Can you recover from sex and porn addiction?

Can you recover from sex and porn addiction?

The topic of sex addiction has been debated in terms of whether it is an addiction in the true sense at all.

Considerable controversy surrounds the diagnosis of “sex addiction.” It’s been excluded from the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5),

Let us consider some definitions.

‘Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder is characterized by persistent and repetitive sexual impulses or urges that are experienced as irresistible or uncontrollable, leading to repetitive sexual behaviours, along with additional indicators such as sexual activities becoming a central focus of the person’s life to the point of neglecting health and personal care or other activities, unsuccessful efforts to control or reduce sexual behaviours, or continuing to engage in repetitive sexual behaviour despite adverse consequences (e.g., relationship disruption, occupational consequences, negative impact on health). 

This is a very specific definition and helps us to identify the behaviours and consequences of “sexual addiction”.

An alternative definition (the one below) focuses on the pleasure-seeking behaviour.

Addiction is a thought process: as long as there is pleasure-seeking, there is addiction. Take pornography addiction as an example; when one consumes pornography, one takes great pleasure from it; the image and sound of the pornography trigger sexual sensations, which is pleasure-seeking.

There is only addiction, not addiction to something; the essence of the addiction matters more than “something”.

However is it helpful or useful to diagnose or classify a common human need as an addiction?

Perhaps the best way to differentiate is to use a step 1 analysis.

Is the person powerless over the behaviour and has the person’s life become unmanageable as a result?

For some people, sex addiction can be highly destructive and the consequences result in considerable difficulties and can negatively impact a person’s physical and mental health, personal relationships, quality of life, and safety. Just as the overuse of alcohol and drugs can do.

The prevalence is said to be somewhat common (although statistics are inconsistent), and some argue that it’s often not diagnosed.

One of the characteristics may be the secrecy of behaviours, in which the person with the disorder becomes skilled at hiding their behaviour and can even keep the condition secret from spouses, partners, and family members. They may lie about their activities or engage in them at times and places where they won’t be found out.

But sometimes symptoms are overt and easily spotted.

• chronic, obsessive sexual thoughts and fantasies
• compulsive relations with multiple partners, including strangers
• Prostitution
• Watching or consuming pornography excessively
• Masturbation or sexual fantasy
• Exhibition or voyeurism
• lying to cover behaviours
• preoccupation with having sex, even when it interferes with daily life, productivity, work performance, and so on
• inability to stop or control the behaviours
• putting oneself or others in danger due to sexual behaviour

Enjoying sexual activity is not a sign of sex addiction and there should be no guilt around positive and mutually consenting sexual activities. Also, be aware that differences in the level of sexual interest and or activities between partners do not indicate any form of sex addiction.

What are the treatments for sex addiction and porn addiction?

Inpatient treatment programs

There are a number of inpatient treatment centres including Crossroads Recovery Centre that offer sex addiction recovery programs. It may be necessary and advisable to remove people from their daily lives to help them regain control of their lives and impulses and start healing. These types of programs typically include in-depth individual and group therapy sessions.

12-step programs

Programs such as Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SAA) follow the same recovery model as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). They can be very helpful for addressing sex addiction.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

This type of therapy can help a person identify triggers for sexual impulses and ultimately teach them how to alter behaviours. This is achieved through one-on-one sessions with a registered and qualified sex therapist.

Medication

Some people may benefit from a course of drug therapy. Certain antidepressants might help alleviate urges (which is separate from the potential side effects of some antidepressants that can cause decreased libido or impair other aspects of the sexual experience).

What’s the prognosis for porn and sex addiction?

The person addressing sex addiction is often confronted by a unique set of challenges. They may be engaging in behaviours that put their relationships, their own safety and health, and the health of their partner in jeopardy. At the same time, sex addiction is considered a controversial diagnosis and it’s lacking diagnostic criteria as well as evidence-based treatments.

Contact Crossroads Recovery Centre for help.

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.
  Oliver VG
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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.
  Johan B
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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!
  Carla S
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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."
  Angelique J
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