Sex addiction can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Sex addiction can involve an array of compulsive behaviors that mimic drug addiction. Dr. Patrick Carnes, one of the leaders in sex addiction research and treatment has developed the following criteria for sex addiction:

1. Recurrent failure (pattern) to resist impulses to engage in extreme acts of lewd sex.
2. Frequent engaging in those behaviors to a greater extent or over a longer period of time than intended.
3. Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to stop, reduce, or control those behaviors.
4. Inordinate amount of time spent in obtaining sex, being sexual, or recovering from sexual experience.
5. Preoccupation with the behavior or preparatory activities.
6. Frequent engaging in violent sexual behavior when expected to fulfill occupational, academic, domestic, or social obligations.
7. Continuation of the behavior despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, financial, psychological, or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the behavior.
8. Need to increase the intensity, frequency, number, or risk of behaviors to achieve the desired effect, or diminished effect with continued behaviors at the same level of intensity, frequency, number, or risk.
9. Giving up or limiting social, occupational, or recreational activities because of the behavior.
10. Distress, anxiety, restlessness, or violence if unable to engage in the behavior.

Sex addiction, like any other addiction, is often treated in the same manner as drug and alcohol addiction. People who have a sex and love addiction will attend SLA Groups (Sex & Love Anonymous) to help them with their shortcomings. A person with a sex addiction will also obtain a sponsor to help them with their sex and love addiction, in the same way that people in AA or NA obtain sponsors to help them through the program.

Sex is a tricky subject, especially for alcoholics and addicts. Many alcoholics and addicts, after they get sober, will primitively resort to sex and love addiction to fill the hole left by drugs and alcohol. Often times sex and love addiction replaces the addicts or alcoholics addiction to chemicals such as cocaine or alcohol, but not the neurochemicals involved. Sex and drugs are so closely linked in terms of neurochemical reactions in the brain that from a neuroanatomical standpoint they are almost impossible to distinguish. This is why it is suggested that alcoholics and addicts refrain from getting involved in a relationship during their early stages of recovery, because sex (in all its forms) is so closely linked to an addict's addiction. At NTS we can treat sex and love addiction by developing a treatment plan and treatment program which specifically addresses the issues common to people with both sex/love addiction and drugs/alcohol addiction.

Labels: Pornography, Sex, Sex Addiction