Does Fetish Behavior = Sex Addiction?

A fetish is an object, behavior, or body part whose real or fantasized presence is part of a person's sexual gratification. In other words, fetishes are recurrent and intensely arousing sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviors that incorporate specific roles and/or physical objects. These objects and roles are incorporated into a person's sexual life because they are a compelling and sometimes even primary source of arousal. Most fetishes are playful and harmless, though some are pathological, dangerous, and even illegal.

Some of the more well-known fetishes are:

• Use of inanimate objects such as high heels, women's lingerie, etc.
• Use of "sex toys" such as dildos, vibrators, cock rings, nipple clamps, etc.
• Specific physical traits such as body size (petite, chubby, super-muscular, etc.) or body parts (XL or XS sized breasts, penis, buttocks, feet, etc.)
• Physical suffering and/or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, also known as BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, and Masochism)

Being involved in BDSM, the leather scene, cross-dressing, or any other fetish lifestyle does not automatically make a person a sex addict. Sexual addiction is not defined by who or what arouses a person. Rather, it is about loss of control over sexual behavior and directly related negative life consequences.

Most fetishes are harmless forms of sexual play and an innovative way to express physical intimacy. The vast majority of fetishes are not psychologically unhealthy, so long as the person engaging in the behavior is accepting of his or her feelings and open to sharing his or her desires with partners. Only when a behavior is causing undue stress and shame, is illegal (a fetish involving children, for instance), or is part of an addictive pattern (compulsively engaging in BDSM, for instance) does it become a clinically significant issue.

Learn more at sexualrecovery.com.

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The SRI Two-Week Intensive Program is a two-week education and therapy curriculum focused on helping our patients identify and eliminate all sexual acting out behavior and develop the tools needed to prevent sexual relapse.

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