What is Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction is a process addiction disorder (addiction to a behavior) in which a person cannot control repeated sexual impulses, resulting in brain changes that lead to addiction. Symptoms of sex addiction include:
- Intrusive sexual fantasies
- Repetitive sexual urges and thoughts
- Compulsive sexual behaviors including voyeurism or exhibitionism
- A significant preoccupation with sexual activity and fantasies
- Repetitive sexual acting with one or multiple partners
- Engagement in unplanned sexual behaviors with strangers regardless of negative consequences like sexually transmitted infections
- Having multiple affairs or habitual one-night stands
- Compulsively watching pornography or masturbating, or engaging in phone sex or cybersex
- Neglecting other aspects of your life to prioritize sexual activity
- Being unsuccessful in stopping or decreasing sexual activity, thoughts, impulses and fantasies
- Experiencing distress or shame due to compulsive sexual behaviors