Sexual addiction is a disorder that affects millions of people around the world. As with any disorder, it’s important that people have resources for treatment and a sense that they can comfortably talk to someone about their problem. Unfortunately, sexual addiction can often have a stigma associated with it so sufferers can feel embarrassed or ashamed to reach out for help. This is why it’s important to understand some of the signs of sexual addiction and the impacts it can have on your well-being so that if you or someone you know starts exhibiting signs of the problem, you are aware of ways to help.
Intimacy Issues
With this type of addiction, the drive to have sexual encounters can be so strong that it gets in the way of achieving or maintaining intimacy with a partner. This is because the disease often manifests in excessive pornography consumption, a desire to be with multiple partners, etc. Consequently, it can have a negative effect on personal relationships and intimacy within them.
Loss of Productivity
Because sexual addiction can be such an all-consuming problem, sufferers often find that it detracts from other areas of their lives. Often their work life, their hobbies, and their relationships will take a back burner to satisfying the addiction. Consequently, they lose productivity at work, have trouble maintaining meaningful connections, etc. This is why it’s so important to get help.
Sexual Health Problems
As a byproduct of their problem, sufferers of sexual addiction often have many different sexual partners. This can be dangerous if the sexual health history of each partner isn’t completely known before any sexual encounters take place. Sexually-transmitted diseases can become a big potential problem for sex addicts. For this reason, it’s important for them to stay on top of their sexual health while they seek treatment for their addiction. One way to do this is to be regularly checked by a health professional regarding STDs. Some places offer free STD testing, which is an amazing resource for many people, including sex addicts. Is free STD testing right for you? If you find yourself wondering this, remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Keeping yourself safe and clean is important for everyone, but especially for those with a sexual addiction problem. Remember that there are always counseling resources and sexual health resources available, and taking advantage of those could mean taking back control over a serious problem.
