The Signs of Sexual Addiction

Knowing the signs of sexual addiction can lead to overcoming it. Replace the feelings of shame, self-loathing and guilt with peace, self-respect and confidence.

Normal, healthy sexuality brings peace, comfort, feelings of self-worth. It helps couples relax and unwind from the pressures of life. It unites and binds them together.

In contrast, sexual addiction offers none of these blessings. Sex addiction offers only heartache and health risks born of an uncontrollable dependency on the release of neurochemicals or natural drugs in the brain.

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) describes an addiction this way: “The essence of all addiction is the addicts' experience of powerlessness over a compulsive behavior, resulting in their lives becoming unmanageable.”

Modern brain science confirms that viewing pornography and engaging in other sexual activities can create a chemical addiction to endogenous or natural drugs that wash over the brain during the sexual process.

For more understanding on the fascinating brain science behind sexual addiction, click here.

Here are some of the typical signs of sexual addiction:

• Constant preoccupation or obsession with sex that interferes with healthy, normal activities with family, friends, and job

• Neglecting important work and family responsibilities to engage in sexual behavior

• Planning life around sex

• Sexual pleasure is the dominant motivation for engaging in social situations

• Spending exorbitant amounts of time planning or engaging in sexual behavior

• Feeling that sexual behavior is out of control, even when fully aware of serious risks, such as potential loss of personal health, family relationships, or employment

• Feeling serious regret, shame, self-loathing, and depression after sexual conduct

• Engaging in high risk activities, such as:

  • Prostitution; multiple sex partners; exhibitionism (compulsive behavior of sexually exposing oneself in public); forcing sex on others; any sexual involvement with children, including child pornography

• Practicing voyeurism (obtaining sexual gratification by looking at sex-related things)

• Engaging in unnatural sexual practices, such as using objects, cross dressing for sexual pleasure, sexual rituals.

• Compulsive masturbation, even to the point of injury

• Looking for sexual experiences in public places

• Spending money to satisfy sexual appetites

• Having anonymous sex on a regular basis

• The need for sexually explicit material to become sexually aroused

• Feeling upset or angry when unable to engage in planned sexual activities

This list of the signs of sexual addiction can help you determine if you or a loved one suffers from sexual addiction. If you suffer from any of these behaviors, you need to get help immediately.

The good news is that people can recover from sexual addiction. It will take work, but the effort is rewarding. The shame, self-loathing, and exhaustion can be replaced with peace and self-respect.