When Does Sexual Appetite Cross the Line into Addiction?

Where’s the line between a healthy sexual appetite and addiction? We’re laying down everything you need to know so you can get the help you need.

The idea of being addicted to sex is often met with jokes, laughs, and eye rolls. But for the people whose lives are destroyed by their sexual compulsions, it’s no laughing matter.

The concept of sex addiction is relatively recent in the medical world. The term was coined in the mid-1970s, but the diagnosis didn’t really start to gain traction until the late 80’s.

Even today, many people don’t accept sex addiction as a legitimate medical condition. “After all, who doesn’t like sex?”

But there’s a big difference between enjoying something and being addicted to something.

When Does It Become an Addiction?

Addiction is a medical condition in which the sufferer has the compulsion to engage in an activity despite known negative consequences.

Put simply, it’s when a person does something frequently even though they know it’s bad for them.

A man who has frequent sex with his wife or significant other may really enjoy sex, but it doesn’t really become a problem unless it takes away from their job, responsibilities, or if they seek out sexual gratification from dangerous sources.

Signs of Sexual Addiction

1. You Continue Despite Intense Shame

People who don’t struggle with addiction don’t usually think about this one.

Sex addicts don’t generally walk around feeling like a smooth Casanova. They often even knowingly exploit and manipulate others for sex.

More often they end up feeling intense shame because their behavior hurts the people around them and themselves.

2. You Lie Constantly to Protect Your Secret

Because of the shame that a sex addict generally feels about the way their behavior affects the people in their lives, it makes it extremely difficult to open up to anyone about it for fear that anyone they tell will hate them too.

So they lie about how they spend their time and money and lead a double life to cover their shame.

This makes it even harder to seek help, which only makes the problem worse.

3. You Can’t Stop

You tell yourself this is the last time. You know it’s only a matter of time before you get caught and your life falls apart. You’ve said you were going to stop before, but this one is really the last time.

Until the next time.

This is the biggest red flag of an addiction.

Most long-term addicts can see that they’re destroying themselves, and on multiple occasions have resolved to change their ways, only to eventually go back.

Finding Treatment

Every addict wants to stop their destructive behavior, and they want to be able to do it by themselves, without exposing their secret shame to someone else.

Unfortunately, that’s basically impossible.

We know it’s hard, and the last thing you want to hear is that you have to tell someone about your addiction.

But if your sexual behavior is negatively affecting your life, you owe it to yourself and the people around you to find a Sex Addiction Treatment Center for Men.

They provide a welcoming environment, free from judgment, where trained professionals can help you overcome your addiction and keep it under control.

Don’t wait another day to seek treatment! You CAN overcome your compulsions with help! You CAN live a normal life!

But you have to take that first step yourself.