Sex Addiction: Fact Or Fiction?

In light of the news that David Duchovny recently checked himself into rehab for sex addiction, there may be some people out there scratching their heads and wondering what, exactly, constitutes a sex addiction. Well, we're here to break it down for you.

So what does constitute a sex addiction?

Straight to the experts. The website for Sex Addicts Anonymous defines "sexual addiction" as follows:

Sex Addiction can involve a wide variety of practices. Sometimes an addict has trouble with just one unwanted behavior, sometimes with many. A large number of sex addicts say their unhealthy use of sex has been a progressive process. It may have started with an addiction to masturbation, pornography (either printed or electronic), or a relationship, but over the years progressed to increasingly dangerous behaviors.

The essence of all addiction is the addicts' experience of powerlessness over a compulsive behavior, resulting in their lives becoming unmanageable. The addict is out of control and experiences tremendous shame, pain and self-loathing. The addict may wish to stop --- yet repeatedly fails to do so. The unmanageability of addicts' lives can be seen in the consequences they suffer: losing relationships, difficulties with work, arrests, financial troubles, a loss of interest in things not sexual, low self-esteem and despair.

Sexual preoccupation takes up tremendous amounts of energy. As this increases for the sex addict, a pattern of behavior (or rituals) follows, which usually leads to acting out (for some it is flirting, searching the net for pornography, or driving to the park.) When the acting out happens, there is a denial of feelings usually followed by despair and shame or a feeling of hopelessness and confusion.

Is sex addiction real?

Selfgrowth.com says this:

What makes any behavior an addiction? When do you cross the line from behavior that could be considered a bad habit into addiction territory? For example, how many beers a night make you an alcoholic? How much chocolate do you have to consume to be labeled a chocoholic? How many affairs does one have to have in order to say that this person is a sex addict?

Sorry, folks, but there is no magic number when it comes to addiction. Addictionologists have generally agreed that for a behavior to be labeled an addiction, the following elements must be present:

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Can't stop despite negative consequences.
Presence of a mood-altered state
Strong element of denial.
Behavior is chronic and escalating because of tolerance.
Occurrence of withdrawal symptoms.

What are some symptoms of sex addiction?

The behaviors of sex addicts, according to Medicinenet.com, include:

* Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
* Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
* Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
* Consistent use of pornography
* Unsafe sex
* Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
* Prostitution or use of prostitutes
* Exhibitionism
* Obsessive dating through personal ads
* Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
* Sexual harassment
* Molestation/rape

What causes a sex addiction?

Psychology Today offers this:

In the situation of love addicts, often their own growth and development were thwarted earlier in life. Similarly, many sex addicts report some type of abuse or neglect as children and see themselves as damaged. Their parents are often sex addicts themselves.

Stress also encourages compulsive sexual behavior by feeding the addict's need for withdrawal and fantasy.

So how do you know if you are a sex addict?

Well, you can take quizzes like the one offered by Sex Addicts Anonymous with questions like these:

1. Do you keep secrets about your sexual or romantic activities from those important to you? Do you lead a double life?

2. Have your needs driven you to have sex in places or situations or with people you would not normally choose?

3. Do you find yourself looking for sexually arousing articles or scenes in newspapers, magazines, or other media?

What does sex addict treatment involve?

The Mayo Clinic recommends psychotherapy such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy, or family therapy or marriage counseling, medications like antidepressants, anti-androgens or mood stabilizers, and/or self-help groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.

Back in March, following a little scandal involving prostitution, it was speculated that Eliot Spitzer might be a sex addict. The New York Post reported he was in therapy for it and blogger Dr. Tian Dayton ruminated on the issue in her post "Is Eliot Spitzer A Sex Addict?"

Finally, blogger Rachel Kramer Bussel tackled the issue in her post "Are You A Sex Addict? Am I?"

What do you think? Is sex addiction a real disorder or just a way to pathologize people who really like sex?

Comments

[OSA23]

i disagree with the hysteria about being a 'sex addict/sex addiction'. if anyone has made the works of wihelm reich familar to their personal thinking, they would realize that the primary weakness of american culture has to do with an individual's ability to release themselves into that oceanic bliss of an orgasm. reich was able to illustrate through his research that this inability to release one's self into that oceanic bliss LEADS to dysfunctionality of the psyche and the biological health of that individual through body armoring. as far as the whole fear of the internet porn beast leading to societal destruction and entropy goes - this has become a grievous crime against many people who watch internet porn AND remain highly functional. i am constantly amazed how the so-called 'experts' are going to use individuals who represent the MINORITY as a yard-stick against why people should stay away from internet porn. these people possess a particular character deficiency that has nothing at all to do with internet porn. if this would be the case - why not outlaw all foods that causes people to get fat...? censorship and creating an unrealistic fear and hunger for censorship doesn't solve the problem, let alone examine the concerns honestly AND truly academically. instead of waiting for 'experts' to pronounce this and that as fact(s), individuals need to take on an active approach to the 'facts of addiction'­.... i would recommend reading the works of wihelm reich.

[dadw5boys]

90 % OF ALL T.V. VIEWS HAVE SOME SORT OF SEXUAL PREVERSION !

THE ADVERTIZERS USE OF SEX TO SELL STUFF BREEDS THIS BEHAVIOR !

[bojett]

Sex addiction is real. I've watched internet porn consume an intelligent person to the point of inter-personal dysfunction. Addictions involve denial, which compounds into living a lie. Lies erode the principal foundation of a relationship - the trust. If DD's addiction is real (and not just a marketing ploy for "Californication"), I hope his efforts to rehabilitate are successful.

[PistovAmerican]

Drive to the park???

[JBS]

Or perhaps an excuse for some people to avoid the consequences of stupid behavior?

[wolfgangmo]

Or we could just be intellectually lazy and just blame the victim.

Yah, I feel better already. The b**** had it coming.

Puhleeeeeeeeese.

[littlepuffycloud]

David Duchovney is hot and his Fox Mulder got me through my 1995 divorce. I joked to friends that every friday I had a date with him. The X-Files reruns still creep me out...anyo­ne remember the episode about the Peacock family, in which the deformed and insane mother lives under a bed and her 'Hills have Eyes look-a-like' sons tried to impregnate her to carry on the family name? Man it sounds disgusting doesn't it? It was and it was delicious fun.

[wanked]

Is DD cheating on his wife alot? Is that what makes him an addict?

[mckinley]

Maybe it is just that he is a famous, very attractive man, who takes advantage of the abundance of opportunity offered to him...

[PuddyKatz]

Can you be a sex addict if you are not hawt?

[Topfeeder]

I would guess that is where the Internet comes into play.

[wolfgangmo]

Or money.