may be present. Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Centerīoth sex addiction and love addiction are understood to be disorders of emotional intimacy characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive acting out behaviors.Process Addiction Treatment Center Menu Toggle.Motivational Interviewing Therapy Program.Addiction Treatment Programs Menu Toggle.
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