How Do Sex Rehab Facilities Help Addicts?

How Do Sex Rehab Facilities Help Addicts?

What is Sex Addiction?

According to some of the leading sex rehabilitation facilities, sex addiction is best described as an overwhelming and uncontrollable obsession and compulsion to act out sexually. Although sex addiction is not yet diagnosed as a psychological disorder, it is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by a persistent pattern of failure to control one’s sexual impulses and urges, resulting in repetitive sexual behaviour. In the recovery community, sex addiction is often referred to as a process addiction because it involves a compulsive behaviour rather than an addiction to a substance like drugs or alcohol.

Is There a Cure for Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction is one manifestation of the disease of addiction, and it is the opinion of many sex rehab facilities that addiction is a chronic condition that cannot be cured per se. The destructive behaviour can be arrested and recovery is then possible. Recovery therefore is a long-term, lifelong process that is made possible by taking consistent action to seek physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Ultimately, sex addicts can enjoy healthy intimate relationships, but it takes hard work, dedication and a great deal of faith to find a new way of life, free from the bondage of addiction.

Sex Rehab Facilities: The Recovery Process

Sex addiction, like substance abuse, is treated using a multi-pronged approach. This approach includes group therapy, individual counselling, life skills workshops, therapeutic activities and often, the introduction to a 12-step fellowship like Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), of which there are a number of groups throughout South Africa and the rest of the world. It is not a process to be feared. Rather, it is a process that demonstrates that freedom from addiction is possible. Building a strong support network is essential to the recovery process – it is the beginning of building healthy relationships, both romantic and otherwise. Sex rehab facilities provide addicts with the tools and techniques that can help the addict to change their behaviour and learn new, positive coping skills to deal with life’s challenges without turning to sex as an escape or acting compulsively on one’s sexual urges. Like with any addiction, recovery is a process that addicts embark on one day at a time – every day is a new opportunity to change and grow.

If you or a loved one is in search of help for sex addiction, know that help is readily available. Contact us for a free consultation and we’ll support you in your journey.

Sources:

Medical News Today

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
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• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
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• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
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• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
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