Newsletter

January 31, 2010 Keeping An Open Mind

By now almost everyone has been exposed to the Tiger Woods scandal. The amazing media circus has brought to our attention the fact that another well known celebrity has been unfaithful to his spouse.

For most of us that might bring a yawn or maybe perk up our ears a little but beyond that we typically are not so surprised. It seems that we are more drawn to this scandal because: A) he presented himself as such a nice family guy and: B) he is said to be addicted to sex.

Although that may sound self serving for a person having sex with someone other than his spouse, there are many who believe that he could not help himself. That is, like someone addicted to heroin or alcohol, he was unable to control his own behavior, at least when it came to having sex outside of his marriage.

Here is the central question: Is being compelled by a desire to have sex a lot the same as being addicted to a substance like heroin, cocaine, alcohol or even prescription medication?

In this month’s Newsletter I look at the question of sex addiction, its definition and its behavioral characteristics.

I welcome your comments or questions about this topic or any other topi... Please read on

What Is Sex Addiction?

From a strict medical perspective an addiction is a compulsive physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol). A person’s system builds a tolerance and, if he suddenly stops using, he has clear negative physiological symptoms which we call withdrawal.

By that definition having excessive amounts of sex is not an addiction because there is no substance being taken. However, in the complex world of modern society we have come to ... Please read on

Behaviors Of A Sex Addict

Unlike a person who may simply enjoy sex and the pleasure it brings, an addict is driven by impulses that are often uncontrollable. A sex addict will frequently behave in high risk activities putting him and others in jeopardy.

What follows is a list of some of those behaviors:

Infidelity or multiple affairs: It is one thing to have an affair and try to work it out with your spouse by repairing the damage done. It is quite another to be compelled to look for ... Please read on