Having a clinical understanding of sex addiction is an effective
method of treating it. Understanding why something is the way it is can
remove some of the mystery and fear that surrounds it. Laying bare the
facts of a problem prevent excuses and despair which plague the recover
efforts of many sex addicts.
The brain is a complex organ, one that runs on chemical and electrical signals. Electrical signals from the nerves cause the brain to release chemicals which in turn are picked up be receptors. For example when a person engages in a sex act the brain gets word of it from the nerves connected to the senses. It then releases dopamine which are picked up by receptors. This all produces a "feel good" sensation that leaves a person relaxed, satisfied, and content. It also dulls or nixes bad feelings like despair, anxiety, and frustration.
It's natural to use sex this way but for some the chemical receptors need more and more stimulation to activate. The "wiring" in the brain becomes set so that sex becomes the preferred and easiest way of achieving the dopamine release. For sex addicts this means a reliance on sex as a coping mechanism for negative emotions. The lack of sex alone can cause the need to act out and a true addiction develops.
Knowing why a sex craving is happening can help a person control it. The clinical approach to this addiction teaches an addict to study their own behavior and moods so they can avoid the conditions that cause cravings, tell when they are forming, and ride them out. A craving can not last forever and by knowing how to gauge their duration an addict can better ride them out.
Part of the clinical process is therapy. A professional therapist can speak with the addict to help them identify the causes of their behavior and address those issues. If the underlying problems are not seen to and solved the groundwork that caused the issue remains. Childhood trauma and neglect, stressful living conditions, depression, and in some cases an over-active sex drive can push a person towards addiction. These are problems it takes a professional to get at the bottom of.
Also playing a role in the clinical process are 12-step programs. These teach an addict to monitor their lifestyle and take responsibility for it. The program follows the addict outside meetings and therapy sessions where the real battle it fought and in addition they give the addict real world examples of how others deal with their addiction.
If an addict can afford it and their case is drastic enough a stay at a treatment facility offers a number of benefits. It forces the addict to be away from sex for a time while they learn coping skills to get them off of using sex as a drug. The initial treatment is intense and takes less time than normal therapy.
The brain is a complex organ, one that runs on chemical and electrical signals. Electrical signals from the nerves cause the brain to release chemicals which in turn are picked up be receptors. For example when a person engages in a sex act the brain gets word of it from the nerves connected to the senses. It then releases dopamine which are picked up by receptors. This all produces a "feel good" sensation that leaves a person relaxed, satisfied, and content. It also dulls or nixes bad feelings like despair, anxiety, and frustration.
It's natural to use sex this way but for some the chemical receptors need more and more stimulation to activate. The "wiring" in the brain becomes set so that sex becomes the preferred and easiest way of achieving the dopamine release. For sex addicts this means a reliance on sex as a coping mechanism for negative emotions. The lack of sex alone can cause the need to act out and a true addiction develops.
Knowing why a sex craving is happening can help a person control it. The clinical approach to this addiction teaches an addict to study their own behavior and moods so they can avoid the conditions that cause cravings, tell when they are forming, and ride them out. A craving can not last forever and by knowing how to gauge their duration an addict can better ride them out.
Part of the clinical process is therapy. A professional therapist can speak with the addict to help them identify the causes of their behavior and address those issues. If the underlying problems are not seen to and solved the groundwork that caused the issue remains. Childhood trauma and neglect, stressful living conditions, depression, and in some cases an over-active sex drive can push a person towards addiction. These are problems it takes a professional to get at the bottom of.
Also playing a role in the clinical process are 12-step programs. These teach an addict to monitor their lifestyle and take responsibility for it. The program follows the addict outside meetings and therapy sessions where the real battle it fought and in addition they give the addict real world examples of how others deal with their addiction.
If an addict can afford it and their case is drastic enough a stay at a treatment facility offers a number of benefits. It forces the addict to be away from sex for a time while they learn coping skills to get them off of using sex as a drug. The initial treatment is intense and takes less time than normal therapy.
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