Just like other types of addiction, anyone can relapse even after they’ve been certified sober and free of sex addiction. When you relapse after sex addiction treatment, you don’t have to be ashamed or shy about your condition.

All you need to do is get help from your therapist or counselor so that you can get back on track. If you know someone who treated sex addiction, and you’re suspecting that they might have relapsed, here are some signs to let you know.

Hanging out with friends who support your addiction

When someone has relapsed from addiction treatment, they are likely to seek out their old friends who once indulged in the same habits.

Some of their old friends might likely have pressurized them to rejoin their clique or group. Therefore, when you see them moving together like before, then you can rightly suspect that they’ve relapsed.

Neglecting support networks

Another sign that suggests that they’ve relapsed is when they no longer want to belong to support networks. The primary essence of support networks is to provide support to people who just recovered from addiction.

At this early stage, some of them may still struggle with some cravings that can make them return to their addiction. This is why support networks exist to keep motivating them to remain sober and clean.

Not attending therapy or counseling sessions

When the individual no longer attends the scheduled therapy or counseling sessions, they might have relapsed.

They might avoid these sessions because they know that the therapist or counselor will discover that they have returned to their addiction. Also, they could be ashamed of facing the therapist after being declared sober.

Defensiveness

One of the easiest ways to spot someone who has relapsed is when they begin to act defensive each time the concept of addiction is introduced.

Even if they are not being attacked, their response might be similar to someone who was being spoken to. When you notice this pattern of defensiveness, you can reach out and support them.

Sex addiction is a controversial matter because sex is a basic part of living. It makes some people feel sex cannot be excessive as we all have a different level of sexual appetite.

However, despite sex being a part of life, there are stages it can get to that would be regarded as addictive.

Although The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-5) does not recognize it as a behavioral addiction, other research has proved it to be possible.

If you are at that point where you have a compelling urge to have sex or engage in sexually related activities that you are ready to risk anything for it, you are addicted to sex. 

It does not have to be engaging in the act in itself as it can be any other act in the ‘sex family’ such as masturbation and pornography that gives you the same pleasure as sex would.

You may be unsure if your sexual desire or that of your lover has gotten overboard so, below are a few signs of sex addiction:

1. Emotional Symptoms: 

Those who suffer from a sex addiction might not have healthy boundaries. Porn or sex addiction can leave you feeling alienated, isolated, angry, depressed, or humiliated and may require treatment.

According to Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, people addicted to sex may become emotionally or sexually involved regardless of how well they know you.

Due to their fear of being abandoned, most sex addicts stay in unhealthy relationships, or they may jump from one relationship to another. 

2. Physical Symptoms:

There are few physical symptoms of sex addiction. One of the most common physical symptoms of sex addiction is a feeling of immobility due to sexual acts. 

Other signs of sex addiction are:

• Having obsessive sexual thoughts
• Spending too much time on sex
• Excessive masturbation
• Finding it difficult to engage in other activities

A sex addict can change although, such one will likely need treatment from a medical professional like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or sex therapist.

Sex addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by a compelling urge to participate in sexual behaviors despite the damage it causes to the individual and loved ones.

It could be an uncontrollable involvement in watching pornography, masturbating, or prostitution. The end goal of which is the disruption of one’s life.

Persons can lose their jobs by surfing the internet for pornography at work despite warnings not to do so. Some may waste their money on prostitutes to satisfy their uncontrollable urge for sex.

This should prove to anyone that an uncontrollable desire for sex is an addiction and has its effects.

So, if you find yourself or a loved one in this category, you should seek treatment with a counselor immediately before it eats you up.

Sex addiction therapy can be in different forms depending on the gravity of the addiction, the patient’s needs, and the doctor or therapist’s diagnosis. The goal is to help anyone suffering from sex addiction through several treatment options.

If you go for therapy, some of the treatment options you will be offered are:

Counseling for Couples / Marriage: If a patient is married or in a committed relationship, sex addiction can be detrimental.

Patients can get to the bottom of their sex addiction through therapy with a licensed therapist and their partner, especially if it has roots in feelings of inadequacy, boredom, or problems in their relationship.

Individual Therapy: Also known as traditional therapy, this option involves having a session with a certified mental health professional for 30-60 minutes.

A therapist with specialized training will focus on your sexually compulsive behaviors, no matter what they are, as well as any other co-occurring disorders.

Therapy Groups: Group therapy, which uses positive social interaction to assist patients, shows them that they are not alone in their addiction.

A therapist always guides the group, aiming to create an environment where patients feel safe and affirmed during their healing process.

Counseling helps you shift your focus away from the negative aspects of your life. You will see how your life can be better, what you should focus on, and how to stay on track.

Addiction generally has the capacity to induce unpleasant life consequences that the addict would never be proud of. For sex addiction, the case is the same.

People who are addicted to sex are not in control of their lives any longer. All they do revolves around sex and they would do anything to provide themselves with satisfaction.

Anyone who wants to be free from sex addiction needs to end it once and never look back. However, doing this is a hard nut to crack. The first step is to make the addict acknowledge that he or she has an addiction problem.

Usually, people who are addicted to sex do not want to believe that they have an addiction problem. To them, they feel that they simply love sex and they would stop at nothing to continue enjoying themselves.

By enrolling for a rehab program that treats sex addiction, you have taken a bold step to a sober free live.

Sex addiction is one of the strongest forms of behavioral addiction and those who are addicted find it hard to break free. At a rehab, you are certain to receive the best of treatment and encouragement to get back on your feet.

Sex addiction treatment comes with a health inspection that is carried out by a professional healthcare provider.

Then the individual is required to remain within the confines of the rehab facility for a number of weeks running into months, depending on the severity of the addiction problem. During the reception of treatment, the individual would undergo both individual and group counseling.

These forms of counseling are very beneficial because they help you to understand properly the reason for your sex addiction.

You will also be given education materials that talk more about sex addiction. Before you know it, you will be encouraged to continue in the rehab program so that you can get better.

People who are addicted to sex should not think that they are strange or weird. It simply means that they need help.

Sex is what we all crave at various points of our lives and for those who have had sex, it always turned out to be an enjoyable process.

However, the concept of addiction exists in our sex lives and most people are not aware of this. Primarily, sex addiction is a psychological problem which results when an individual is not able to control his or her sexual desires.

This suggests that they would have an unquenchable desire for sex beyond the regular rate. Every now and then, all that fills their mind is having sex. And they would go to any length to make sure that they satisfy themselves. For people like this, they cannot control their sexual behavior and this prevents them from living normal lives.

People who have sex addiction are known to be good day-dreamers and fantasizers. They think about sex every now and then, and it affects their relationships and marriages if they are in one. They also have a crazy sex drive that makes them want to have sex on a regular basis.

There are some activities that sex addicts usually engage in to satisfy their sex drive to an extent.

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Worthy of mention is masturbation- This is a process where an individual undergoes the process of self-stimulation so that he or she can satisfy their sexual orgies at that particular time. The process of masturbation is always done discreetly.

Closely related to this is pornography. Lots of people who are addicted to sex, watch porn so that they can handle their crazy sex drive. They also do it discreetly so that other people will not see them. Also, people who watch pornography will definitely masturbate to satisfy themselves for that period.

Another activity is unsafe sex practice. Sex addicts would not care about the safety involved in having sex that would not result in contracting sexually transmitted diseases, so they would have sex without the needed protection.

The entire concept of sex addiction needs to be understood so that it would be easy to convince addicts to opt for treatment.

EFFECTS OF SEX ADDICTION

Sex addiction can be defined as a sexual conduct which a person finds it difficult to control. Hence, this inability to control transcends to psychological stress which affects some aspects of the individual’s life. Some studies have shown that sexual addiction is usually propelled by seeking pleasure in a bid to step-down anxiety. Also, these studies have shown that certain behaviours which are linked with sexual addiction, are most times activated by the state of the mind, which includes depression, despair, misery and the likes.

Addiction to sex is a serious issue which calls for immediate and intensive treatment so that the individual can recover. Sex addiction has the capacity to destroy marriages, relationships, careers and even your life. There is a likely chance that depression would be experienced, and low self-esteem could set in. Some people who are addicted to sex are not willing to stop, hence, they feel there is no need for them to seek treatment.

The “high” feeling which is experienced during sexual activity, is the same which substance abusers experience. This pleasure is at the centre of the brain, and it serves as a recompense for the behaviour. Addiction to sex has a threatening effect on any relationship which you are involved in.

Individuals who are addicted to sex, often face problems such as:

• Sour relationships: Sex addicts would definitely face a rot in their relationship. It could be with their spouse who complains often that their partner’s sexual drive is beyond normal. With time, the individual would discover that his relationship with his family and friends have been strained.
• Shame and guilt: There is always a feeling of shame and guilt, when you come to the realization of the fact that you cannot control your sexual drive. What’s more, it gets worse when people know about your case, and pitch their tents far from you.
• Inability to carry out duties and obligations: Sex addicts would also realize that they would hardly have time to perform essential roles which are required of them, as all what they would be focused on, is satisfying their sexual urge.
• Contracting sexually transmitted diseases: Those who are hooked on sex would most likely have many sexual partners, and this increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.