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Sex Addiction Recovery

Sex addiction involves sexual fantasy or behavior that escalates over time, creates negative consequences in one’s life, and feels out of control.

Sex addiction is an intimacy disorder. It becomes focused on the high of arousal, numbing of emotions, an attempt to meet unconscious needs or act out unresolved issues. Because it is so complex, it’s important that this process addiction be treated by a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT).

Signs of Sex Addiction

  • Preoccupation or obsession with sexual fantasies or thoughts

  • Feeling of loss of control or continuing the behavior despite repeated attempts to stop

  • Feeling anxious, depressed, guilty or ashamed after engaging in the behavior

  • Using sexual behaviors as a means to cope with stressors or feelings in your life

  • Increase in negative consequences for you or others

  • Spending a large amount of time away from family or work to engage in sexual adventures

Treatment

Effective treatment of sex addiction first involves therapy focused on recognizing denial, stopping the problem behaviors, stabilizing your life, and detoxing your brain. Treatment then involves deeper work for resolving underlying issues that led to the behavior, retraining your brain to experience authentic intimacy and healthy sex, and repairing relationships that were harmed by your addictive behavior. This treatment process is most effective for individuals who also participate in group therapy. In order to restore relationship trust, you may also benefit from an empathy workshop.

More Resources

 

Intimacy and Sex Therapy

Intimacy and sex therapy can help couples to discern intimacy vs. intensity and healthy vs. unhealthy sex

Men’s Recovery Group

The development of addiction occurs in isolation and therefore must be treated in connection.

Help Her Heal Empathy Workshop

This workshop is for men to learn to help their partner heal from betrayal.