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What happens when the normal desire for sex becomes the driving force in someone’s life? With sex addiction, the overwhelming urge to engage in sexual activity destroys partnerships, self esteem, social lives, and even employment.

Sex addiction has been, in the past, an almost laughable way to excuse one’s excesses, to explain away the use of pornography, or to justify cheating on a spouse or partner. It is actually a very real psychiatric disorder that can be devastating to the sufferer as well as his or her family and friends.

Sex addicts suffer the same chemical imbalances that characterize other addictions like alcohol, drugs, and gambling. The symptoms that occur with true sex addiction include, but are not limited to, obsessive thoughts of sex, missing out on social or work obligations to have sex, repeated one night stands, the need for more sexual activity to satisfy the cravings for sex, irritability or sleep disturbances and other withdrawal symptoms if the need for sex is not met, and continuously seeking sex and sexual partners despite the desire to stop. True sex addicts use sex for the same reason others may use drugs or alcohol; to temporarily escape stress and depression.

Some of the destructive patterns of sex addiction are obvious, such as unprotected and risky sex that could lead to pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Others can be more insidious, such as the dangers of engaging in meetings with partners met online and in chat rooms or the possibility of arrest for prostitution and other illicit activities. Mentally, sexual addiction leads to loss of self esteem and feelings of hopelessness. With the addiction comes a desire to change one’s behavior, followed by giving in to the action, the associated guilt of the action, and the repeating of the entire cycle.

The patterns themselves could have begun in childhood from sexual abuse or molestation, or as the result from trauma in adulthood such as rape.

Like other addictions, sex addiction will spiral more and more out of control as a tolerance is built; it takes more activity to achieve release from the mental torment of sex addiction. If left untreated, the behaviors may escalate to exhibitionism, sexual harrassment, stalking, and in worst case scenarios, even child molestation and rape.

Treatment for sex addiction will initially consist of a psychiatric evaluation. During this visit, behavioral modifications and family counseling will be discussed, and various triggers will be identified. Medications will be prescribed that will help with the obsessive and complusive behaviors displayed by a true sex addict.

Left untreated, sex addiction will destroy stable relationships and affect happy and balanced social lives. The risky behaviors of a sex addict can lead to arrest, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and exposure to true physical danger from meeting unknown people online or through personal ads for a sexual tryst. News stories have recently linked the murders of several people to an ad placed in a local paper requesting a no-strings attached sexual adventure.

True sex addiction is no laughing matter; it impacts the lives of an estimated eighteen to twenty-five million people. If you suspect that you or someone you care about has a problem with sex addiction, compassionate, caring help is available.

For more information on treatment for sex addiction you can visit http://www.surviveinfidelityhq.com/what-is-sex-addiction/.

Tammy Davidson is a marriage counselor and writer on relationship issues and infidelity. Save time and money by getting FREE in-depth information, honest recommendations, and expert tips on surviving an affair and saving your marriage at her blog: surviveinfidelityhq.com