As sexual addictions progress, the behaviors that the addict takes place in will often progress as well.For instance, in the early stages of sex addiction, an individual may simply watch many hours of pornography.Sex, the thought of sex, the actions that surround sex and an intense desire to take part in such actions can all lead to problems with relationships, work, school and social interaction for the sex addict.
While some people mistakenly think that hypersexual disorders and sex addiction merely refers to an unusually high sex drive, it is much more complex than that.
It is very similar to other addictions, which is evident upon closer examination of the various sex addiction signs.
To be fair on Rachel’s friends, there is some debate about whether the term sex addiction is scientifically accurate, but the field of addiction is changing fast and emphasis is shifting from the substance to the psychological symptoms of addiction.
The NHS has a website page dedicated to sex addiction.
I will describe a few cases and then explore clinical aspects of the problem in this brief paper.
Case Studies: (all names and identifying information have been changed) Mike: A 24 year old single man living with his girl friend (Dora) of four years reveals that he has an "unhealthy" sexual desire for teen age girls.“So when he sat me down one day to tell me he was a sex addict, I actually laughed – although I soon stopped when he disclosed night upon night of watching pornography for hours on end and numerous short-lived affairs.My life fell apart.” Sex addiction hurts partners in a way that no other addiction can, says Paula Hall, who has written a book on the subject.For the sex addict, sexual activity provides an intense, intoxicating euphoria or “high” while lacking any genuine emotional connection, intimacy, or love. Once the high wears off, the vicious cycle starts all over again. It has a significant negative impact on his life and often causes a lot of shame and self-loathing.The indicators of hypersexual disorders will vary to some degree depending on the individual.For example, some sex addicts have multiple extramarital affairs, while others frequently hire prostitutes or use phone sex services excessively.