can sex be considered an addiction?

Question

i have been really wondering whether this can be a true addiction and i was also wondering what are some of the symptoms that people experience with this and can people tell me the warning signs i have had a lot of problems with sex such as using it to get what i want and or using it as a weapon when i am angry can this be considered such symptoms and can this addiction be dangerous

Answer 1

yes...definately.

heres some info.
Love addicts are characteristically familiar with desperate hopes and seemingly unending fears. Fearing rejection, pain, unfamiliar experiences, and having little faith in their ability or right to inspire love, they wait, wish, and hope for love, perhaps their least familiar experience.

Addictive sexuality is like most other compulsive behaviors: a potentially destructive twist on a normal life-enhancing activity. Defining sex addiction depends less on the behavior itself than on the person's motivation.

Sex addicts display a lack of the ability to control or postpone sexual feelings and actions. The need for arousal often replaces the need for intimacy. Eventually, thrill seeking becomes more important than family, career, even personal health and safety.

As sexual preoccupation increases in terms of energy and time, the sex addict follows a routine or ritual leading to acting out on desires which is then followed by feelings of denial then shame, despair and confusion.

It may be helpful to examine the definition of addiction more closely. Addiction is characterized by the repeated, compulsive seeking or use of a substance or activity despite adverse social, psychologic and/or physical consequences. Addiction is often (but not always) accompanied by physical dependence, a withdrawal syndrome and tolerance. Physical dependence is defined as a physiologic state of adaptation to a substance, the absence of which produces symptoms and signs of withdrawal.

Withdrawal syndrome consists of a predictable group of signs and symptoms resulting from abrupt removal of, or a rapid decrease in the regular dosage of, a psychoactive substance or activity; the syndrome is often characterized by overactivity of the physiologic functions that were suppressed by the drug and/or depression of the functions that were stimulated by the object of addiction.

Tolerance is a state in which a drug or activity produces a diminishing biologic or behavioral response; in other words, higher doses or in the case of sex addicts, riskier behavior is needed to produce the same effect that the user experienced initially.

Symptoms
For love addicts, love:


Is all consuming and obsessive

Is inhibited

Avoids risk or change

Lacks true intimacy

Is manipulative, strikes deals

Is dependent and parasitic

Demands the loved one's devotion


Sexual addictions usually are revealed in stages:


Preoccupation: continual fantasies about sexual prospects or situations. This can trigger an episode of sexual "acting-out."

Ritualization: a preferred sexual activity or situation is often stereotyped and repetitive.

Compulsion: continual engagement in sexual activity despite negative consequences and desire to stop.

Despair: guilt or shame over their inability to control behavior or feel remorse.

Other behavioral problems, particularly chemical dependency and eating disorders.


Causes
In the case of love addicts, often their own growth and development were thwarted earlier in life. Similarly, many sex addicts report some form of abuse or neglect as children and frequently see themselves as diminished or damaged in the process. Their parents are often sex addicts themselves.

Stress also plays a part in fueling compulsive sexual behavior by feeding the addict's need for withdrawal and fantasy.

Levels of phenylethylamine (PEA) - a chemical in the brain involved in the euphoria that comes with falling in love - rise with feelings of infatuation, boosting euphoria and excitement.

Love and sex addicts, may simply be dependent upon the physical and psychological arousal triggered by PEA and stress-related neurotransmitters.

Treatment
If you discover you are in an addictive relationship, you may want to seek professional assistance. Specialized counseling is available for those dealing directly or indirectly with this form of addiction.

Overcoming sexual compulsivity and addiction starts with recognizing that you are out of control sexually. Getting to that point requires taking a hard look at yourself and the problems - emotional, physical, or financial - caused by your sexual behavior.

Treatment should probably involve at least some of the following:


A commitment to abstinence

Rebuilding relationships

Managing stress

Self-help


Some treatment for sex addicts follows the format employed by alcoholics. This model views addicts as individuals chronically addicted to a behavior in spite of their attempts to change. They are in a vicious cycle of use, self-judgment, and avoidance that is repeated time and again. The model focuses on three elements of the cycle:


Use of sex

Self-judgment

Avoidance behaviors


The approach to counseling is strongly based on 12-step models.

The three elements of the addictive cycle are impacted by a process created by using:


A therapeutic environment

A thorough assessment

A group process

Education

Self/peer assessment


All five items are incorporated into a therapeutic process, which begins with the first contact.

The creation of an environment that supports the therapeutic process is essential to this approach. Clients must be provided with an opportunity to explore their self-judgments without fear of the judgment of others. They must feel they are listened to with empathy and respect. In earlier models of this approach, the counselor was the only one who possessed so-called counselor characteristics. Although this element is still critical, it now applies to the whole multidisciplinary team, a staff of professionals who are naturally therapeutic.

The counselor conducts an initial assessment, identifies the presenting problem, and, if indicated, schedules the client for treatment.

A thorough psychosocial assessment is conducted, and identified blocks to treatment or problems are noted. The counselor begins the bonding with the client during the assessment process. All counseling skills come into play. The counselor then prepares a therapeutic or treatment plan (i.e., the change model) to help the client deal with those identified problems or blocks that will prevent response to the treatment process.

Answer 2

Absolutely sex is an addiction, what do you think is happening with men and the internet porn sites? That is the fastest growing addiction in the country, beyond drugs, and that says a lot. It's really scary. These guys are losing their marriages, homes, jobs, etc.

What you describe is something different. Some people use it to get what they want or when they're angry. It should never be used for that purpose. It is only an expression of deep love for someone. You use it to manipulate and control someone, that is abuse.

I suggest you get some counseling and talk about this. It is not a healthy way to live and you are really hurting others.

Answer 3

yes there is such a thing as a sex addiction, there are even clinics for it

Answer 4

The article below is a pretty quick summary of sex addiction. Like all addictions, it may be considered unhealthy, but more importantly, it's your perception of it, and how it makes you feel.

Answer 5

read Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. Its about a sex addict. It's going to be made into a movie next year.

Answer 6

What you are describing is not related to sexual addiction. Here is a self test you can take to help you determine if you are addicted to sex.
http://www.sexaddictionhelp.com/test.html

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

Yes it can

Answer 9

have sex life is too short and later in life it may not be as pleasurable

Answer 10

Yes it can.