Sex Addiction

Sex Addicts Anonymous: How to Help Your Partner

If your partner has an obsessive, unhealthy relationship to sex, there are steps you can take to help him or her.

There are many sexual thoughts, fantasies, and/or actions that may be problematic, including promiscuity or the compulsive use of pornography. When compulsion drives fantasies or behaviors, and the thoughts or behaviors continue despite negative consequences in your life, that’s when it may be considered a sex addiction – a serious impulse-control disorder requiring treatment.

A mental health provider can help you get to the bottom of sexual addiction and identify the reasons for particular sexual compulsions.

Treating a Sex Addict

There are many different approaches used to treat a person with sex addiction. Most often, a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and group support are used.

Individual therapy can help a patient learn to rechannel their energies toward healthy, productive pursuits instead of harmful or dangerous patterns involving sex. This may involve the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, as well as other techniques. Couples therapy can provide the tools needed to improve communication and resolve disputes, as well as guidance for dealing with sexual addiction such as setting boundaries and handling triggers that may arise. Therapy can address a host of issues surrounding sex and relationships.

Various medications may be prescribed as part of sex addiction treatment. Some drugs may be used to address underlying issues that may be contributing to the addiction or relieve the effects of the disorder. Medications that may be prescribed to treat sex addiction include:

Antidepressants typically used to treat anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder may help patients with a sex addiction.
Naltrexone has been used to treat addictive behaviors because it can successfully block the reward center of the brain, which sends out pleasure signals in response to certain actions in the body. Naltrexone has helped people with gambling addiction as well as compulsive sexual addiction.
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder may have some benefit when used to treat sexual compulsions.
Anti-androgens reduce and curb the biological effects of sex hormones (like testosterone) in men. These medications can effectively reduce sexual urges, but are only ever used as a short-term, temporary solution in a small percentage of situations. The goal of sex addiction treatment isn’t to remove sexual desire and activity from you or a partner’s life, but to be able to re-engage in sex in a healthy way.

Group therapy can provide the support needed to a person suffering with sex addiction. Simply knowing you are not alone when dealing with a subject as taboo as sex addiction can provide the emotional support needed to be able to do the work necessary to recover.

If you or your partner have an addiction to sex and it has taken over your life, contact Advanced Psychology Partners by calling (973) 534-5333 or request a consultation now to get the help you need from discreet professionals who specialize in the field.

The Ted Bundy Dilemma: Should You Be Scared of Pornography Addiction?

A Netflix documentary released earlier this year and an upcoming feature film starring Zac Efron are bringing new light on Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious sexual predators in U.S. history. Interestingly, Bundy claimed his addiction to pornography fed the monster inside him as his porn consumption began taking on a darker and harder edge. Renewed interest and analysis of Ted Bundy and other serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer has led to a national conversation of what a pornography addiction is and whether or not you should be concerned if you or someone you care about has one. Does an addiction to pornography lead down a dark, murderous path? Here’s what you need to know about The Ted Bundy Dilemma and if you should be scared of a pornography addiction.

Why Porn?

The adult entertainment and pornography industry states it is performing a vital service for its consumers. And with an estimated $100 billion per year in revenues – that’s an average of about $3,000 per second – the pornography industry is one of the largest and most profitable businesses in the world. With couples enjoying porn to spice up their sex lives and alternative lifestyles being more common, pornography has become more accepted and mainstream. However, under the umbrella of pornography, there are niches that some may find morally bereft or peculiar; there are also darker sub-genres that go against the laws of nature, and also, the laws of the land.

Porn Fed the Monsters

Most people enjoy pornography to satisfy desires, loneliness, curiosity. However, some are not content with more “tame” material and seek out higher highs. A very rare few take matters into their own hands and find victims to act out their darkest desires and fantasies. Many prolific serial killers, including Bundy, Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, and John Wayne Gacy professed to porn addiction. In fact, Dahmer stated he would prepare to hunt for a victim by reviewing pictures of his previous victims, which he considered his victories. For Bundy, Dahmer and the like, seeing others victimized desensitized them; they began to see their victims as disposable.

A Dangerous Path

While none of these sadists blamed their actions on porn, they all professed an affinity for hardcore pornography. And with the advent of the dark web, one no longer needs to walk the streets or travel abroad to find fulfilment. That being said, not all pornography is bad but an addiction to porn, like to gambling, is not considered healthy. Those who do become addicted to porn likely will do so in secret. Bundy referred to his own addiction saying “…like an addiction, you keep craving something harder, which gives you a greater sense of excitement until you reach a point where the pornography only goes so far.” In that sense, it may be fair to conclude that anyone who begins to isolate themselves or consume more intense or dark porn may be traveling down a very frightening and dangerous path.

A common denominator

Bundy stated “I’ve lived in prison for a long time now and I’ve met a lot of men who were motivated to commit violence just like me and without exception, every one of them was … deeply influenced and consumed by an addiction to pornography.”

Seeking Help

It is possible to have a healthy sex life that is enriched by pornography, but when someone favors over interpersonal relationships, there may be cause for concern. If someone you know is addicted to pornography try to get them help. While the risk of them committing atrocities should not be a concern, their addiction will not bode well to achieving thriving and healthy relationships.

Advanced Psychology Partners can help with addictions to pornography. Call them today at (973) 534-5333 for a complimentary meet and greet session, or request your session online and take that step toward a happy and healthy life.

4 Signs You Are Dealing with Sex Addiction

People can become addicted to many things: drugs, alcohol, gambling, and, yes, sex. All pleasure is processed in the brain in the same way, and releases dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical.

Many times, people become addicted to a certain product or action because it prompts the release of this chemical. Habitual engagement and overexposure to an activity causes the brain to produce dopamine with the activity.

Naturally, or without the activity, the brain begins to produce less dopamine than before – which can lead an individual to feel dependent on the activity. Unlike drugs, alcohol, and other addictions, sex addiction can be particularly difficult to identify and overcome, because sex is a natural part of life.

Healthy Sex vs. Sexual Addiction

Identifying healthy sex from a sexual obsession or addiction can be difficult. Most of us have a libido that creates a desire for sex. However, it becomes an issue when the act of sex becomes more important than the other person involved.

While it’s coined as a “sexual addiction,” the root cause is often a deeper mental battle. Below are some signs that are typical in someone with a sex addiction:

Habitual Masturbation

In general, masturbation is normal for both men and women. It becomes a cause for concern if it’s excessive, such as several times per day. An individual with this addiction may regularly think about the next time they’ll be able to do it, and even think of excuses to get away from social situations to do it.

Insatiable Sex Drive

Individuals struggling with sex addiction may feel like they’re never satisfied. Engaging in sexual activity causes them to want more and more. If they’re not partaking in sex, they’re often thinking about it.

Multiple Partners

An individual with this type of addiction will attempt to have multiple people they can get together for sexual interactions. This causes a struggle to maintain a healthy relationship for many people with sexual addictions.

Habitual Phone Sex or Online Sex

Many sex addicts who are trying to sustain a monogamous relationship go around the infidelity issue by using online cybersex partners, or calling sex hotlines to have phone sex with strangers. They may also be addicted to watching pornography online.

Who Can Help Me Overcome Sex Addiction?

Dealing with a sexual addiction makes it difficult to maintain a normal life, and can even affect your loved ones. While it can feel like you’re confined in a cycle of repetitive sexual behavior, the professionals at Advanced Psychology Partners can help you overcome your sexual addiction.

You are just one call away to a healthier, happier sex life. It is possible to achieve optimum sexual health with the professionals at Advanced Psychology Partners. We offer personalized, results-driven therapy in a comfortable, private environment for patients of all sexual orientations.

We offer comfortable, discreet counseling with compassion and respect. To take the first step to sexual satisfaction, contact us today. Call (973) 534-5333 or complete our online appointment request form now. Let us help you achieve a satisfying lifestyle again.

Call Us: (973) 534-5333