Press Release: News About Tiger Woods Sparks Interest In Sex Addiction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS ABOUT TIGER WOODS SPARKS INTEREST IN SEX ADDICTION ATLANTA, Georgia (January 21, 2010) Recent reports that Tiger Woods has entered a treatment facility for sex addiction has sparked much interest in the symptoms and treatment of this disorder.

According to Bill Herring, LCSW, CSAT, an Atlanta specialist in the treatment of sex addiction, millions of people nationwide are sex addicts, including thousands in the Atlanta area. “Sex addiction is more than just liking sex a lot”, according to Herring. “It’s being unable to stop engaging in secret and unhealthy sexual activity despite potentially damaging consequences in the areas of health, occupation, relationships, integrity, trust, time and self-esteem.”

Sex addiction almost always involves secrecy and deception, Herring explains. “This increases a person’s distorted thinking and emotional isolation. Sexual excitement becomes an all-purpose ‘high’ to intensity, soothe, reward or numb almost any situation or feeling.” The pipeline of pornography and sexual intrigue on the Internet contributes to a downward spiral of sexual obsession.

Sex addicts generally feel great shame at their inability to control their behavior. According to Herring, promises and remorse, no matter how sincere, usually don’t keep a person from eventually returning to the ‘false intimacy’ of compulsive sexual behavior. This can be particularly devastating to spouses and other loved ones who suffer from the shattered trust of repeated betrayal.

Help for sex addicts is increasingly available, according to Herring. Individual and couples counseling can be extremely useful in healing damaged relationships. Atlanta has over 50 confidential support groups that provide guidance, support and accountability at no cost. A small percentage of people seek help in specialized treatment centers, such as the one Woods recently entered. The recent stories about Woods and other well-known figures such as actor David Duchovny, who admitted checking into a treatment facility for sex addiction last year, are helping to increase public awareness and acceptance of this disorder.

“Until recently, sex addiction was never discussed, much less admitted”, according to Herring. “People are slowly coming to understand what a true social epidemic this is.” For more information, contact Bill Herring, LCSW at (404) 345-1570, online at www.billherring.info or by email at bill@billherring.info