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Men and women who have or exhibit excessive or unusual sexual urges or behaviors can be considered sex addicts. An example would be a man who sits at his computer and engages in Internet pornography, regardless of the fact that he is married and his marriage is suffering because of his activities. Another example would be a woman that engages in extra-marital affairs, knowing this could end her marriage and possibly result in her being infected with a sexually transmitted disease. These are just two examples of possible compulsive sexual behaviors. To complicate things, sex addicts frequently exhibit other indulgent or addictive behaviors such as drug abuse, gambling addiction, alcoholism or eating disorders, just to name a few.
The goal of this paper is to assist the reader in understanding the process of this addiction and possible treatment plans. What is sexual addiction and how do you treat it? Compulsive sexuality is an addiction. Sex addicts will experience a driving compulsion to engage in sexual activities that can be destructive or even dangerous. They will go on binges, striving to satisfy their sexual cravings. They also will pursue sex even when there could be dire consequences for their actions.
Some patterns of a sex addict could be: compulsive masturbation, cyber sex, fantasy sex, anonymous sex (one night stands), paying for sex, voyeuristic sex (pornography, peeping), intrusive sex (touching without permission), and forced sex (rape) (Carnes, 1991). These patterns are progressive and usually start in the order given, progressing toward an involvement with the law if no help is sought. Lets take a look at the progression of this addiction by beginning with the addict who engages in compulsive masturbation and fantasy sex. When these acts are no longer stimulating to the addict they may become more aggressive in their sexual acting out. They may start looking for greater sexual fulfillment by progressing to the next level or pattern, which is anonymous sex. Addicts tend to begin participating in a string of one-night stands or several sexual acts in one night, all without regard to the dangers of sexually transmitted disease.
The addict may or may not progress to the next level, paying for sex, depending on how cooperative the one-night stands are in fulfilling their sexual needs. Voyeurism, which includes watching pornographic movies, reading pornographic books and even peeping on others engaged in sexual activities, is the next level of addiction. When the addict is still not satisfied, he / she may progress to intrusive sex which includes unwanted touching and could eventually lead to rape. Cyber sex, which generally precedes the more aggressive forms of the addiction, may continue throughout the addiction. This might be explained by its availability. On-line pornography, live chat, software and files are the three forms most readily available (NCSA, 2000).
The Internet provides easy access for someone who is a sex addict. They can act out and be anonymous or whomever they want while chatting on-line. This gives new and unlimited thrills to the addict during their moves from one level in the addiction to another. In a survey of 75 self-identified sex addicts, 100 % were also engaged in other forms of addictions (Schneider, 1991).
Fifty percent were drug users, 33 % abused food, 25 % were workaholics and 5 % were gamblers (Weiss). If left untreated, the addict may progress through the levels right into the category of sexual offender. Sexual offending is a judicial term referring to illegal acts while sexual addiction is a medical term (NCSAC). Not all sex addicts become sexual offenders. Approximately 55 % of incarcerated sex offenders are actual sex addicts. Child molesters represent the largest group of sexually addicted offenders.
Seventy-one percent of child molesters are sex addicts (NCSAC). Consequences experienced by the sexual addict can range from social isolation to physical illness caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Addicts run the risk of being discovered and possibly losing the love and respect of their partners or friends. The emotional strain experienced by the addict when they feel guilt and shame can destroy them emotionally. Addicts can and frequently do contract some form of sexually transmitted diseases. Financially, the addict may spend large sums of money obtaining the stimulus they require in the form of pornography and sex.
Severe consequences can result from an addiction left untreated. The addict could end up in prison for severe sexually deviant behaviors including exhibitionism, voyeurism, child pornography, pedophilia, stalking, sexual harassment and rape. Understanding Sexual Addiction and Possible Treatments By now you may be asking yourself why the addict cant just stop. One explanation is that the brain responds to and directs major elements of the bodys internal system of chemical messages. Sexual arousal ignites central nervous system activity, sparking numerous changes in the body (Schneider & Iron). The expectation of pleasure increases the production of hormones and boosts the heart rate, blood pressure and heightens neuron sensitivity.
The metaphorical chemistry between two people becomes biochemical as the chemical Phenyl ethyl amine (PEA) appears in the brain. PEA is responsible for the thrill experienced and the energy felt by the person who is in love. This chemical rises in the body and produces the excitement and euphoric like symptoms. The sex addict is addicted to the physical and psychological arousal created by constant doses of the PEA (Schneider & Iron, 1996). Treating someone with a sexual addiction begins with the diagnosis of the symptoms. Once the diagnosis has been made, a therapist can begin to help the person by trying to discover how they became an addict.
As is often the case, sex addicts were abused as children. The percentage may be as high as 83 % according to some studies (Carnes, 1991). This abuse gives the children a different view of what is healthy sexuality. In this case a therapist might begin by dealing with the abuse suffered by the addict as a child. Group therapy seems to work well due to the support provided by the group who may have all suffered the same abuse. Groups of this make-up tend not to allow the addict to minimize their actions and use a confrontational format to promote discussion.
Some may think the only way to treat someone with this type of addiction is to incarcerate them. Lets look at that aspect of treatment. Whether it is jail or prison, this does not rehabilitate sex offenders unless therapeutic services are also included (NCSAC). Incarceration Understanding Sexual Addiction and Possible Treatments without therapy will often only increase the shame and self-hatred that the addict has for themselves. Without treatment the offender is more likely t o re-offend. Punishment given by a court of law is not necessarily abusive, but if the incarceration includes abuse, this will only perpetrate the cycle of aggression.
An offender treated abusively will only be taught further abuse (NCSAC). Sex addicts that resort to sexual offending must receive a clear picture that their actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated, but this also must be done in such a way that they receive the necessary treatment for this type of addiction. All people are responsible for their actions and must be held accountable for them with firm consequences. In many instances, society needs to be protected from sex offenders and the only way to accomplish this is to place them behind bars. Some sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated and therefore must remain where they cannot re-offend. Prison may be an important part of rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation behind bars can only be effective if the following conditions are met. 1. A thorough assessment is made, 2. Comprehensive humane treatment be offered, and 3. The offender is required to attend counseling. If the addict is not required by law to attend the groups, the help may never be given because the offender may believe that they do not need the treatment. Offenders may believe that they can control their own actions if they want to.
If this were true, they would not be in prison for the offence. The intent of sexually addicted and non-sexually addicted sex offenders differs. Non-addicted sex offenders consciously try to inflict pain. They are driven by rage, hatred and anger. Sex addicts who are also sex offenders are driven by an attempt to use others for self-gratification, to escape being alone, the shame they feel and low self-esteem.
They deny that they are inflicting anything that is not deserved or asked for. It is imperative that treatment and counseling incorporate the sexual addiction as well as any chemical dependency or the risk of re-offending is high (NCSAC). Because a large percentage of sex addicts are also chemically dependant, a therapist must deal with the dual addiction. Regardless of which addiction is considered primary, the chemical addiction must be treated first or the sex addict is unlikely to succeed in therapy. A 12 -step program such as Alcoholics or Drug Addicts Anonymous may be helpful.
There is also an organization called Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA). In going through my research, I found many useful references on the Internet. There were several sites that took me to information on groups available for sex addicts and / or their spouses. There were some sites that were mainly addressing therapists and would not have been useful for the layperson.
I tried to use material that would be understood by the average person. In conclusion, I have defined what a sex addict is and how the addiction may progress if left un-treated. It is known that chemicals in the brain play a major role in sexual addiction and it has been researched and proven that abuse suffered as a child can also play a role in determining whether a person may become an addict. The research has suggested that 100 % of sex addicts engage in other forms of addiction and that there are treatments and programs available for those diagnosed and seeking help.
Looking on the Internet, reading books or medical journals and speaking to therapists about sexual addiction may obtain more detailed information. Works Cited 1. Carnes, P. J. , Dont Call it Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction, New York: Bantam Books, 1991: 42 - 44 and page 35. 2. Carnes, P. J. , Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction.
Minneapolis, Comp Car Publications, 1983. 3. National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsorily (NCSAC). web, Cyber Sex and Sexual Addiction, 2000. 4. Schneider, J.
P. , How to Recognize the Signs of Sexual Addiction, Post grad Med, 1991: 90: 171 - 182. 5. Irons, R. R. , Schneider, J. P. , Addictive Sexual Disorders, Miller NS, ed.
Principles and Practices of Addictions in Psychiatry, Philadelphia, Saunders, 1997: 441 - 457. 6. Weiss, Doug. Heart to Heart Counseling, . 7. web 8.
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Research essay sample on Understanding Sexual Addiction And Possible Treatments
