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Sexual addiction

Symptoms of addiction to sex

These are the signs of sexual addiction:

  • The need to increase the frequency of sexual activities,
  • Restlessness, irritability, hostility or anxiety if unable to engage in the behavior,
  • The majority of the time is spent engaging in a sexual behavior or arranging to engage in the behavior,
  • Being preoccupied with or persistently craving sex,
  • Thinking of sex to the detriment of other activities or continually engaging in excessive sexual practices despite a desire to stop,
  • Neglecting obligations such as work, school or family in pursuit of sex,
  • Uncontrollable sexual desire.

Different sex addictions

Sexual addiction

It might seem irrelevant to speak of "sexual addiction", since it takes many different forms. Each of the following forms could be considered as a specific addiction:

  • The addiction to pornography,
  • The addiction to erotic fantasies (fantasies invading the life of the addict),
  • The addiction to prostitution,
  • The addiction to sexual conquest,
  • The addiction to paraphilic behavior (exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual sadism, masochism, fetishism),
  • Addiction to sex with a stranger,
  • Addiction to a person.

Treating sex addiction

The most appropriate treatment of sexual addiction is psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. The participation in a support group can help too.