Definition of Sex Addiction
Sex addiction can refer to a range of sexual behaviors that are done in excess and significantly impact one’s life in a negative way (personally, financially, professionally).
What Are the Different Types of Sexual Addictions?
There are no distinct categories, but sexual addictions can come in different forms, including addiction to:
- Pornography.
- Prostitution.
- Masturbation or fantasy.
- Multiple Affairs
- Exhibition/Voyeurism.
- Other excessive sexual pursuits.
What are the Signs, Symptoms, and Effects of a Sexual Addiction?
Several signs can serve to indicate whether someone is addicted to sex. These can be emotional or physical. Furthermore, it’s important to know the debilitating effects of sexual addiction.
Emotional Symptoms of Sex Addiction
If you or someone you love suffers from a sex addiction, your boundaries have been damaged. If your husband is addicted to porn or sex, you may feel alienated, isolated, depressed, angry, insecure, or humiliated and need treatment yourself. If you are addicted to sex, you might become easily involved with people sexually or emotionally regardless of how well you know them. Because most sex addicts fear being abandoned, they might stay in relationships that aren’t healthy, or they may jump from relationship to relationship. When alone, they might feel empty or incomplete. They might also sexualize feelings like guilt, loneliness or fear.
Physical Symptoms of Sex Addiction
Although a sex addiction or pornography addiction can create many physical side effects, few physical symptoms of this disorder exist. However, the most common physical sex addict symptoms you might notice from having a sexual addiction is feeling immobilized due to sexual or emotional obsessions. There will also be a level of Tolerance. Tolerance is pursuing an increase in concentration or quantity to achieve the desired effect (what used to feel good doesn’t do the trick anymore).
Effects of Sex Addiction
Additionally, sex addiction likely has a negative impact on several areas of one’s life. It can lead to:
- A decline in personal relationships, social, and family engagement
- Decreased concentration and productivity at work
- Physical consequences like sexual dysfunction or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance abuse or food disorder
- Problems related to impulse control
- Obsessive-Compulsive type symptoms
It is important to know that addressing co-occurring problems in one’s life, like depression, social anxiety, or social isolation, can make it easier to recover from sexual addiction.
Get Help For Sex Addiction
It is important to understand that although sex and porn addiction are not “formally” diagnosable, these conditions exist and often present with very adverse consequences and high levels of distress, guilt, and emotional turmoil. If you can relate to the symptoms mentioned above, or know somebody who meets these criteria, do not hesitate to ask for help. Call (407) 967-9313 to speak to a certified sex addiction therapist who can provide you with more information.
