If you have sex addiction issues in Tennessee, our facilities can help. Resurgence Tennessee specializes in various psychological disorders, including sexual addiction, on a standalone basis or combined with addiction treatment in the case of co-occurring disorders.
Sex addiction is just as serious as other mental disorders and requires the knowledge and care of addiction professionals. The combination of sex addiction and substance abuse is no different than the dynamic that exists between eating disorders and substance abuse, for example.
If sexual addiction challenges are making life difficult for you, our addiction treatment professionals can help at Resurgence Tennessee. In the following article, we outline sex addiction and potential sex addiction treatment remedies.
If you suffer from sex addiction, also known as hypersexual disorder1, you may find yourself fixated on sexuality to an unhealthy degree. These sexual behaviors may even begin to interfere with your day-to-day activities.
You’ll continuously have sex despite the risks and engage in compulsive sexual behavior. However, it’s important to discern between sex addiction behaviors and other mental health disorders
It’s crucial to differentiate between having a high libido and being sexually compulsive. A person’s day-to-day existence and interactions with others may likely be negatively impacted by sex addiction. A person with this disorder will go to great lengths to satisfy their sexual desires. Some examples of sexual practices they may engage in are:
Many male sex addicts (and females) mistakenly believe they can control their condition without risk of negative consequences. Without proper care at a treatment center, though, the condition will persist. Some of the symptoms of sex addiction and methods for treating it are discussed in this article.
The DSM-5, the gold standard for defining and classifying mental health disorders, does not include sex addiction among its categories. Because of this, it may be difficult to recognize the symptoms of sex addiction and establish concrete treatment modalities.
There are a number of telltale signs that you may be suffering from sex addiction, including but not limited to:
It’s possible that sex addiction stems from a complex interplay of physiological and psychological elements. But the thing is, nobody knows what exactly causes it. According to some studies, sex addiction can be traced back to a chemical imbalance in the brain. There isn’t enough proof, though, to say for sure that this is the cause.
Some professionals even believe these destructive behaviors stem from experiencing some type of trauma at a younger age. Compulsive sexual habits have been linked to the use of some drugs, including cocaine and crystal meth.
A medical professional’s diagnosis of sex addiction is necessary before beginning therapy for the disorder. Sexual addiction is one of the more elusive mental health disorders to pin down – making an individualized treatment process even harder.
Before settling on a diagnosis, doctors take a close look at your medical records to rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms. The first step in overcoming sexual addiction is determining what is driving your obsessive sexual cravings and behaviors.
Psychotherapy and medication are the usual methods of dealing with mental health issues like sex addiction.
Although psychotherapy is the first line of defense for sex addiction treatment, certain drugs may be recommended in addition to therapy, depending on the nature and severity of the individual’s symptoms.
Treatment may be administered in the client’s own home or at an addiction treatment facility, depending on the nature and extent of the disorder. One of the benefits of going to a treatment center is that you can give your full attention to becoming better.
What types of individualized treatment are available through our program?
In order to help those with mental illness, psychologists and psychiatrists have developed numerous psychotherapeutic approaches. The following are commonly employed for sex addicts:
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is one of the most widely utilized psychotherapies for treating a wide variety of mental health issues. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for people with sex addiction is to teach them to recognize the origins of their addictive ideas and actions and replace them with healthier alternatives. To assist you in dealing with your triggers, you are also taught good coping methods.
Collaborative treatment planning involves the patient and their therapist working together to discover an approach that will alleviate the patient’s problems. It is based on the belief that people can be motivated to change their undesirable behaviors if they are given the proper support.
No drugs specifically targeting sex addiction have yet been created. Medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), has been used off-label to help those with bipolar disorder deal with the disorder’s more severe symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of sex addiction can be treated with the following medications:
Medications used to regulate mood are called “mood stabilizers,” and they are frequently prescribed to patients suffering from bipolar illness and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Additionally, they may aid a person with sex addiction in experiencing a lessening of obsessive sexual urges. Lamictal and Tegretol are two widely used mood stabilizers.
Antidepressants and anxiolytics known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were designed for this purpose. As an added bonus, they might aid in preventing the compulsions that accompany sex addiction. Celexa and Zoloft are a couple of examples.
Recognizing your problem is the first step in overcoming sex addiction. It might be challenging to diagnose sex addiction because it is not formally recognized as a mental health disorder. Its symptoms aren’t often as obvious as those of other mental health issues. If you or a loved one exhibit any of the symptoms described above, it is critical to schedule an appointment with a doctor to rule out any other possible causes.
Other resources that may help you manage your illness are:
If you or someone you love has a sex addiction, attending a support group like Sex Addicts Anonymous might be a lifeline. Feelings of shame and embarrassment associated with this illness can be mitigated by interacting with and learning from others who share your experience.
If you have a stockpile of pornographic material or any other triggers that cause you to indulge in compulsive sexual activities, it can be good to get rid of them.
Get some exercise and find some good diversions: Whenever you feel the temptation to engage in sexual activity, find a healthy distraction that you may engage in instead. This in itself is a form of replacement therapy you can work on without the help of a professional.
If you or someone you love is engaging in constant unprotected sex or has a difficult time trying to learn healthy boundaries with current and former sex partners, it’s time to address the underlying issues.
At Resurgence Tennessee, we can help you or your loved one overcome these challenges and experience long-term recovery. Contact a member of our admissions team today to find out how to participate in our program.