Do you believe sexual addiction is real or an excuse?
Question by leina: Do you believe sexual addiction is real or an excuse?
I’m taking a human sexuality class for my marriage and therapy program. My topic is on sexual addiction. Many within the psychology community seems divided as to the fact if this disorder is real. Now I want your opinion.
Do you think sex addiction is real? Why and why not?
Also, what behaviors or symptoms do you feel would describe sex addiction.
Best answer:
Answer by kat
In some cases it is real, while some (sick) people use it as an excuse.
I think it is real because people can get addicted to anything and some people do it too much, which can lead to addiction.
I’m not sure of the symptoms.
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Sex Addictions
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I believe that it is real, but that it isn’t sexual gratification the person is addicted to, but rather attention or a feeling of connection that they have trouble getting in other ways. The feeling that someone wants you, is at that moment fully focused on you. The behaviors that I feel describe sexual addiction are engaging in risky sexual practices, such as unprotected sex with strangers. Feeling the urge to go out and find a sexual partner,even though you may have just had sex, etc.
I think that sex addiction does exist. However, many people (maybe even most people) who think that they have this addiction, are in reality, just using it as an excuse for their cheating ways.
I honestly believe that the definition of addiction is simple: A person’s uncontrollable, physical AND psychological NEED for a substance, no matter what the cost, with no regard for the safety of themselves or others.
For instance: Someone who is addicted to drugs will use it no matter the cost: whether it means losing their family, deteriorating their body, and making them lose all of their money, THEY DON’T CARE. Because they feel that their body imprisons them and will not allow them to feel “normal” until they’ve had their fix, they will continue snorting, injecting, and smoking whatever they find until they die.
The same goes for sex addiction, video game addiction, eating addiction, etc… Yes, there are MANY, MANY, MANY, cheating and lazy people out there who CLAIM that they have these addictions who actually don’t, making it harder to pinpoint the ones who actually are. Someone who plays video games all day and night and skips school might not have an addiction, but have you heard about that man who played video games, unable to leave the screen for god knows how many days WITHOUT EATING, GOING TO THE BATHROOM OR SLEEPING until he died? I think THAT’S addiction.
For someone with sex addiction, I don’t think they can just sleep with random people, cheat on their spouse and claim sex addiction. But someone who can say that they have a really good relationship with their spouse (loving, caring, good sex) and family (no major problems) who CONTINUALLY throws all this away because their body shakes and NEEDS SEX, causing this “normal” person to have random, MULTIPLE sex partners every day with complete strangers (and even prostitutes), not using any protection (because they don’t care about the safety of their body), unable to eat, sleep, think, or function until they’ve had sex; maybe they might have a problem worth looking into and researching?
Good luck with the report!
Yes, it is real. I ought to know, because I am a sex addict, and I attend a 12 Step Program for sex addicts.
There are many parallels between sexual addiction and other “accepted” addictions. Like drug addicts or alcoholics, sex addicts go to many extremes to get their “fix,” often risking finances, jobs, relationships, marriage, health, and even their lives.
There is no logic or reason behind the behavioral patterns of a sex addict, other than to say it is a progressive disorder, and left untreated, the sex addict ultimately won’t stop until there are severe consequences, such as a divorce, loss of job, serious illness, or criminal arrest.
The sexually acting out is more of a symptom or a deeper emotional and psychological problem, rather than being an illness unto itself. Many sex addicts suffer from isolation, escapism, inferiority complex, insecurities, or on the other extreme are workaholics, control freaks, and attention seekers.
It is an extremely complex issue, and I congratulate you for pursuing this field of study.