Sexual Addiction

What is sexual addiction?

Sexual addiction is a relationship with a mood-altering "experience" that becomes a substitute for healthy relationships with others. ¹

Sexual addiction can involve pornography, compulsive masturbation, and/or promiscuity, and they all can be a problem for men and women. Sexual addiction often times causes shame and guilt, and can lead to very unhealthy relationships.

Generally, sexual addiction is associated in most people’s minds with men. Some men do struggle with sexual addiction in such forms as pornography and promiscuity, but some women are struggling with this dangerous addiction as well. One example of common sexual addiction in women is the need to be with a man sexually to numb a deeper pain she may be unaware of. This deeper pain may be due to some form of abuse, rape, an abortion, neglect as a child, etc. Many times the sexually addicted woman will have anxiety or panic attacks if she is not with someone when her pain begins to surface. Like an alcoholic, she needs her fix. She might go out to a bar and get drunk and find someone, or she may call up past lovers or friends and ask them to be with her. She desperately doesn’t want to have to deal with her pain and loneliness, which at times can seem unbearable. The problem with sexual addiction, as with any addiction, is the “drug” is just a band-aid covering the wound and can lead to more addictions. Unless the person is willing to look at the wound, recognize the pain of it, and then go through the steps for the wound to be healed, he or she will have to live with a false sense of self. Nobody should have to live with that pain.

You are not alone! If you are struggling with sexual addiction and want to talk to someone who cares, please contact office@awomansconcern.com or 814-234-7340 and we will help you find someone who can help.

References

1. Riley, Martha. Sexual Addiction. Maple Ridge Community Church.

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