Beyond The Curse / All Rights Reserved / 2008-2009
Sexual Addiction
- The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an
obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addicts thinking, making it difficult to work or
engage in healthy personal relationships.
Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for their
problems. They generally deny they have a problem and make excuses for their actions.
Sexual addiction also is associated with risk-taking. A person with a sex addiction engages in various forms of sexual
activity, despite the potential for negative and/or dangerous consequences. In addition to damaging the addicts
relationships and interfering with his or her work and social life, a sexual addiction also puts the person at risk for
emotional and physical injury.
For some people, the sex addiction progresses to involve illegal activities, such as exhibitionism (exposing oneself in
public), making obscene phone calls, or molestation. However, it should be noted that sex addicts do not necessarily
become sex offenders.
- Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:
Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
Consistent use of pornography
Unsafe sex
Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
Prostitution or use of prostitutes
Exhibitionism
Obsessive dating through personal ads
Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
Sexual harassment
Molestation/rape
Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sexual activity and forms no emotional bond with
his or her sex partners. In addition, the problem of sex addiction often leads to feelings of guilt and shame. A sex addict
also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional).
Sexual addiction screening test
- Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?
- Have you subscribed to or regularly purchased sexually explicit magazines?
- Did your parents have trouble with sexual behavior?
- Do you often find yourself preoccupied with sexual thoughts?
- Do you feel that your sexual behavior is not normal?
- Does your spouse (or significant other) ever worry or complain about your sexual behavior?
- Do you have trouble stopping your sexual behavior when you know it is inappropriate?
- Do you ever feel bad about your sexual behavior?
- Has your sexual behavior ever created problems for you or your family?
- Have you ever sought help for sexual behavior that you did not like?
- Have you ever worried about people finding out about Your sexual activities?
- Has anyone been hurt emotionally because of your sexual behavior?
- Are any of your sexual activities against the law?
- Have you made promises to yourself to quit some aspect of your sexual behavior?
- Have you made efforts to quit a type of sexual behavior and failed?
- Do you have to hide some aspects of your sexual behavior from others?
- Have you attempted to stop some parts of your sexual activities?
- Have you ever felt degraded by your sexual behavior?
- Has sex been a way for you to escape your Problems?
- When you have sex, do you feel depressed afterward?
- Have you felt the need to discontinue a certain form of sexual activity?
- Has your sexual activity interfered with your family life?
- Have you been sexual with minors?
- Do you feel controlled by your sexual desire?
- Do you ever-think that your sexual desire is stronger than you are?
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Beyond The Curse