The pipeline of pornography and sexual intrigue on the Internet has had a profoundly negative influence on millions of men and women. A person who starts out just being "curious" can gradually begin doing more and more of what he or she knows to be wrong.....but just can't seem to stop!
Illicit sexual excitement can slowly develop into an all-purpose 'high' that intensifies, soothes, rewards or numbs almost any situation or feeling. Secrecy and deception inevitably accompany such behavior, increasing emotional isolation and highly distorted thinking. This leads to a never-ending cycle of reliance on the very behavior that inevitably results in pain and shame.
Secretive, risky or compulsive sexual behavior has the capacity to destroy even the strongest relationships, reputations, promises and principles. Many otherwise moral, loving and trustworthy women and men have engaged in a pattern of sexual behavior that is neither safe nor sensible, even when they know that doing so risks everything that gives meaning and worth to their life. Eventually the day comes when they are forced to acknowledge (often after thick walls of denial have come shattering down) that they are not in sufficient control of their sexual thoughts, feelings and actions. To them and their loved ones, the pain can seem unbearable
Sex addiction is much more than just "liking sex a lot". It's being unable to stop engaging in secretive and unhealthy sexual behaviors despite the desire to do so. It's very real, and its tragic consequences include risks to a person's health, job and relationships as well as the loss of integrity, trust, time and self-esteem.
Sex addiction rarely just "goes away". Promises and remorse, no matter how sincere, generally aren't enough to prevent the eventual return of sexually addictive impulses and urges. There are ongoing steps to take (not just words to say) to do the hard work of rebuilding sexual integrity, regaining broken trust, healing damaged relationships and repairing all the layers of damage to mind, body and spirit.
The phrase "sex addiction" bothers some people greatly if they think it might apply to them. Names are just words: whether you call it lust or porn addiction, compulsive sexual behavior, poorly regulated sexual impulse or any other name, here are some typical warning signs that may indicate a growing problem with sexual self-control. Read more »
