Getting No “Satisfaction”: Mick Jagger and Sexual Addiction

In an ironic twist, the rock icon Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones’ popular hit "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction" may have been closer to some of the truths about sex addiction than the singer may have realized.

A recent book by Christopher Andersen, titled "Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger," says Jagger has a sex addiction. In the book, Andersen says Jagger’s wife talks about the rock star’s emotional and personal struggles, along with continued infidelity in their marriage. 

She, and others close to Jagger, encouraged him to get treatment for sex addiction. When he did, he is alleged to have pursued a sexual relationship with the professional therapist.

Andersen also alludes to the compulsive and deep-seeded nature of Mick Jagger’s personal issues related to sex addiction in a CBS News article. Experts and researchers believe sex addiction is often linked to serious intimacy problems with others and self-esteem issues.

Many times the person craves more and more sexual activity to cope with negative feelings associated with relationships, or uses sex to avoid personal, intimate relationships all together. Thoughts about sex and behaviors associated with sex become all-consuming and the person loses their ability to control their cravings – even though, as stated in the Rolling Stones hit song, true "satisfaction" is rarely achieved and little pleasure comes from the sexual activities.

Rather than describing sexual addiction as pleasurable, most people with the addiction report feeling hopeless, trapped and depressed along with feelings of shame and guilt.

Sexual addiction continues to be the subject of brain-imaging studies to compare the complex condition with the brain changes that occur with substance abuse. Researchers are also investigating the obsessive-compulsive nature of sex addiction to learn more about treatment options.

Like substance abuse or other addictions, professional help is needed to reach recovery.