How can someone be a sex adict, do yu believe someone cn be adicted to sex or no?

I have a hard time buying it…..it’s a far cry from being addicted to a drug…and being addicted to sex…(I mean, it’s easy to “feel” addicted to sex, but boundaries keep us from acting on it).

I’m still on the fence as to the addictive quality of sex….so far tho, it’s looking like a great place to “hide” when a person gets caught with their pants down.

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Here are some things some experts say…not me….

Some experts, like Dr. Drew Pinsky, believe that sexual addiction is literally an addiction, directly analogous to alcohol and drug addictions. Other experts believe that sexual addiction is actually a form of obsessive compulsive disorder and refer to it as sexual compulsivity.

The notion of sex addiction dates back to the ‘70s, when psychologist Patrick Carnes saw parallels with compulsive g@mbling: Addicts can’t control their behavior, continue despite negative consequences and spend excessive amounts of time pursuing the behavior.

Sex addiction was listed in the official “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III” in 1980

“It’s not about hormones or being h0rny. It’s about using the excitement of sexual interaction to induce the neurochemical high that all addicts seek,” says Robert Weiss, head of sexual addiction programming at the Life Healing Center in Sante Fe, N.M.

Nope. Sex addiction is real. Speaking personally.

I have to agree! (not speaking personally though)

How can it even be remotely compared to drug or alchohol addition? It can’t….both of which are physical and mentally addictive from an outside source. It might run in the same realm as food addiciton, however, you will die without food…nobody dies from a lack of sex…..Getting off from the rush of having illicit sex….is actually a lot like getting off from robbing a bank…lots of excitment and endorphins in that occupation.

Like I said…I’m on fence….it’s a new way of thinking, and I haven’t swallowed it hook, line and sinker………yet.

p

This is funny. I was just talking to someone about this. Well, if people can be addicted to gambling, then why not sex?

Yes. Basic drives such as for food or sex activate a kind of “reward centre” in your brain and causes the release of dopamine, which makes you feel good. Things like gambling do this too, as can many drugs. The addiction assocated with sex pretty much comes these increases in dopamine. They have done studies with mice where they have a button they press and it releases dopamine in their brain - the mice are so focused on pushing the button they wont do anything else and end up starving to death

:) that is ok Phrannie, you can take your time trying to understand it, because it is considered an addiction either way you see it…perhaps not as severe as another addiction, because every addiction is different & unique on it’s own, but to state that it doesnt exist is being naive & close minded…like when my cousin first told me that he was diagnosed with OCD & my dad just refused to accept it, said he was making himself do those things…he said them because he didnt know the facts & was closed minded until I did a lot of research about it & explained what happens & what my cousin was going through. He still refused to accept it until also one of his closest friends son also has it & was also explained by his friend about OCD, you see he didnt understand that it does exist & is considered really serious in some cases…same with sex addicts…not all cases are the same in sex addicts some have mild cases…some just cant stop the anxiety where they cant seem to function unless they are having sex…and everything can trigger the urge…like seeing a new couch for instance…and having to get off while feeling the fabric so close…(in fact saw an episode like that on nip tuck last night where one of the doctors come to replace another & as soon as he saw the couch in his mind he heard the sounds of a woman having an orgas!m & just had to tackle that couch til he got caught by the 2 partners & said get out of here!!)you may not understand the urges or what may trigger them but you can not say it isnt an addiction if many specialists have been treating patients for years & have rehab centers for sex addiction as well! I know it may be hard to accept if you dont know all the facts about it but it does exist & is very real. :( I truly feel sorry for people with this addiction…as with sufferers with OCD..because you really cant understand it unless you actually experience it like with any addiction!

Temptress that was beyond condescending. Especially towards someone who has a lot more knowledge and experience than you seem to think. Sex addiction is still a very controversial subject. You probably shouldnt pronounce judgment when actual experts have yet to come to an agreement. It is not part of the DSM-IV-TR, which is what the majority of mental health care workers reference, and it is not going to be in the DSM-V. OCD on the other hand, lots of experts in the field are not sitting around debating whether it exists or not. Just because specialists have been treating something doesnt make it a disease. Homosexuality is still being treated in ‘rehab centers’. As to reference a TV show, I wont even get into how wrong most tv shows get everything. Is the DSM perfect, no, however, while people are still debating this subject (especially while EXPERTS are still debating this subject), you probably shouldnt declare something as irrefutably true.

no, sex is not a thing that can be addicted to but it is something that ones body craves like food and air so many go into excess(if there is such a thing)

reward centre not addiction centre, but i applaude your knowledge

so are you saying that every thing in the brain falls under one nice neat little category with no overlap?

fair enough, but i think the definition is variable. sorry i was being rude, your the neuro-something or other

and the reward center… no your completely right… sorry