Investing your feelings for that special someone might be easily tainted because of growing sex addiction problems, such as Internet pornography.
Transcend Recovery Community is here to help you identify the tell-tale signs if you are indeed going out with a sex addict, including what you can do to help them.
First, What is Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction is a condition that causes you to engage in sexual behaviors that negatively impact your life.
The condition can be caused by trauma, emotional issues, or a combination of both. It can be challenging to recognize if you are experiencing sex addiction because it often looks like compulsive behavior and there is a high chance it will be associated with other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
As it is, sex addiction is a complex disorder that can be very difficult to treat because it is not recognized as an official disorder by the American Psychiatric Association yet. There are many factors at play when it comes to diagnosing this sex addiction, so it may take some time before treatment methods are fully developed and standardized.
Signs that Your Partner is a Sex Addict
There are several signs that your partner might be a sex addict, and it's important to know what they are.
Sex addiction is described as an "impairment of control," which means that the addict has a difficult time controlling their thoughts and actions around sex. They may become obsessed with sexual thoughts and fantasies, and they may feel like they need to engage in certain sexual behaviors to be happy or content.
When you're dating someone who is addicted to sex, there are some common signs that you'll want to watch out for:
- They have trouble maintaining healthy relationships with others - You might not notice it, but if they have a string of problems from past lovers on maintaining a healthy relationship due to their sexual urges or compulsive sexual behavior, it's about time to ask them to consider seeking the help of a mental health professional.
- They frequently engage in risky behavior, such as unprotected sex or having multiple partners at once - Your partner's addiction may be as worse as you've imagined especially with how much sex they are having. Sometimes, you can see it when they voice out absentmindedly their compulsive sexual thoughts. As a precaution, it's wise to ask your partner to have regular STI tests done for your safety and peace of mind.
- They often cheat on their significant other or spouse - It comes as no surprise that when a partner suffering from sex addiction buckles, their other half might have other personality woes such as low self-esteem due to their partner's sexual impulses and covert sexual acts. As with any relationship with a sex addict, it's important to help them correct this unhealthy coping mechanism and address these red flags.
- They use drugs or alcohol before engaging in sexual activity - Other than their unhealthy sexual impulses such as when they overspend time on pornography or having an unusually high sex drive, symptoms may also include substance abuse for most sex addicts while in relationships.
- They have trouble keeping up with tasks at work or school due to their preoccupation with sex-related thoughts or behaviors - When they are preoccupied too much with their sexual activities, a sex addict may face grave or negative consequences due to their sexual needs. That's why it's important to let them feel your support. They can also join a support group to help them work on their low self-esteem and their relationships with their partners. Additionally, these help their friends, families, and most especially partners to have a better understanding of their issues.
What's It Like Dating a Sex Addict
Dating a sex addict is a difficult and trying experience. It doesn't matter what your gender is—Whether you're a male or female sex addict.
It can be hard to tell whether or not your partner is truly sexually addicted, but if you suspect that they might be, it's important to seek help. The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC) lists signs of sex addiction on its website. If your partner is exhibiting any of these signs, they may have an addiction:
- They frequently complain about not being able to get enough sex, even though you're having sex at least once a week.
- They use pornography or other forms of online sexual activity more often than you'd like them to and/or are secretive about it.
- They've cheated on you multiple times and show no remorse for it—or worse, deny that it ever happened (which is called "gaslighting").
As this is more of a control problem, it's important for the support of the affected partner, to take a brief pause in understanding the issue of sex addicts. This also allows for a person to process the pain and anxiety that they might have felt in the time that the sex addiction has severely impacted their lives.
If I Feel My Partner is Addicted to Sex, What Should I Do?
If you feel like your partner is having sex addiction issues and is taking a toll on their mental health, it's important to take a step back and consider the best course of action.
If you're concerned about their behavior and want to help them, here are some things you can do:
- Talk to your partner about how they feel about their sex addiction. This can be a difficult conversation, but they must know how you feel and what you want from them to get on the same page.
- Check in with friends and family members who might be able to offer advice or support during this time.
- You may also want to seek out professional help if the situation has become too much for you to handle on your own.
- You may also seek outpatient mental health to see what options can address sex addiction problems. From there you can also start researching what to wear during rehab to help the person involved how to process their sex addiction and other possible underlying mental issues such as anxiety.
- Seek help by calling hotlines or organizations that may help sex addicts provide a sexual addiction therapist, such as SAMHSA's treatment services locator.
Does Transcend Recovery Community Assist Sex Addicts?
The first step to getting better is to ask for help. And that is what Transcend Recovery Community can provide. What we provide are supplemental services to help people struggling with their sex addiction and other forms of addiction and mental issues get better.
Through our residential support, such as our halfway house, we allow every person suffering from sex addiction to help heal from the pain and understand their feelings better. This helps them to prepare for the outside world of post-sex addiction.
Find out more about what we can do for you. Contact us today!
