What is Sex Addiction?
Sex Addiction is the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate a sex addict’s thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.
“Sex Addiction” is an umbrella term which includes a variety of damaging behaviors. Some examples are: excessive masturbation, multiple affairs, obsession with pornography, risky sexual behaviors such as unsafe sex, exhibitionism, and other inappropriate or damaging behaviors.
Just as the term “alcoholic” is used to describe individuals who abuse different forms of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, or whiskey), the term “sex addict” refers to a wide range of sexual activities which have become problematic.
Understanding the Symptoms
Just because a person engages in inappropriate sexual relationships does not mean they are a sex addict. Some warnings signs of Sex Addition are:
- Having a preoccupation with sex that interferes with a normal sexual relationship with one’s spouse or lover.
- Feeling compelled to have sexual relations again and again within a short period of time.
- A compulsion to engage in sexual behavior that leaves one feeling anxious and depressed or guilty and ashamed.
- Taking large amounts of time from family or work to engage in sex or look for sexual adventure.
- Being driven to sex as a means to hide from the troubles in one’s life.
Often times sex addicts find themselves “living a double life.” They are trapped by a complicated web of secrets and lies they have told in order to maintain their sexual activities.
Men and women who are concerned about sex addiction should take the Center for Healthy Sex’s Sexual Addiction Screening Test.
Our Approach to Addiction Care
At Core Recovery, we have extensive experience in providing specialized care for individuals struggling with addiction. We offer intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programming for individuals struggling with various forms of addiction and mental health challenges, and our partner Center for Healthy Sex offers individual therapy, psychoeducation and coaching, intensive programming, and other courses and workshops. Those programs include:
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- a. The Center for Healthy Sex weeklong IOP program offers various therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Art Therapy, Somatic Therapy, as well as psychoeducation. Our program helps individuals struggling with sex addiction to:
- i. Understand their cycle of addiction and how they use sex as a drug
- ii. Excavate the source of their trauma that drives their sexual addiction
- iii. Replace distorted thoughts with healthier belief systems
- iv. Deconstruct the shame and guilt that keeps one out of their integrity
- v. Graduate the program with a solid aftercare plan for ongoing recovery
- Individual Coaching Courses
- a. The Center for Healthy Sex’s 12-week coaching courses provide psychoeducation around sex addiction, helping individuals:
- i. Execute step-by-step techniques that have helped thousands of recovering sex addicts
- ii. Learn how to stop destructive sexual patterns such as infidelity or excessive use of pornography
- iii. Understand addiction and how to break through obstacles to recovery
- iv. Build a support network to help them realize that they’re not alone in their struggles
Experienced and Compassionate Team
Through its partnership with Center for Healthy Sex, Core Recovery offers treatment to individuals in Arizona who are struggling with sex addiction. The treatment team consists of licensed therapists, addiction specialists, and support staff experienced in and committed to treating addiction. They provide compassionate care and create a safe, non-judgmental environment where individuals can navigate their recovery journey. Through specialized IOP, individual therapy, coaching courses, and workshops, our goal is to help individuals regain control of their lives and establish long-term sobriety.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with the effects of sex addiction, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our addiction focused programs and take the first step toward a brighter, healthier future.
In CA By O360®
