Sexual Integrity: Sex and Pornography Addiction
Like any other behavior, sexual thoughts or behavior can become addictive if they significantly interfere with your normal life. Pornography and sex addiction are brain-based addictions like gambling or gaming addiction. These brain-based addictions are known as ‘process addictions’.
Process addictions involve powerful reinforcement from chemicals in the brain. The addiction cycle for sex involves preoccupation, ritualization and compulsivity, often with euphoria. However, the high is typically followed by shame and despair, which the addict escapes by a return to the preoccupation. This cycle repeats itself over and over until life becomes unmanageable.
Sexually addictive behavior can include a wide range of behaviors, including but not limited to:
- Compulsive masturbation
- Chronic pornography
- Phone or internet sex
- Erotic chat or sexually charged fantasies, relationships, and situations
- Objectification of sexual partners, rituals associated with sex
- Multiple affairs or one-night stands
- Sexual massage, strip clubs, escorts, prostitutes
- Creating sexually explicit photos or videos
- Sex clubs, partner swapping, trading sex for money or services
- Cross dressing
- Voyeurism
- Exhibitionism
- Cruising, anonymous sex
- Pain exchange sex
- Sexting
- Hook-up and/or dating apps
- Social media
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