Remorse, guilt, shame, and other negative experiences after sex rather than enjoyment or pleasure Sexual thoughts and behaviors interfere with daily life to the point of disruption Harm to one's work, study, and personal relationships due to preoccupation with sex Inability to stop or control the sexual thoughts and behaviors even when there is a desire to do so It's not always easy to draw the line between “I enjoy sex” and “I have a compulsive desire for sex.” Characteristics of Sex AddictionĬonstant sexual thoughts regardless of the situationĬompulsive sexual relationships with people, including strangersĮngaging in sexual behaviors regardless of negative consequences or despite past negative consequences (e.g., getting fired, getting in trouble with the law, etc.) People seek sexual activity many times a day, in inconvenient situations, where it can have negative consequences, and cannot stop it even if they try.Ī behavioral addiction is harder to detect and recognize as such. This sexual behavior can include intercourse, masturbation, watching pornography, and other sexual behaviors. While people generally enjoy sex, people with an addiction in this regard feel a pressing need to engage in it to the point where it dominates their whole life. Sexual addiction refers to a compulsive need to engage in sexual activity that provides a sort of “fix”, a “high”.
