What Is a Sex Addiction Intervention?
Sex addicts are usually deep in denial about the extent of their addiction and the negative effects it is having on not only them, but the people around them. Sex addicts craft a web of lies and deceit designed to perpetuate their addiction, and they tell those lies not just to their spouses, partners, families, friends, and employers, but to themselves. Worst of all, they believe the darn things, and they fully expect everyone else to also believe them. Because of this, it can be incredibly difficult to convince a sex addict that he or she is dealing with an addiction, that the addiction is ruining his or her life (and the lives of others), and that he or she needs help.
Why Isn’t Sex Addiction an “Official” Diagnosis?
The Non-Diagnosis Diagnosis
The DSM-V—the “diagnostic bible” for psychiatrists and psychologists—does not include sexual addiction as an official diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association, publisher of the DSM, has offered no explanation for this decision. In general, though, the primary arguments against the creation of an official diagnosis for sexual addiction fall into the following categories.
Sex Addiction and LGBTQ Issues
Sex addiction is an equal opportunity affliction, affecting all segments of the population equally regardless of race, religion, financial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or anything else. And on a very basic level the treatment for sexual addiction is the same for everyone—directive forms of therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy coupled with sex addiction-focused group sessions, social learning, and 12-step work.
However, every sex addict is unique. Sex addicts come from different cultures, with different upbringings, and they often chase very different forms of sexual activity. Treatment of sexual addiction should always take this into account, especially when sexual orientation and/or gender identity factors in.
Common Signs of Depression in Men
In a previous blog, the link between adult male depression and sexual addiction was discussed. (Essentially, hypersexual behavior is used compulsively as a way to escape the emotional pain of depression, over time becoming an addictive pattern.) That blog noted that the current diagnostic criteria for depression are skewed toward women, not taking into account the ways in which depression typically manifests in men. As a result, depression tends to be viewed by both the general public and the therapeutic community as a “women’s problem.” However, recent research indicates that just as many men as women suffer from this debilitating psychological condition.
Addiction (No Substances Required)
When most people hear the word addiction they immediately think of substance abuse — alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription drugs, cigarettes, etc. They typically don’t think about gambling, spending, video gaming, romancing, or being sexual. Yet it is just as possible to become addicted to a pleasurable behavior as to a pleasure-inducing substance. Furthermore, substance addictions and behavioral addictions (also called “process addictions”) are remarkably similar, evidenced by:
Does Compulsive Sexual Behavior Qualify as Addiction?
In recent years, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the American Psychiatric Association’s “diagnostic bible”) has backed away from use of the term addiction. In fact, the most recent incarnation, released in early 2013, now calls alcoholism and drug addiction “Substance Use Disorder.” The APA’s motivation for this “anti-addiction” stance is more than a little bit perplexing, especially at a time when public acceptance and understanding of addiction (in all of its forms) is at an all-time high. Even more concerning is the fact that sexual addiction was excluded entirely from the latest DSM, with no explanation why.
Sexual Addiction Treatment: Male Vs Female
There are significant differences in the ways that men and women think, act and relate. Many of these differences are neurobiological in nature. Generally speaking, men are more “left brain” (logical and objective) and women are more “right brain” (creative and intuitive). In short, men tend to be stronger systematizers, women stronger empathizers.
Men, Depression, and Sexual Addiction
It’s Pat!
When Pat’s alarm clock goes off in the morning, Pat wants to either scream or cry. Pat hits the snooze button repeatedly, only getting up when Pat is going to be late for work (again!). When Pat finally does get to work, Pat can barely function. At home, Pat is completely disconnected from Pat’s spouse and kids. Pat is short-tempered and quick to anger. Pat suffers from headaches and body aches but Pat’s doctor can’t find anything that’s medically wrong. Pat has lost interest in everything that Pat used to enjoy.
