People often know that sex addiction exists, but may not understand what it means or the warning signs. Compulsive sexual behaviour can have a significant impact on a person’s life and cause serious problems at home, work or in their relationships.
Those with sex addiction often spend much of their time thinking about and planning sexual activity, and can become highly obsessed. They might think about sex all day, spend a disproportionate amount of time at places like adult-themed bookstores or video stores and have a hard time resisting temptation when it arises. They may also engage in risky sexual behaviours, such as masturbating excessively or having extramarital affairs. They may also spend a lot of time watching porn and engaging in sexual fantasies that often have a dark or disturbing tone.
As with other addictions, sex addiction is usually accompanied by some underlying mental health issue. This could include depression, anxiety or dependency on tranquilizers. It is also common for sex addicts to have mood swings and experience a lack of energy.
Many of the same treatment approaches are used for sex addiction as for other addictions. Therapy is most effective when conducted with a qualified therapist. Cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are the most popular techniques. Both focus on identifying and reshaping the person’s distorted thinking patterns and replacing negative or damaging behaviours with positive and healthy ones. Couple’s counseling and support groups such as Sex Addicts Anonymous are also frequently recommended.sex addiction symptoms
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