Sex addiction and its possible consequences
Many well known celebrities, both male and female, openly admit that they have a sex addiction. In the past, people admitting this sometimes seemed to boast about it, almost taking it as a badge of honour. These days, such an admission is considered less laudable. For some, the past has caught up with them and they have been accused of historical inappropriate sexual behaviour.
In any cases of this nature, there needs to be taken into account the feelings and mental anguish affecting the women involved. In the past there has been a sense of lad culture amongst some men who were perceived to sleep around. This was usually different for women. This is not acceptable in this day and age and it is one of the reasons that women are finding their voice within an environment where they will at last be heard and listened to.
There is a perceived predatory side to sex addiction which in some cases has led to hefty prison sentences.
Sex addiction can be perceived as an illness
Sex addiction, which is also known as compulsive sexual behaviour, is can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain associated with levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which is a hormone and neurotransmitter involved in regulating arousal in the brain.
Causes of sex addiction
There is a theory that people develop a sex and / or love addiction due to trauma experienced at an early age. This can be trauma from interpersonal relationships that are formed in childhood. Trauma can be from abuse, neglect and abandonment which can in turn negatively impact the attachments people form in adulthood. They then develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, becoming addicted to sex and love to deal with the mental pain of that unaddressed trauma. Therefore, in some cases, it is important to address the addiction as well as to uncover the underlying issues associated with the addictions.
What is love addiction?
Although it can be routed in similar causes, love addiction is different to sex addiction. Sex addiction primarily focuses on sexual activity alongside sexual urges. It involves mental fantasies as well as acting these out and these affect people’s ability to have a normal daily life. Love addiction – also known as emotional dependence – is different. This occurs when an individual develops an unhealthy and obsessive fixation with a partner. In search of “love”, they may also switch from one partner to another.
Love addiction is a serious form of co-dependency by which the person with the addiction places such a high value on the other person, that they put them on an imaginary pedestal. The relationship is usually very one sided and for that person it becomes all-consuming and the primary focus of their daily life.
Love addiction is not a recognised mental illness
Love addiction is usually considered a behavioural addiction but it is not a recognised mental illness. Generally there are no legal repercussions from it other than the possibility of a restraining order to stop any excessive unwanted attention.
Help is available for both sex and love addiction
One of the ways of breaking the addictive cycle for both love and sex addictions can be by being admitted into a residential addictions rehab unit for sex and love addiction. Here, in a safe and confidential environment, there will be a daily structured therapy programme which will help to process feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, anger and remorse and to look at how change is needed in order to address inappropriate behaviour.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has proven to be a very effective form of treatment as it teaches the individual to replace negative thoughts and behaviours that trigger the addiction.
In the case of a sex addiction, this can reduce the impulse to have sex. CBT is also helpful with love addiction as the therapy helps to find healthier ways of thinking, feeling and behaving towards others.
There are also support groups called Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A,) which are based on the very successful modality of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. These can provide ongoing support and understanding.
If you would like help with a sex or love addiction, please contact The Haynes Clinic on 01462 851414 (www.thehaynesclinic.com)