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Sex and Sex Addiction
Enjoying sex often doesn’t necessarily mean someone has a sex addiction. In fact having sex, viewing pornography, masturbating or indulging in any kind of sexual activity does not necessarily cause a problem for most people. However with sex addiction there is a compulsion to engage in these activities even in spite of the problems it could be causing other areas of their lives such as relationships, work etc. These problems could be heightened if there is risk taking behaviours such as having unprotected sex with strangers regularly or viewing pornography whilst at work.
With pornography so readily available not only on video or on websites but even on today’s generation of phones it can be difficult to get away from.
During sex our bodies release chemicals that make us feel good, and some people become addicted to these chemicals in a similar way to alcohol or drugs. Soon the addict needs more and more sex, or porn, to achieve the same ‘hit’ as before. However this hit will never be reached so on and on the person goes chasing it.
Like most addictions though, those who are addicted can feel shame or embarrassment between the highs and lows of their ‘hits’. Some may feel regret, remorse and powerless to change and so turn to sex as a form of pain relief, and get caught in a cycle. Because of the taboo around sex it can be difficult to ask for support for fear of being labelled negatively. However recognising you need support is a healthy sign.
If someone finds sexual acts as a way of self gratifying or self soothing some other kind of pain then counselling can help explore and address what’s underlying and fuelling the sex addiction. In counselling you can develop a healthier attitude towards sex and more appropriate coping strategies for the difficulties in our lives.
If you would like further information on sex addiction, or if you would like to arrange an appointment contact Sentient Counselling in Belfast.
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This article was written by sentientcounselling