Sex and Pornography Addiction

Addiction, as defined by the DSM 1V-TR of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), can, and does, take place to a wide range of things other than drug and alcohol use,  Behaviors such as gambling, overeating, internet use, sex and pornography all can become addictive.  In all cases, the term addiction describes a chronic pattern of behavior that continues despite the direct or indirect adverse consequences that result from engaging in the behavior. It is quite common for an addict to express the desire to stop the behavior, but find that they are unable to stop the addictive behavior.

While not all professional agree on what constitutes an addiction, in general it is recognized that an addiction can be to a substance or to one of many rewarding habitual behaviors. The most common of the psychological addictions include gambling, sex and pornography, Internet use, work addiction, shopping and spending.

Professionals frequently note the theoretical distinction between physical dependence, characterized by symptoms of withdrawal, and psychological dependence.  In real life, addictions often have both a physical and psychological component.

Sex and/or pornography addiction appear to be psychological addictions, although it can be argued that the hormones released while engaging in the behavior creates a physiological response. Sex addiction and addiction to pornography can involve a wide variety of practices. Sometimes an addict has trouble with just one unwanted behavior and sometimes there are many behaviors involved.  A large number of sex and pornography addicts say their unhealthy behaviors have undergone a progressive process. It may have started with an addiction to masturbation, pornography, or a relationship, but over time it has progressed to increasingly uncomfortable and often, dangerous, behaviors.

The essence of all addiction is the addicts' experience of powerlessness over a compulsive behavior, resulting in their lives becoming unmanageable. The addict is out of control and often experiences tremendous shame, pain and self-loathing. The addict may wish to stop but is not able to do so on any consistent basis.

Preoccupation with sex and pornography takes up tremendous amounts of energy. As internal pressure builds within the addict, a pattern of behavior follows which usually leads to acting out. When the acting out happens, there is a denial of feelings which is then usually followed by despair, shame, confusion, and/or a feeling of hopelessness.

A key feature of sexually related addictions is its obsessive, unmanageable nature: a normal person might stare as they happen to drive past an attractive person, but an addict will drive around the block to stare again; and perhaps again. Or they may spend literally hours searching the net or reading pornography. Addicts can spend an extraordinary amount of time and money on their habit.

Addicts often try to stop their addictive behavior but fail in their efforts. Their behavior frequently follows the following pattern: they become preoccupied and engrossed with sexual thoughts or fantasies; they develop ritualized behavioral routines in a search for sexual stimulation; they exhibit compulsive sexual behavior; then they experience feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and despair; and, finally, to escape these negative feelings, the addict soon becomes preoccupied with sexual thoughts and fantasies again, restarting the addictive cycle.

It is important to distinguish between sexual addiction and sexual anorexia, as both can present similar behaviors, but effective treatment may be quite different. Aside from depression, it also must be established whether or not the presenting behaviors are due to obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar disorders, or some other problem.

Individualized treatment involves planning for specific ways to avoid the addictive stimuli and developing therapeutic interventions intended to help the addict learn healthier ways to find satisfaction. An experienced therapist will frequently use therapeutic interviews in an effort to discover factors that led a person to embrace unhealthy, addictive sources of pleasure or relief from pain.  Then the therapist will tailor intervention approaches to the specific addict and his/her behaviors.

Religious and spiritual-based methods of treatment can often provide effective help.  Examples of these spiritually based treatments are Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous that are based on the 12-step system of Alcoholics Anonymous. Other groups that provide similar treatment without AA's religious component include LifeRing Secular Recovery and Smart Recovery.  Several other treatment modalities have proved to be effective, including various forms of group therapy and individual psychotherapy that deal with underlying psychological issues. The use of medication has proven to be very effective.

The more you understand about sex addiction and pornography addiction, the better you can cope with them and with other related problems. Reaching out for information and assistance can help you live a healthier and more fulfilling life. People who suffer from a sex addiction, pornography addiction, or other addictive behavior problem can get help from a mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. For more information about sex addiction and pornography addiction, please click on the linked websites listed below.

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