While we hear a lot about drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling problems and even addiction to the Internet, sex addiction still remains a taboo subject.
For this reason, it’s probably accurate to say that the majority of the population don’t know or understand a lot about the condition. Typically, when sex addiction is mentioned, people imagine someone who sleeps with as many people as they can without worrying about who they’re hurting. We think they’re doing this because they have low self-control or simply because they enjoy engaging in sexual activities and therefore want to do it as much as they can.
Despite this, evidence suggests that there is actually a strong link between drug addiction and sex addiction and that both conditions work in a very similar way.
The similarities between drug and sex addiction
When someone first experiments with drugs, they may do so because they enjoy the feeling of being high, they’re rebelling against an authority figure or they’re trying to escape the realities of a difficult situation. It’s highly unlikely that anybody ever said they’re going to try drugs because they want to become addicted to them.
The reality of sexual addiction is very similar. It often starts when somebody has experienced trauma either recently or in childhood and the issue was never dealt with. Trauma may mean a significant traumatic event or just as likely, a slew of what we call small “t” traumas such as being bullied, neglected by primary caregivers, etc. Like drugs, sex is often used as a coping mechanism.
It may come as a huge surprise to learn that sexual addiction isn’t about enjoying sex. Often, people struggling with sex addiction feel nothing more than shame and guilt after engaging in it. The problem is however, engaging in thrill-seeking sexual practices in a compulsive manner recalibrates the brain to such an extent that it cannot revert back to its original state. As a result, the brain becomes chronically impaired and starts to crave a fix just in the same way that someone addicted to drugs would.
The roots of addiction frequently lead back to trauma or a severe psychological burden. When someone does not have the tools to cope with those situations in a healthy way, drugs, alcohol and sex may seem like the only way out. Of course, this sadly doesn’t resolve anything and can quickly develop into addiction. Further entrenched in emotional turmoil, these individuals continue their addictive behavior until they sexual addiction treatment Toronto.
Can one addiction lead to another?
The link between drug addiction and sexual addiction makes it clear that sexual addiction is not about morality or sex, it’s driven by the same compulsion to stimulate the brain’s reward system by engaging in reckless, destructive behavior.
Like a person who is addicted to drugs, someone suffering from sex addiction becomes hooked to the feelings they experience when certain chemical changes occur in the brain. It’s the brain’s chemical release that compels the person to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. After the high has worn off however, they’re left with feelings of guilt, shame, and remorse. This emotional aftermath can feel unbearable and substance abuse is a way to avoid inner turmoil. Sadly, it’s a vicious cycle of addiction which often isn’t broken until an individual receives sex or drug addiction therapy Toronto.
Sexual addiction and substance abuse feed off each other and it’s not uncommon for one to lead to the other. Those who are abusing drugs may engage in promiscuous behaviors when they are high. That not only creates an association of being high with sex, but also a more intense high since neural pathways are being affected by both behaviors.
What’s more, certain drugs such as ecstasy, are known for their effect on sex. When someone wants to enhance their sexual experience they may turn to particular drugs to increase endurance, intensify sensations and prolong the encounter.
People with cross-addictions are individuals who switch from one addiction to another. People with co-occurring addictions struggle with multiple addictions simultaneously. Studies have found that cross and co-occurring disorders are especially common amongst those who are suffering from sexual addiction.
When receiving sexual addiction treatment Toronto, cross and co-occurring substance addictions nearly always have to be eliminated before an individual’s sexual addiction can be adequately addressed. After all, drugs and alcohol are disinhibiting. They weaken a person’s judgment to the point where they can’t remain committed to other boundaries they may have set themselves. Unless an individual stops using drugs, it’s unlikely that they will be able to eliminate problematic sexual behavior for long.
If you think that you or someone you know may need sexual addiction help in Toronto or drug addiction therapy, please feel free to contact us in the strictest of confidence and we will be more than happy to help.
