While many people are still left questioning if sex addiction is real, the truth is any person who has identified as a sex addict has for sure faced negative consequences from risky sexual activities such as visiting strip clubs and engaging in unprotected sex with strangers.
Before giving up on one's sex addiction, there is still hope left. Transcend Recovery Community has collated various treatment types to help an individual recover from their sex addiction or condition.
What is The Cause of Hypersexuality (Sex Addiction)?
Hypersexuality and sex addiction are both conditions that can cause people to have an almost insatiable desire for sex. Hypersexuality is a persistent or uncontrollable attraction to sex, which can be driven by biological factors such as hormones or the brain. Sex addiction is a psychological disorder characterized by a recurrent failure to control sexual impulses and the continuation of those behaviors despite adverse consequences.
The causes of hypersexuality include:
- Low levels of serotonin in the brain
- High testosterone levels in men
- Hormones
- Abnormalities in the hypothalamus or other brain regions that regulate sexuality and behavior
The causes of sex addiction include:
- Early childhood trauma
- Family dysfunction
- Alcoholism/drug abuse
- Childhood obesity
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies hypersexuality and sex addiction as impulse control disorders.
The DSM-5 lists several criteria for diagnosing hypersexuality:
- The person has recurrent and intense sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in his/her professional life and/or personal relationships.
- The person spends more than 1 hour per day engaging in these sexual behaviors.
- The person's inability to control these behaviors causes significant distress or impairment in his/her social or occupational functioning.
How Does a Sex Addict Get Treated?
To treat sex addiction, the first step is to seek help. Many people suffering from sex addiction do not realize that they have a problem until they are confronted with the consequences of their behavior, such as losing a job or relationship or contracting an STD. Once you realize that your behaviors are causing problems in your life, it's important to get help.
The second step is to find a treatment program that is appropriate for your needs and goals. There are many different types of treatment programs available for people who suffer from sex addiction, ranging from one-on-one counseling sessions to support groups and social networking sites. The type of treatment program that works best for you will depend on your specific situation and needs.
The third step is to commit yourself fully to your treatment program by following all instructions given by your therapist and attending all scheduled appointments without fail. The more dedicated you are during this time, the more likely it will be successful for you!
The fourth step is making changes in your life based on what you learned during counseling sessions with your therapist. This can include giving up certain behaviors or activities (such as pornography) and altering relationships with family members or friends who enable unhealthy habits (such as spending too much time watching porn together).
A healthcare professional who is treating sexual addiction may also require or recommend transitional housing as these residences provide a safe and peaceful space where recovering addicts can reflect on their compulsive sexual behavior and other mental health conditions.
Having this type of arrangement also frees their minds from their sexual urges and risky sexual behavior as there are trained staff and professionals who can help them get through their compulsive sexual behaviour through positive reinforcement and empowerment.
You should also research what to expect post-rehab, especially when you are ready to go back again to the real world.
Treatment for Sex Addiction
There are many different types of treatment for sex addiction.
The most common approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. This type of therapy helps people become aware of their patterns, and then change them.
Another common treatment is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT teaches people how to manage their emotions healthily, so they don't have to rely on addictive behaviors to cope with stress.
Other approaches include group therapy and other kinds of talk-based therapies.
Now, we look at these sex addiction treatment options to help people with compulsive sexual behaviour to manage their mental health conditions and ultimately get better.
Sexaholics Anonymous
Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) is a 12-step program that uses the same principles as group therapy sessions from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) while using the same 12 steps. SA was founded in 1975 by Bill Wilson, who was a founder of AA, and other SA members who had experienced difficulty recovering from their sex addiction.
Inpatient Programs
Inpatient programs are highly effective at treating sex addiction because they provide an intensive level of care that helps clients heal from the effects of their behavior. Patients often spend weeks or even months in treatment, depending on the severity of their addiction and how long it has been present.
Outpatient Programs
With outpatient programs, you'll be able to receive sex addiction treatment in your community while still maintaining your routine—and you'll have the additional benefit of being able to continue working or attending school while you're getting help.
Sober Living
Sober living is a great way to help people with sex addiction. It gives them a safe place to live while they work on their sobriety and can help them avoid situations that might lead to relapse.
These living spaces usually come in the form of recovery apartments. They offer a holistic approach to helping people with mental health conditions and other behavioral addictions such as sex addiction.
There's a variety of residential places where individuals can recover in peace. Gender-specific spaces such as women's and men's sober living offer great respite for people who feel comfortable in private and segregated quarters by gender.
Can Transcend Recovery Community Treat Compulsive Sexual Behaviors?
Definitely! Although Transcend Recovery Community doesn't directly provide treatment for a sex addict or sex addiction, our team helps sex addicts process their compulsive sexual urges and engage them in healthy and productive exercises that take them away from sexual thoughts or covert sexual activities that may worsen their mental health.
We also apply a holistic approach to caring for and supporting our clients, whether they're sex addicts or with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our organization believes that hopelessness is not an option as any sex addict only needs proper guidance to help them get back on track.
So whether you're suffering purely from sexual addiction alone, or you have other mental conditions such as alcohol addiction or bipolar disorder on the mix, we will partner with a competent healthcare professional and treatment facility in providing you the best care you deserve.
You may contact us to learn more about how we can help a sex addict get better.
