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Sex Addiction

Sex Addicts Anonymous: How to Help Your Partner

If your partner has an obsessive, unhealthy relationship to sex, there are steps you can take to help him or her.

There are many sexual thoughts, fantasies, and/or actions that may be problematic, including promiscuity or the compulsive use of pornography. When compulsion drives fantasies or behaviors, and the thoughts or behaviors continue despite negative consequences in your life, that’s when it may be considered a sex addiction – a serious impulse-control disorder requiring treatment.

A mental health provider can help you get to the bottom of sexual addiction and identify the reasons for particular sexual compulsions.

Treating a Sex Addict

There are many different approaches used to treat a person with sex addiction. Most often, a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and group support are used.

Individual therapy can help a patient learn to rechannel their energies toward healthy, productive pursuits instead of harmful or dangerous patterns involving sex. This may involve the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, as well as other techniques. Couples therapy can provide the tools needed to improve communication and resolve disputes, as well as guidance for dealing with sexual addiction such as setting boundaries and handling triggers that may arise. Therapy can address a host of issues surrounding sex and relationships.

Various medications may be prescribed as part of sex addiction treatment. Some drugs may be used to address underlying issues that may be contributing to the addiction or relieve the effects of the disorder. Medications that may be prescribed to treat sex addiction include:

  • Antidepressants typically used to treat anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder may help patients with a sex addiction.
  • Naltrexone has been used to treat addictive behaviors because it can successfully block the reward center of the brain, which sends out pleasure signals in response to certain actions in the body. Naltrexone has helped people with gambling addiction as well as compulsive sexual addiction.
  • Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder may have some benefit when used to treat sexual compulsions.
  • Anti-androgens reduce and curb the biological effects of sex hormones (like testosterone) in men. These medications can effectively reduce sexual urges, but are only ever used as a short-term, temporary solution in a small percentage of situations. The goal of sex addiction treatment isn’t to remove sexual desire and activity from you or a partner’s life, but to be able to re-engage in sex in a healthy way.

Group therapy can provide the support needed to a person suffering with sex addiction. Simply knowing you are not alone when dealing with a subject as taboo as sex addiction can provide the emotional support needed to be able to do the work necessary to recover.

If you or your partner have an addiction to sex and it has taken over your life, contact Advanced Psychology Partners by calling (973) 534-5333 or request a consultation now to get the help you need from discreet professionals who specialize in the field.

4 Signs You Are Dealing with Sex Addiction

People can become addicted to many things: drugs, alcohol, gambling, and, yes, sex. All pleasure is processed in the brain in the same way, and releases dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical.

Many times, people become addicted to a certain product or action because it prompts the release of this chemical. Habitual engagement and overexposure to an activity causes the brain to produce dopamine with the activity.

Naturally, or without the activity, the brain begins to produce less dopamine than before – which can lead an individual to feel dependent on the activity. Unlike drugs, alcohol, and other addictions, sex addiction can be particularly difficult to identify and overcome, because sex is a natural part of life.

Healthy Sex vs. Sexual Addiction

Identifying healthy sex from a sexual obsession or addiction can be difficult. Most of us have a libido that creates a desire for sex. However, it becomes an issue when the act of sex becomes more important than the other person involved.

While it’s coined as a “sexual addiction,” the root cause is often a deeper mental battle. Below are some signs that are typical in someone with a sex addiction:

  1. Habitual Masturbation

In general, masturbation is normal for both men and women. It becomes a cause for concern if it’s excessive, such as several times per day. An individual with this addiction may regularly think about the next time they’ll be able to do it, and even think of excuses to get away from social situations to do it.

  1. Insatiable Sex Drive

Individuals struggling with sex addiction may feel like they’re never satisfied. Engaging in sexual activity causes them to want more and more. If they’re not partaking in sex, they’re often thinking about it.

  1. Multiple Partners

An individual with this type of addiction will attempt to have multiple people they can get together for sexual interactions. This causes a struggle to maintain a healthy relationship for many people with sexual addictions.

  1. Habitual Phone Sex or Online Sex

Many sex addicts who are trying to sustain a monogamous relationship go around the infidelity issue by using online cybersex partners, or calling sex hotlines to have phone sex with strangers. They may also be addicted to watching pornography online.

Who Can Help Me Overcome Sex Addiction?

Dealing with a sexual addiction makes it difficult to maintain a normal life, and can even affect your loved ones. While it can feel like you’re confined in a cycle of repetitive sexual behavior, the professionals at Advanced Psychology Partners can help you overcome your sexual addiction.

You are just one call away to a healthier, happier sex life. It is possible to achieve optimum sexual health with the professionals at Advanced Psychology Partners. We offer personalized, results-driven therapy in a comfortable, private environment for patients of all sexual orientations.

We offer comfortable, discreet counseling with compassion and respect. To take the first step to sexual satisfaction, contact us today. Call (973) 534-5333 or complete our online appointment request form now. Let us help you achieve a satisfying lifestyle again.

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