Sexual Addictions: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Recommendations

Addictions affect nearly every American today. Whether addicted to a television show, a particular soft drink or a risky life behavior, addictions can lead to unproductive daily living and can affect health adversely.  One such addiction, the sexual addiction, offers both a healthy release for endorphins and human interaction but, on the flip side, can negatively impact one's life and health significantly. Understanding the biological and psychological cause and origin of sexual addiction, the symptoms of sexual addiction and the methods for recovery, can improve the life of both the sex addict and the people who love them.

In a health relationship, the joy of sex is a wonderful, bonding experience.  For individuals who suffer from sexual addiction, the addiction process involves the selection and obsession with unhealthy sexual behaviors.  Within the brain lies a central area which controls impulse and compulsion.   It is within this area of the brain that many sex addicts also find what is known as the reward pathway.  As a result, when specific physical sexual activity occurs, the reward pathway in the brain is activated resulting in a release of endorphins, thus a "reward" is provided both physically and emotionally to the sex addict.  The affect is similar to that when one consumes alcohol, caffeine or even chocolate. Thus, over a period of time, as the reward pathway is stimulated excessively, the receptors become somewhat desensitized resulting in the need to increase the sexual addictive behavior in order to achieve the same level of satisfaction in the brain.