subject: Sexual Addiction Categories [print this page] Sexual Addiction Categories Sexual Addiction Categories
Sexual addiction is the most complex addiction because of the intense conflicts that accompany it. When a person misused his natural sex drive it can affect the addict's most personal feelings as well as his intimate relationships, associations with family and friends, self-respect and career. The pleasure that the addict gains from the sexual activity is escapist oriented. He usually do this as a temporary relief from his problems, stress and depression or just to have fun, and when the pleasure ends, he is now facing the serious consequences of the addiction.
Sexual addiction has two categories, namely, addictive sex alone and addictive sex with someone else. However, these two categories usually simultaneously exist. The first category is characterized by indulging into pornography or compulsive masturbation. Pornography is always associated with masturbation. Ask a person if he masturbates while using porn and the answer would be positive. The sexual pleasure is not actually by using porn but by the act of masturbating. Others may continuously look at the pornography while masturbating. However, it is important to determine the underlying addiction which could be the compulsive masturbation or pornography. If the addict stops looking at the porn after masturbating, then there is a great possibility that the addict is into compulsive masturbation rather than into pornography. If the real addiction is pornography, then he would still be using porn after masturbation. In this category, the addict feeds his desire through pornography and masturbation and creates an illusion that it is more satisfying than real relationships.
In the second category, the addict engages himself into multiple extra-marital affairs or one- night stands. However, despite his involvement in various sexual relationships, he does not create close or intimate relationships. He does not also commit himself to long-term relationships. Oftentimes, he ends up suffering from intense anxiety, loneliness, despair and moral conflict. It also creates a barrier between those who are into relationships. They do not seriously treat the addiction as a problem believing that they can later face the consequences until he realizes that it severely damages his relationship which can lead to its loss.
When a innocent partner discovers the addiction of the other, he/she suffers more since he/she has to compete with the partner's addiction. In most cases the innocent partner stays trying to save the relationship. In these two categories, it is also essential to determine if the addict is in a relationship or not. The treatment of an individual who is in a relationship may differ from those who are single. This is because the innocent partner also undergoes the denial phase. It is only when the addict accepts the existence of the addiction that treatment would be possible and the addict can revert back to a healthy lifestyle.
