Sex Addiction Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Sex Addiction Addiction, a compulsive psychological need for a habit-forming substance according to an online dictionary (p). In this instance, the substance is sex or masturbation. A sex addict needs progressively more and more explicit pornographic material in order to become aroused. Their behavior becomes centered on different sexual experiences and the desire to attain them. The person cannot control their sexual appetites resulting in severe consequences for themselves and others. Sex addiction is a lifelong problem that needs to be contained in order to avoid continued complications. Shame, secretiveness, and abusiveness in a person accompany the addiction. Treatment is available in different forms; however, because this subject is relatively new a cure is not known. An important question is arising around this subject is whether or not sex addiction results from nature or nurture. Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., the first person to identify and treat this affliction, hypothesized sex addiction results from a person needing certain neuro-chemical changes (4). Everybody experiences certain neuro-chemical changes that make the physical act of sex feel pleasurable. A normal person produces this stimulus, attains the natural high, and is satisfied. An addict, however, uses this chemical to escape pain or seek relief from stress (4). This theory supports a nature argument because there is nothing a person can do about it. Their body creates an altered response to a completely normal act and fosters an uncontrollable need to experience sex. It is comparable to an alcoholic's reaction to alcohol (4). The sex addict needs this chemical to be released in order to desensitize themselves from their problems. This is not healthy, but i... ...ttp://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sexualrecovery.com 4) Sexual Addiction Home Page , Home page with basic information http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sexaddictionhelp.com 5) Sexaholics Anonymous Home Page , Home page for support group http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sa.org 6) Sexhelp.com Home Page , Home page for Dr. Carnes http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sexhelp.com 7) Porn-Free.com Home Page , Web site about religious recovery help http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sexhelp.com 8) Sex addiction FAQ , Home page with basic information about different aspects of addiction http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.sexhelp.com 9)Page on Dictionary.com, definition of addiction http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=addiction