‘Sex addiction’ – David Duchovny







Wikipedia page

BBC Magazine – Does sex addiction exist?

Addictions.co.uk (sponsored by the Priory)

4 Responses to “‘Sex addiction’ – David Duchovny”

  1. Jeannie says:

    Please feel free to share this with your peers and readers

    When sex becomes an addiction
    By Elizabeth Landau

    (CNN) — When actor David Duchovny made headlines for voluntarily entering rehab for sex addiction, fans of the “X-Files” star were left wondering: How can someone become addicted to sex?

    It turns out sex addiction, also called compulsive sexual behavior, operates somewhat like a gambling compulsion or alcoholism: It’s about devoting your free time to a behavior that you cannot stop, even if you damage relationships or prompt other negative consequences. Examples of addicting sex behaviors include extensively using pornography, having affairs, sleeping with prostitutes, and masturbating excessively, to the point where such behaviors get out of control.

    If you think it’s just about being horny, think again. For many addicts, sex becomes a way to numb out painful feelings, kill time or stop feeling lonely, said Kelly McDaniel, licensed professional counselor in San Antonio, Texas, and author of “Ready to Heal: Women Facing Love, Sex and Relationship Addiction.”


    Sex addiction is estimated to affect 3 to 6 percent of adults in the U.S., according to the Mayo Clinic, but the American Psychiatric Association has not classified the condition in its diagnostic handbook.





    Where does it come from?






    A lot of teenagers develop their sexuality with pornography and then find that relational sex isn’t as satisfying, said Weiss, who also called sex addiction a “growing problem.” He said extensive exposure to pornography alters

    How does treatment work?


    Withdrawing from compulsive sexual behaviors for an addict is very similar to withdrawing from cocaine, McDaniel said. An addict will go into withdrawal, and without a treatment program, it’s tempting to replace sex with something else, such as food or alcohol.


    Unlike drugs or alcohol, the goal of sex addiction therapy is usually not abstinence but rather learning to have sex in a relationship, experts say. Similarly, someone who recovers from an overeating disorder does not stop eating entirely but learns how to manage diet.

    Marriage counseling often becomes part of the treatment, Weiss said.

    What’s after recovery?


    Now, he runs resource Web site for recovery at sexaddict.com, along with three-day intensive workshops to jump-start recovery for sex addicts.



  2. OrganisedPauper says:

    Where’s the separation between hypersexual behaviour in say Bipolar disorder II and sex addiction? From my (very amateur) point of view the listed symptoms of sex addiction could just as easily apply to someone during hypomania.

  3. Frontier Psychiatrist says:

    There is a lot of overlap between the criteria of various psychiatric disorders.

    Bipolar disorder is primarily a disorder of mood, so if someone was to receive this diagnosis then they would have to have had periods of depression and mania.

    Also manic behaviour is reckless and affects many areas of functioning, whereas addictive behaviour is compulsive and focussed.

  4. OrganisedPauper says:

    Thanks for the info. I always wondered where the difference lay.

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