How to Stop Sex Addiction Effectively

What is Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction is characterized by an individual’s intense desire to take part in sexual activity. Some of the activities that, when taken part in obsessively or excessively, may indicate an obsession with sex include:

• watching pornography either on television or online
• thinking about sex for long periods of the day to the point in which it interferes with other priorities
• excessive collections of sexual magazines
• risk taking sexual behavior such as promiscuity or having sex in public places
• excessive masturbation

Sex addiction typically causes the addicts thinking to be distorted and they will often rationalize their behavior in some way. Sex addicts will even blame others for their problems or their sexual actions rather than take the blame or accept that they were the doers of their actions. Most will deny that their interaction with sexual activities are a problem thus denying that they are an addict.

Signs of Sex Addiction

• compulsive masturbation or stimulation
• extra-marital affairs or multiple affairs in a non-married relationship
• multiple one night stands
• excessive and consistent use of pornography
• practicing unprotected, unsafe sex
• cybersex either over the phone or online
• prostitution or purchasing the services of a prostitute
• dating excessively for the ability to have multiple sexual partners
• voyeurism or watching others have sex
• rape
• molestation
• sexually harassing others

Consequences of Sex Addiction

Many different consequences can result from an individual’s inability to control their sexual addiction. Some of the most common consequences of sex addiction include:

• Financial consequences. From poor productivity at work because an individual has nothing but sex on his or her mind to money spent on sex through prostitution, cybersex, phone sex or online sexual fantasy chat rooms, there is great stress financially that can come from sex addiction.
• Health consequences. Individuals who suffer from sex addiction are likely to take part in a promiscuous activity which can lead to unwanted pregnancy, STDs such as AIDs or hepatitis, or rape
• Social consequences. Sex addiction can lead to adverse social interactions. Many sex addicts will not interact socially because they spend their time taking part in cybersex while others may be over pushy or too sexual when in social interactions which can lead to a social upset.
• Emotional consequences. Sex addiction is a disease and many sex addicts, despite their desire to quit taking part in an extreme sexual activity, are unable to on their own. This leads to failure and emotional upset that can linger and cause depression or anxiety for the addict

How to Stop Sex Addiction

Take these steps to reduce your desire and stop your sex addiction:

• Get Support. Your support is very important to your recovery from sex addiction. You can find support in sex addiction support groups, through a counselor or doctor, through your family, friends, a spouse or a mentor
• Avoid triggers. Learn how to avoid the places or situations that lead you to watch porn, walk the streets in search of a prostitute, or make a cybersex phone call. By learning how to avoid the triggers that lead you to the compulsive sexual behavior you can reduce the chance that you will make the wrong decisions.
• Accept your problem. The first step to recovery from any addiction is to admit that you have a problem. Sex addiction is a problem and as soon as you admit that you have a problem controlling your sexual behaviors you will be able to begin seeking help.
• Join an outside support group. You’re not the only one who is addicted to sex or who may have an obsession with pornography or cybersex. Thousands of others suffer similar compulsions and there are often community support groups that can help. Many of these support groups can even be found online to help you find the help that you need.
• Seek help. If you’ve tried to stop on your own, you’ve sought support and you still find yourself taking part in sexual behaviors that are unacceptable to yourself or to others, seek additional support from a professional. A counselor or trained professional can help you to gain control of your addiction and move forward.

Treatment for Sex Addiction

Many forms of treatment for sex addiction exist to help you balance your life with healthy sexual relationships that do not hinge on the border of being addictive. A mental health professional and medical health professional can help to determine if you truly are addicted to sex, help you get to the bottom of the reasons why you may be suffering from sex addiction and even lead you in the right direction to overcoming your sex addiction once and for all.