If your sexual thoughts and behaviors become overwhelming or take priority over other aspects of your life, you may be struggling with sex addiction. In sex addiction treatment, your therapist can help you identify and change the negative patterns that lead to compulsive behavior.
Some sex addiction treatment options include psychotherapy, medication, and other therapies. Psychotherapy focuses on helping you work through your feelings and learn new coping skills. It can also help you examine how your past experiences affect your present behavior.
Medications, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), can help reduce urges and increase your sense of well-being. Your therapist will recommend a medication based on your symptoms and health history. Some patients with sex addiction have experienced significant improvement when taking antidepressants, such as Prozac.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can teach you how to challenge and stop your sexual impulses. Your therapist can help you identify the triggers that cause them and develop strategies to overcome them. CBT can be done in person or online.
Avoiding people, places, or situations that might prompt an urge may be helpful at first. Your therapist can also help you identify the purposes your sex addiction serves and find healthier ways to meet those needs. You might try journaling about your urges to gain a better understanding of the causes. Some people with sex addiction find that joining a self-help support group like Sex Addicts Anonymous can be beneficial.
Sex Addiction Treatment
If your sexual thoughts and behaviors become overwhelming or take priority over other aspects of your life, you may be struggling with sex addiction. In sex addiction treatment, your therapist can help you identify and change the negative patterns that lead to compulsive behavior.
Some sex addiction treatment options include psychotherapy, medication, and other therapies. Psychotherapy focuses on helping you work through your feelings and learn new coping skills. It can also help you examine how your past experiences affect your present behavior.
Medications, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), can help reduce urges and increase your sense of well-being. Your therapist will recommend a medication based on your symptoms and health history. Some patients with sex addiction have experienced significant improvement when taking antidepressants, such as Prozac.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can teach you how to challenge and stop your sexual impulses. Your therapist can help you identify the triggers that cause them and develop strategies to overcome them. CBT can be done in person or online.
Avoiding people, places, or situations that might prompt an urge may be helpful at first. Your therapist can also help you identify the purposes your sex addiction serves and find healthier ways to meet those needs. You might try journaling about your urges to gain a better understanding of the causes. Some people with sex addiction find that joining a self-help support group like Sex Addicts Anonymous can be beneficial.