Sex Addiction: May Begin Younger than Expected

For millions of people, sex addiction is less about sex, and more about emotional pain, wrecked relationships, lost careers and the pain of a serious, progressive, ongoing secret.

Stories featuring interviews with people living with sex addiction point to common patterns for the pain sex addiction causes – years of feeling shameful, guilty and hopeless, ruined marriages and the destructive hope that the addiction will get better. In reality, sex addiction is similar to alcohol addiction or drug addiction, requiring professional help for treatment and in some cases, a lifelong effort toward recovery.

Why is sex addiction so prevalent?

People may underestimate the age at which the foundations for sex addiction can occur, with research suggesting that the earlier sexual experiences are present, the higher a person’s chances may be. Even during the preteen years, over-exposure to sexual material or the way views about sex are expressed at home can put a person at risk for the addiction later in life.

People who are beginning a sex addiction may not even know it at first, believing that they are very interested in sex or that the obsession will fade on its own.

Availability of sexual connections online is incredibly high and seems anonymous, allowing some to remain in their sex addiction for long periods without family members learning about it.

Sex creates a pleasure response that becomes a way of release and escape to emotional pain, stress or other triggers – and over time, the person comes to depend on this escape tool for avoiding negative situations, and may be unwilling to talk about it with others.

It is often believed that men have a tendency toward sex addiction, when in reality, rising numbers of women are also becoming addicted to sex. This may prevent women from seeking treatment.