DEFINITION
OF SEXUAL ADDICTION
“I
try to stop - but I can’t”!
“I
know what I’m doing
is wrong - but I can’t
help myself”!
“I’m so tired of living a double life”.
“The secrets I keep are sucking the life out of
me”.
WHAT IS ADDICTION?
Definition - A pathological relationship with a mood altering substance,
behavior or person. Simply stated, we continue in the “relationship” with
a substance, behavior or person, in spite of the destructive nature
and negative consequences.
WHAT IS SEXUAL ADDICTION?
Definition - Dr. Patrick Carnes, a pioneer in sexual addiction
research and recovery, defines sexual addiction as the lack of
control over some form of sexual behavior or relationship. Another
way to describe addiction is using a chemical, behavior or relationship
to medicate one’s feelings.
The repetitive use of this form of “acting out” creates a habit
that is virtually impossible to stop by oneself. The addict repeatedly
tries to stop but cannot. He/she must come to the point of powerlessness
over sex before any change can happen. Powerlessness means: “I can’t
do it alone!”
FOUR CLASSIC MARKERS:
1. Compulsivity - the loss of control over a behavior.
The addict continues despite attempted efforts to stop.
2. Continuation - despite negative
consequences, the addict keeps acting out.
3. Preoccupation or obsession - obsessive
thoughts about how, when, where, and with whom to be sexual.
4. Tolerance - more
of the same behavior or more escalated progressive behaviors are
required to get the same high, i.e.,
to satisfy the insatiable appetite.
STAGES OF SEXUAL ADDICTION:
Level One: The compulsive
use of lust/fantasy, pornography & masturbation
Level Two: Sex
with a consenting partner (affairs & prostitutes),
voyeurism, (strip clubs, pornography, using binoculars or hidden
cameras), phone sex & chat lines, exhibitionism (exposing one’s
genitals to others, including strip clubs and lingerie shops),
and bestiality (performing sex acts with animals). Many of these
behaviors are against the law and can result in arrest and imprisonment.
Level Three: Incest, child molestation,
rape and authority rape (the latter is a person of authority or
perceived authority using his/her position to obtain sex). Offenses
in this category are prosecutable.
Take your first step to finding
freedom, where recovery becomes reality
Call Dayspring @ 503.244.4350
|
