Pornography & Sex Addiction
The truth is, sexual addiction is a lot like alcoholism or drug addiction. According to research, 97% of sex addicts have experienced some form of abuse, and up to 40% are women.
Who Is A Sex Addict
If you are like most people, you picture a sex addict as that creepy guy in a trenchcoat or the Peeping Tom who was reported last night on the news. Maybe the celebrity sex scandal of the week referred to the person as a sex addict, and now you might think it’s just famous people seeking attention.
The truth is, sexual addiction is a lot like alcoholism or drug addiction, in that it can show up in anyone’s life at anytime. I’ve worked with pre-teens to seniors, all with different ethnicities, family backgrounds, religious beliefs, careers, and financial situations. According to research, 97% of sex addicts have experienced some form of abuse, and up to 40% are women.
"My goal is not to label you a “sex addict.” My goal is to help you and those you love experience health and freedom from this burden."
Signs of Sex Addiction
A lot of people who come to me seeking help have severe relationship strain or work-related issues from sexual behavior (viewing pornography, compulsive masturbation, multiple affairs, etc.) and they are not sure how to stop.
If any of these behaviors are present, please seek help:
Pattern of out-of-control sexual behavior
Experiencing severe consequences because of sexual behaviors and an inability to stop despite adverse consequences (including severe marital or relational problems, suicidal thinking, exposure to STDs, problems with work or school)
Persistently pursuing self-destructive behaviors
Ongoing desire or effort to limit sexual behavior
Using sexual obsession and fantasy as a primary way of dealing with life’s problems
Regularly increasing the amount of sexual behavior or changing the type of sexual behavior because the current form is no longer as satisfying
Severe mood changes related to sexual activity (experiencing a high level of irritability because you haven’t had sex in “a while,” or depression and guilt after engaging in the sexual behavior)
Inordinate amounts of time spent obtaining sex, being sexual, and recovering from sexual experiences
Neglect of important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of sexual behavior
If at least one of the above criteria sounds like your situation, then it’s important for you to have a formal assessment. One assessment that I use to guide me in developing the best treatment plan is the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST). It takes about 15 minutes and is completely anonymous. The assessment relies on your honest answers, so make sure no one else is in the room with you and be honest with yourself.
The results page of the assessment will show your score along with general recommendations. I would love the opportunity to talk through these results with you, especially if your score is a 6 or higher.