Sex Addiction- A misunderstood compulsive behavior
Last week, Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist, medical doctor, and TV personality, appeared on Oprah to discuss sexual addiction and compulsivity. Sex addiction has long been known to disrupt families and relationships, and now is being brought more into light as it makes its way through different media channels. Dr. Pinsky came on to talk about what sex addiction is, and how to treat it.
He talks quite a bit about the effects sex addiction has on others. Basically, like any addiction or compulsive behavior, sex addiction can cause many varying consequences, from damaging relationships, to sexually transmitted diseases, legal issues, etc. As with other addictions, these compulsive behaviors create a pattern of unhealthy events that eventually creep into every area of an addicts’ life.
Dr. Patrick Carnes, one of the leading experts in sexual addiction and compulsivity and former clinical director at The Meadows, puts sex addiction in this perspective: “Generally, addicts do not perceive themselves as worthwhile persons. Nor do they believe that other people would care for them or meet their needs if everything was known about them, including the addiction. Finally, they believe that sex is their most important need. Sex is what makes isolation bearable. If you do not trust people, one thing that is true about sex (and alcohol, food, gambling, and risk) is that it always does what it promises, for the moment.”
Dr. Drew says 80 to 90 percent of the patients he has treated for sex addiction suffered trauma as children. “If you have a history of trauma, particularly sexual trauma, in childhood, you want to look very carefully at this behavior,” he said. A history of trauma, in early childhood, can create patterns of self-destruction, codependency, and compulsive behaviors. Carol Cannon, the co-founder of The Bridge To Recovery, says this about codependency: “Codependence is the pain in adulthood that comes from being wounded in childhood, which leads to a high probability of relationship problems and addictive disorders in later life.” Trauma early on in one’s life can lead to a whole host of problems and, without help, can create an unmanageable life.
Here’s a clip from the show.
If you or a loved one are struggling with sex addiction or another compulsive behavior, please contact us directly at 877-320-0247 or visit us on the web at www.a-i-r.com.
Tags: addiction, addiction genes, addiction intervention, AiR Assistance in recovery, assistance in recovery, behavioral health, dr. drew, dr. drew sex addiction, oprah, sex addiction, sex addiction treatment, sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity
