Sex addiction: Everything you need to know

What is compulsive sexual behavior?

Compulsive sexual behavior, however, should not be confused with a high, but healthy, libido. Instead, it should consider the motivations and impulse control of the individual. The internet, for example, makes promiscuity much easier than the past, but while a high number of sexual partners in a short period might suggest a problem, more relevant will be what need those partners are fulfilling and what control an individual has over their behavior.

Similarly, other indicators such as adultery or the use of prostitution may stem from a sex addiction or compulsion, but there may be many reasons people have an illicit relationship or use sex-workers that are not a consequence of a mental health condition. 

For some, the problem may be akin to an addiction, where an individual has become dependent on the hit provided by sex. For others, it might be the result of an unhealthy relationship with sex, and linked to another disorder, for example a previous trauma or a condition that affects their sense of self-worth and esteem.

Do I have sex addiction?

The difficulty is that sex is a normal activity, and therefore the question is not so much about the frequency of sex or sexual preferences, but instead whether the individual has a healthy relationship with sex.

It might be worth thinking about some common effects of other addictions and whether these apply. Signs of addiction will include a pre-occupation with the addiction. Does the individual constantly think about having sex, or their next sexual encounter, perhaps frequently using porn as an alternative? Do they have frequent sexual urges, and, if so, does their behavior change, perhaps becoming irritable or withdrawn, if the urges are not fulfilled? Would they be able to go a prolonged period without sex? Do they lie or deceive to get sex, either to obtain partners or cover their behavior with others? Do they expose themselves to risk, for example unprotected sex or using sex-workers?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions you may well need sex addiction treatment. Feel free to reach out to our experts at Hacienda Paradiso for an initial free consultation.

What is porn addiction?

Addiction to porn is, like, sex addiction a topic of debate; if sex is not addictive, how can porn be addictive? However, it’s likely that exactly the same processes that can cause addiction and apply to sex will apply to porn. Masturbation is physiologically identical to sex, creating the same effects in the body, so used for this purpose porn carries exactly the same addictive risks as sex. However, porn can also carry other risks, particularly with its easy access over the internet.

Many people use porn, either individually or as couples, and the use of porn is not a problem in itself. Problems may be present if that relationship with porn ceases to be healthy. This might exhibit in the usual signs of addictive behavior. It might also present in other ways. An individual with a problematic relationship with porn might find themselves reliant on it to achieve arousal. They might even find themselves preferring porn to sex with their partner. Others might find themselves using porn excessively.

Our view on sex addiction and treatment

Hacienda Paradiso, the World’s first Eco Rehab from the award-winning Villa Paradiso Group are sex addiction treatment pioneers. Our chief clinical lead in Europe, Dr. Ruth Arenas is a World-leading authority in the diagnosis and successful treatment of sex addiction.

According to our own Dr. Ruth Arenas, “current understanding of addiction is finding that it is driven by the brain’s response to a substance or behavior, and the rewriting of its own pleasure pathways. This would suggest that sex addiction is just as possible as addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling. Using newer models of addiction, it might be expected that symptoms would include changes in behavior, including obsession about sex, hiding behavior from others, taking risks to satisfy the addiction and feelings of guilt or shame.”

If you are worried about compulsive sexual behavior help is available. At Hacienda Paradiso we are pioneering affordable treatment in beautiful, natural surroundings. Our sex addiction specialists are available for private, discreet and non-judgmental consultations. They can explain your options for treatment and answer any questions you may have.

How is sex addiction diagnosed?

Because sex is not a recognized addiction, there is no accepted diagnostic tool as there are for other addictions and mental health conditions. However, our sex addiction clinicians at Hacienda Paradiso use a range of bespoke and individualized diagnostic frameworks to consider whether an individual’s sexual behavior is compulsive. Using these internal frameworks they will consider whether your relationship with sex is healthy, or whether there are compulsive components that are having a negative impact.

Can medications help sex addiction?

Medical treatment is available for sex addiction, although we do not use medication to reduce libido. Although such medications do exist, the aim of our world-class sex addiction treatment is to move our clients to healthy sexual desire, not to chemically remove all desire.

However, other medications might be prescribed, especially is there is a dual diagnosis. Sex addiction frequently results from other problems, for example attempts to lift depression or as a response to a previous trauma. However, medications used to treat these might help with sexual addiction. Antidepressants, for example might remove the need for the dopamine hit from sexual activity. 

What is the treatment for sex addiction?

Sex addiction treatment at Hacienda Paradiso will follow a model similar to any addiction treatment. One key difference between treatment for sex addiction and most other addictions is that lifelong abstinence is not the goal. Instead, the treatment and recovery process will aim to develop a healthy relationship with sex. What this relationship looks like will be discussed and agreed, and will form the goal of the recovery process.

Like recovery from substance misuse, recovery from sex addiction is likely to start with a period of abstinence. Although there is no detox process to go through, abstaining from sex will start the process of resetting the brain’s relationship with sex. It is likely this, at least initially, is best undertaken in our luxury residential facility. This means the environment is highly controlled, and it is not possible to succumb to temptation.

Therapy will also be a core component of rehabilitation and recovery. Psychodynamic therapy might be used to explore your relationship with sex, helping you to understand what initially created that relationship and the need that it fulfils. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also particularly effective. As an active therapy, it equips you to recognize the causes and triggers for your behavior and develop responses that break the chain of actions that previously would have triggered or exacerbated the condition further.