Sex and Porn Addiction Counseling

Sex Addiction 

Sex addiction is defined as any compulsive or maladaptive sexually-related, behavior that over time creates pre-occupation with and dependency on sexual expression. This compulsive behavior causes increasing distress to one’s life, work, relationships or overall functioning until such time that the sexual behavior becomes the overriding obsession. There is a cyclical pattern of behavior, involving urges and cravings wherein the sexual behavior becomes unmanageable and eventually becomes the defining behavior in the individual’s life.

No single behavior pattern defines sexual addiction but usually involves out-of-control or compulsive masturbation, compulsive heterosexual and homosexual relationships (regardless of an individual’s sexual orientation), pornography, compulsive internet pornography sites, voyeurism, and/or indecent phone calls and prostitution. More serious behavior includes child molesting, incest, rape and violence. While not all sexual expression is compulsive, when one’s attention and preoccupation with sexual expression becomes the defining behavior in one’s life, it is time to seek the help of a professional.

Porn Addiction 

Internet Pornography is referred to as the “crack cocaine” of sex addiction. That is because pornography delivered by way of the internet offers a quick, often private, and ever increasingly high-speed dose of stimulation to the brain. During the viewing of pornography, the brain experiences a  tidal wave of endorphins and other neurochemicals: dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin and serotonin.

These neurochemicals produce a “natural high” which in turn, induce strong emotional, biological and chemical connections. Pornography addiction changes the “wiring and firing” of the brain and if exposed at an early age, this type of response in the brain is detrimental to the growth and development of the neuropathways.

The Good News! 

The good news is....you are not alone and you can find healing.