Sex Addiction - The Path to Recovery

Challenge: Overcoming the Grip of Sex Addiction

Sex addiction can deeply impact an individual's life, affecting relationships, responsibilities, and personal well-being. Recognizing and addressing this addiction is crucial, yet it remains less discussed compared to other forms of addiction. Without proper treatment, individuals may engage in increasingly risky behaviors, leading to severe personal and professional consequences. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not recognize it as a problem with a defined diagnosis, but the World Health Organization acknowledges it as Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder in ICD-11.

Approach at Ridgeback Recovery

Ridgeback Recovery offers a sanctuary for those battling sex addiction. Our treatment services focus on helping individuals break free from destructive habits and regain control over their lives. We recognize the complexity of sex addiction and provide a tailored approach to address both the addiction and its underlying causes.

The Value of Sex Addiction Treatment Services

Addiction to sex doesn’t get the same kind of attention as alcoholism and drug dependence but, if left unchecked, its repercussions are just as devastating. Relationships with loved ones and sexual partners can worsen if affected individuals don’t find a way to control their urges. A lack of a proper approach toward sexual addiction can result in riskier activities such as hurting their partner during intercourse or committing infidelity. By getting treatment services for sex addiction, clients can stop engaging in destructive habits that can irreversibly ruin their professional and personal lives.

Signs of Sexual Addiction

It can be challenging to determine whether you’re suffering from sex addiction. One of the most common symptoms is the blatant use of other people for sex without regard to the consequences. Another troubling sign is seeing sex as the only way to express and receive love. Other behaviors that point to sexual addiction are a reliance on sex and money to create and maintain relationships, being sexual in high-risk situations and locations, and a general sense of shame and guilt for their thoughts and behaviors.

Understanding Sex and Love Addiction

Sex and love addiction, as described by the characteristics of SLAA (Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous), is a complex and deeply ingrained pattern of behavior. It involves a struggle with boundaries, often leading to emotionally and sexually entangled relationships with people we hardly know. This addiction is driven by a fear of abandonment and loneliness, which can keep us trapped in painful and destructive connections. We may constantly seek new relationships, confusing love with neediness and physical attraction, and fearing emptiness when alone. Stress, guilt, and other emotions are often sexualized, and we may use sex and emotional involvement to manipulate or control others. Ultimately, sex and love addiction can leave us feeling immobilized or distracted, preventing us from experiencing true intimacy and recovery.

Causes and Risk Factors

While there are no clear parameters regarding symptoms, mental health experts from various treatment centers agree on certain aspects that affect sex addiction. A good chunk of research points to a history of abuse or trauma that caused people to exhibit signs of extreme sexual deviance as their primary coping mechanism. However, the more common reason for the addiction is similar to patients suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Sex stimulates the sections of the brain that release dopamine. The pleasant feeling one experiences when high amounts of the chemical are released causes some to actively look for the highs it brings. Those who experience dopamine surges during sex may look for ways to increase the excitement they experience by engaging in risky sexual behavior. When they are delighted with the highs brought about by the more deviant behavior, a sexual addiction begins to form.

Start the Recovery Journey with Us

With the help of our therapy and counseling services at Ridgeback Recovery, you can find ways to live a more meaningful life free of your addiction. Our experienced team is dedicated to guiding you through your recovery journey. We believe in a holistic approach that not only treats the addiction but also involves your loved ones in the healing process. Contact us today to learn how we can help you live a more meaningful life, free from the chains of sex addiction.