A PSYCHOTHERAPIST's POINT OF VIEW
Joe Kort, the author of “Sexual Addiction and Compulsion,” presents an explanatory article on this subject. Kort starts his article off by stating his own definition of what an addiction is. The balance of the article is basic information on sex addiction.
Kort explains what his definition of “addiction” is. He states that an addiction is experiencing a loss of control and having what you are addicted to interfere with your life. He also states that an addiction is something you can’t help yourself from engaging in, even when you know the consequences can be negative.
The author continues by explaining the biology behind why some people are sex addicts. The first time you have sex, phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural drug which is essential for people who like to do risky things, is released, and in its strongest form. The endorphins and adrenaline, which are also released, cause the person to experience great pleasure. Since the strong dose of PEA made their first experience so great, each time they have sex after that, they try to attain the same pleasure. However, since the PEA is strongest the first time, the other times which follow are not as great and do not meet the expectations. This causes the person to continuously try and go further and further in order to attain the same feeling they had that first time. It starts off as masturbating, then turns into masturbating while watching porn. After that, they try to actually have sex with a partner and so on and so forth.
The author continues by listing some of the warning signs that individuals should be aware of which could possibly indicate whether or not they are a sex addict. Some of these warnings include: uncontrollable sexual impulses in which the person feels the need to act upon as soon as possible; serious negative consequences because of their behaviour such as getting arrested; producing lesions from masturbating too often; or trying to reduce sexual behaviour without any success.
Furthermore, the author explains the consequences of being a sex addict. Being a sex addict could land an individual in some serious trouble, as mentioned earlier, by being arrested or getting soars on their genitals. As for a more social consequence, sex addicts tend to have trouble experiencing a non-sexual relationship with people.
As for any addiction, the first step to solving the problem is admitting there is a problem and wanting to solve it.
Reference
Kort, J. (2005). Sexual Addiction and Compulsion. Retrieved January 29, 2014, from http://www.joekort.com/PDF/korts_korner_sexual_addiction.pdf
Kort, J. (2005). Sexual Addiction and Compulsion. Retrieved January 29, 2014, from http://www.joekort.com/PDF/korts_korner_sexual_addiction.pdf
