Sex Addictions are on the Rise and Some People are More at Risk than Others

Sex addiction is a very touchy subject. Admitting to an addiction of any type is tough to do, but when it involves sex, the odds of facing up to it are even lower. A sex addiction, also known as hypersexual disorder or compulsive sexual behavior, is an obsession with feelings, thoughts, or behaviors that are sexual in nature and which negatively affect aspects of your life. A sex addiction can be very destructive and can lead to damaged relationships, lowered self-esteem, lost careers, and more devastating effects.

Those unfamiliar with the disorder tend to imagine that a sex addiction means that you are running around having sex with different people every night. However, the disorder can take many different forms. It may involve promiscuity but may also include an obsession with pornographic materials, sex with your own partner, prostitution, self-pleasuring, fantasies, fetishes, or anything else sexual in nature.

Sex addictions are on the rise, according to experts and therapists, and not just in the U.S., but elsewhere around the world. In the UK, one therapist specializing in sex addictions has seen the increase first hand. She sees more and more patients for sex-related disorders and is training more professionals every year to cope with patients with compulsive sexual behaviors. She also sees a surprising number of women dealing with sex addiction. Around one quarter of people admitting to having a sex addiction problem are women. Another shocking finding is that 40 percent of these people, both men and women, say that their trouble with compulsive sexual behaviors began before they turned 16.

One possible cause of the rise in sex addictions may be the readily available pornography provided by easy Internet access. Porn may not always be a direct cause of sex addiction, but it acts a little like a gateway drug. As with actual drugs, some people can use occasionally without becoming addicted, while others succumb to compulsive behaviors and end up with a problem. Many people who start looking at pornography do not understand the potential danger and that there is a risk of addiction. As with chemical substances, like drugs or alcohol, people may turn to pornography initially as a way to relax, cope with stress, or to self-medicate and avoid thinking about deeper issues.

There are many risk factors for sex addiction, regardless of the way in which it manifests. Early sexualization is thought to be one such factor. Just as early exposure to alcohol can increase the odds of becoming an alcoholic, exposure to sexual images and behaviors may also be a factor in sex addiction later in life. Trauma and isolation at a young age is also a risk factor. Children and teens that feel alone or experience some type of trauma are more likely to engage in compulsive sexual behaviors.

Having parents that are very controlling could also be a risk factor. They may make their children less able to handle risk-taking in a reasonable way. When parents fail to model emotional regulation, they also put their children at risk for sex addiction. These children may learn to depend on external factors for emotional management, rather than internal regulation. Finally, if children are taught to view anything sexual as shameful, it can have a profound effect on their later sexual lives, predisposing them to a sex addiction.

Getting treatment for sex addiction can be a problem for many sufferers. The public in general, and the addicts themselves, often view this issue as a moral failing rather than a treatable mental illness. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is just beginning to gain acceptance as a disease or mental disorder and research-based treatments are finally coming to light and being used by professionals. Addiction to sex has yet to gain the same respect.

Although the numbers are on the rise and public opinion has yet to view sex addiction as a real problem, there is hope for those affected. Traditional counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and working with a trained professional can be a profoundly helpful. Another very important aspect of treatment for sex addiction is the realization that there are others in the same boat. Support groups can help to increase self-esteem and put a sex addict on the path to healing.