Rebecca Jamison, Delray Beach, FL:Sexual AddictionTen Theses:1. Sexual addiction parallels other addictive behaviors in an addictive cycle of preoccupation, ritualization, compulsive sexual, alcoholic, drug, food, gambling and/or shopping behaviors, followed by despair and isolation. 2. Sexual addiction is the most shame based of all the addictions and the one generally ignored by society and least understood. 3. Similar to alcohol and drug addiction families are instrumental in creating the climate for the sexual addiction to develop, and also for reinforcing and maintaining the addictive process. 4. Sexual addiction usually involves multiple addictions. 5. Sexual addiction is a pathological relationship with a mood altering experience. 6. Sex addicts have lost control over their ability to say no; lost control over their ability to choose. Their sexual behavior is part of a cycle of distorted thinking, feeling, and acting which they can not control. 7. The sex addict relies on sex for comfort from pain, relief from stress, and nurturing the way a drug addict relies on drugs or an alcoholic depends on alcohol. 8. Patterns of self-destructive behavior take control of the sex addicts' lives and their life becomes unmanageable. This includes compulsive forms of the following: compulsive masturbation, compulsive heterosexual and homosexual relationships, pornography, prostitution, exhibitionism, voyeurism, indecent phone calls, cyber sex, child molestation, incest, rape, and violence, with potentially devastating consequences. 9. Treating sexual addiction includes "The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous" adapted for Sexual Addicts. 10. Other forms of treatment include treatment programs to help individuals develop healthy coping skills by interacting with others experiencing similar problems.
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