Sexual Addiction
6% to 8% of Americans suffer from sexual addiction, according to the National Council on Sexual Addiction Compulsivity. Its effects are as destructive as those of chemical addictions. Socially, addicts' lives and the lives of those close to them are affected, their performance on the job might suffer, they might even endanger their families’ health.
How to recognize the signs of sexual addiction?
There are 3 characteristics that pinpoint and addictive sexual behavior:
Compulsivity. The person is not able to choose whether to stop the behavior or to continue.
Inability to stop. Despite the dangerous consequences of their behavior, they can not give it up.
Obsession. They are preoccupied with satisfying the sexual impulse.
Sexual addicts need compassion …show more content…
Rehabilitation programs request that people abstain from all sexual activities for 30 to 90 days.
In this period, they need all the support available. As their ideas about sex were often distorted, they need to learn new healthy ways of thinking and of being. They might have to confront shame issues or sexual identity issues. They require the support of therapists or special groups. Very helpful for them are the 12 steps programs modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous.
Sexual addiction is closely linked to powerlessness, therefore, part of their recovery is discovering the role previous generations had in creating the addiction. Also, becoming conscious about the behavior of those close to them. In order to prevent relapse, they need to avoid the former lifestyle and its connections. Although it is not easy, those that are willing to work on saving relationships often succeed.
Without help from others, the addiction feeds itself. Addicts have to become part of caring communities. They need this help in order to obtain healthier perspectives on their lives and in order to integrate
How to recognize the signs of sexual addiction?
There are 3 characteristics that pinpoint and addictive sexual behavior:
Compulsivity. The person is not able to choose whether to stop the behavior or to continue.
Inability to stop. Despite the dangerous consequences of their behavior, they can not give it up.
Obsession. They are preoccupied with satisfying the sexual impulse.
Sexual addicts need compassion …show more content…
Rehabilitation programs request that people abstain from all sexual activities for 30 to 90 days.
In this period, they need all the support available. As their ideas about sex were often distorted, they need to learn new healthy ways of thinking and of being. They might have to confront shame issues or sexual identity issues. They require the support of therapists or special groups. Very helpful for them are the 12 steps programs modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous.
Sexual addiction is closely linked to powerlessness, therefore, part of their recovery is discovering the role previous generations had in creating the addiction. Also, becoming conscious about the behavior of those close to them. In order to prevent relapse, they need to avoid the former lifestyle and its connections. Although it is not easy, those that are willing to work on saving relationships often succeed.
Without help from others, the addiction feeds itself. Addicts have to become part of caring communities. They need this help in order to obtain healthier perspectives on their lives and in order to integrate