Are we sex addicts?

[Guest S****r]

A good client stated the other day that he is a sex addict. I thought he was joking and responded with amusement, but he quickly corrected me and said no, he really meant it. I was surprised. So it set me off on a quest to find out more about what actually constitutes a sexual addiction. I thought I would share a synopsis here, for those who are interested, and pose a poll asking if you think, according to the definition I will post here, that YOU might be a sex addict. Results are anonymous. (I presume!) I am just curious to see what this (purely unscientific) poll will reveal about our very sexually-active community.

 

Definition of sexual addiction:

I found many different, but similar definitions or descriptions of sexual addiction, but the common thread in all of them was the fact that a preoccupation or obsession with thoughts of sex drives the person's behaviour past a point where it causes undue stress and problems in his or her life. The definition from Medical News Today is:

 

Sexual addiction, which is also called sexual dependency, hypersexuality, nymphomania (females), satyriasis (males), compulsive sexual behavior and sexual compulsivity, refers to the phenomenon in which people cannot manage their sexual behavior.

 

The individual is obsessed with sexual thoughts - thoughts which interfere with their ability to work properly, have relationships, and go about their daily activities. Many say that sexual addiction is a form of obsessive compulsive behavior.

 

A person with sexual addiction is obsessed with sex, or has an abnormally intense sex drive. Their lives are dominated with sex and the thought of sex; so much so that other activities and interactions become seriously affected.

 

However, this term does not actually appear in any edition of the DSM-5, which is used to diagnose mental disorders. In fact, there is great debate in the medical community over whether the condition actually exists, or if it is just a strong sex drive and perhaps attempts to not accept culpability for what has become a problematic behaviour in one's life. Others suggest that promotion of the idea that this behaviour is a disorder which needs treatment is driven by an industry seeking more work, more clients, more money.

 

Others, some prominent public figures, are adamant that it has been a very real problem in their lives and that treatment has been a necessary help.

 

This leads me to my question for those who care to participate in a simple survey of our community. According to the definition above, do you think that you might actually have a sexual addiction?

 

Thank you for your participation. I bet we will all find the results interesting!

[Katherine of Halifax 113932]

Great thread and thank you !

My opinion and mine alone.

I totally respect all serious of nature .

Are we sex addicts or not, I`m not sure ......

 

We all need to truthfully ask questions , and answer intelligently . Gents .

I hope to discuss soon.

Katherine

xoxo

[MightyPen 67414]

Not at all. Sex is important to me, both as an act and as a set of associated ideas and meanings.

 

But I'm not always preoccupied with its pursuit, and my interest in it doesn't inhibit my enjoyment of many other things in my life.

 

Because I'm curious about sex in multiple contexts, escorts are a great way to explore with manageable risk. It's variety where nobody gets hurt. I can see how someone who's less intrigued by sex might find that hard to understand, but that just makes us different... not one of us healthy and the other sick.

 

I think sex addiction is a real thing for some people -- when they can find pleasure in nothing else, and sexual desire overtakes and dominates their lives. But most of the time, I think the term is just thrown out as a prudish moral judgement -- even upon one's self -- that treats sexual curiosity and a love of variety as "addiction".

 

Families are small these days. If someone had six kids instead of two, would we label that person "addicted to children"?

[Cara Silver 32412]

Are we sex addicts as a group because we buy and sell sex? No!!! We just know what we like!

 

Sex addiction is what my sister went to rehab for in rural Mississippi for 4 months. And ain't nobody going there unless they got a problem.

 

Although it was a damn cool place to visit.

[peacectryguy 12547]

Well, for me. it does not interfere with my daily activities or my ability to work. As for relationships, I am not interested. It's just not my cup'o'tea. Been there, done it and hated it.

Do I think about sex? At times, a lot. At other times, not so much.

 

So to say "addiction"? No.I don't see it at all. This is something I enjoy doing, period. I enjoy the company of beautiful, wonderful ladies without the emotional strings attached.

[Andee 220524]

Sex addiction is often joked about, but definitely not a joke.

 

If whatever you are doing (eating, gambling, drinking, drugging, having sex, or any kind of obsessive-compulsive behaviour) is making your life unmangeable, then you can be pretty sure you're an addict.

 

I think for the most part, the majority of hobbiests and Sps are NOT sex addicts. I don't believe most people don't even understand what sexual addiction really is.

 

Liking sex and partaking in it on regular basis (whatever that means) doesn't necessarily equal sex addiction.

 

I had to cut client off in the past who I believed was a sex addict because I did not want to take advantage of their compulsion. I am talking about someone who I knew was only making $50K a year and wanting to see me 3 times a week with a family to support and would come up with desperate excuses to try and put our sessions on credit until pay day. Not fun.

 

No offence to the OP, but I really don't want to comment further because I might get myself into trouble.

[Guest S****r]

Hi all,

Didn't have a chance to get back on this thread until now. I wanted to post some links to some sites I looked at for those of you who have expressed interest in knowing more.

 

This is the debate on Q that someone else posted earlier this week: http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/modern_love/2011/12/15/is-sex-addiction-real/A

 

This is a link to an article on Medicine Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/sexual_addiction/article.htm#sexual_addiction_facts

 

Article on Pysch Central: http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-sexual-addiction/000748

 

And from Psychology Today, a link to therapists in Ottawa, for anyone who is interested.

 

By the way, I certainly didn't intend to make light of this, nor did I expect anyone to make any kind of self-revelation. I just thought it an interesting sex-related topic that our community would be interested in, as well as interested in what the poll stats would turn out to be.

 

Thanks for your participation!