Sex addiction is a behavioral disorder that contributes to the reward system in the brain. The addict gets a “high” after every sexual encounter. 

Sex addiction is sometimes referred to as compulsive sexual behavior or hypersexuality. It’s a behavioral addiction that’s based on the behavior itself. Treatment for sex addiction varies for each individual and their goals.

Research found that counseling is the best step for sex addiction. In this case, you may wonder if you should consult a sex addict counselor. Find out more about how they can help and other treatment options.

What Does a Sex Addiction Counselor Do?

The most common type of sex addiction counseling involves some form of psychotherapy, which is also known as talk therapy. This type of counseling determines the reason behind your sex addiction.
You’ll also determine the emotions, feelings, and triggers. You’ll then learn the tools to change the way you act. 

Two common forms of sex addiction counseling are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy. CBT addicts teach addicts to change their thought processes. 

Interpersonal therapy gets to the root of the individual’s addiction. This is beneficial for those who struggle with other mental health conditions. Mental health disorders can contribute to or be a result of sex addiction. 

Signs of Sex Addiction

Sex addiction develops differently in each individual. It depends on their background, family upbringing, addiction history, trauma exposure, and brain chemistry. 

Most sex addicts obsess over sex and masturbation. They might describe themselves as someone who has a high sex drive. Some individuals develop a porn addiction in their youth that becomes a sex addiction later on. 

Other people might struggle with substance abuse that leads to sex addiction. Either way, this requires additional treatment or medication. The addict will cultivate self-awareness to combat urges.

Addicts need to be aware of the signs before the addiction worsens. Sex addiction is a serious condition that can have catastrophic results. Sadly, sex addiction isn’t taken seriously by society. 

The stark reality is that it can lead to financial problems and legal consequences. It can also ruin lives and relationships. 

While sex is a normal part of life, there’s a difference between enjoying intimate encounters and having obsessive sexual thoughts. Here are the most common signs of sex addiction:

• Engaging in risky sexual behavior

• Excessive use of pornography 

• Feelings of shame or guilt 

• Forgoing obligations for masturbation and sex 

• History of cheating on partners

• Anger or frustration when not acting out

Some Causes of Sex Addiction

Like most behavioral addictions, the exact cause of sex addiction is unknown. Research has found that sex addiction manifests differently in each individual. 

The most common causes of sex addiction are changes in brain chemistry, a history of substance abuse or porn addiction, or a history of family trauma or sexual trauma. 

Brain chemistry is one common instance of sex addiction. The brain thrives on the reward center, which releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. These neurotransmitters boost mood and create feelings of love and belonging. 

Sex addicts thrive on these feelings. The feeling they get temporarily relieves them from stress, and co-occurring mental problems such as bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

Porn addiction also causes changes in the brain pathways that make these behaviors hard to control. Most addicts desensitize themselves from porn and sex to get more satisfaction. For example, exhibitionism or aggressive sex causes the same effect as conventional sex would. 

Some addicts use sex to cope with trauma. They seek relationships, encounters, and experiences to retraumatize themselves and generate the feel-good chemicals. Also, individuals with a history of addiction in their family may be at a higher risk of developing sex addiction. 

Tips and Strategies for Managing Sex Addiction

You may want to treat sex addiction on your own. You should eliminate the problem from your life. For example, if you visit pornography websites, you can install a porn blocker on all of your gadgets. Some porn blockers include educational resources, support groups, and courses that help you recover. 

If you have a sexual urge, you might want to engage in an activity that keeps you preoccupied. This might include reading or exercising. 

You should also admit that you have a problem. Since sex addiction is a behavioral addiction, it’s difficult to treat on its own. In this case, you should consult a professional. 

Treatment Options for Sex Addiction

First, you must receive an official diagnosis from a doctor or certified mental health professional. Sex addiction can be hard to diagnose since it involves a comprehensive look into your mental health and medical history. This ensures that you don’t have symptoms of another mental health disorder. 

Treatment starts with determining the underlying cause of your addiction. Most types of treatment include a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Medication is prescribed to decrease sexual urges and treat any other symptoms that the individual may exhibit. 

Treatment can occur at a counselor’s office, treatment center, or home. Treatment centers allow you to focus on recovery in a regulated environment. You can also join a support group like Sex Addicts Anonymous. Want to talk to someone about your sex addiction? Take a free and confidential assessment on Birches Health. 

Resources:

Understanding and Managing Compulsive Sexual Behaviors

Compulsive sexual behavior - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Neurobiology of Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Emerging Science

How Is Sex Addiction Treated?