Clinical Management of Sexual Addiction
Introduction
Sexual addiction is also known as hyper-sexuality, and it refers to compulsive engagement or participation in sexuality regardless of the negative consequences. Notably, sexual addiction is also known as compulsive sexual behavior, which is an evolving psychiatric disorder that causes significant psychiatric and medical consequences. Sexual abuse is forcing undesired sexual behavior on one person or another. A form of this could be child molestation. Sexual abuse is very common and most times goes unreported. Subsequently, in clinical diagnostics, sexual dependence addiction misnomer may denote a conceptual model, which is utilized in assessing individuals that report various problems. These
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Idyllically, it is difficult to spot a person with a sexual addiction disorder from the outside. Thus, majority of them have developed a skill of hiding this behavior and addiction from their family members, spouses, and partners. They normally do this by lying about their various activities or taking part in them at places and times where they cannot be found. Nevertheless, there are times when symptoms are noticeable and present (Carnes & Adams, …show more content…
Importantly, this type of tool is referred to as the SAST (Sexual Addiction Screening Test) which was specifically developed to tackle sex addiction. Besides, the SAST was developed in collaboration with community groups, private therapists, treatment programs, and hospitals. It offers a responses profile, which assists health care professions to discriminate between non-addictive and addictive behavior. For the test to be completed, the patients are requested to answer questions, which number 25 in total by filing a correct yes or no answer in the columns. The SAST is simple to evaluate and administer since it assists health care professions to articulate on whether an individual is a sex addict or not (Carnes & Adams,
There are many different definitions in which people provide regarding addiction. May (1988) describes that addiction “is a state of compulsion, obsession, or preoccupation that enslaves a person’s will and desire” (p. 14). Individuals who suffer from addiction provide their time and energy toward other things that are not healthy and safe. The book
A psychological assessment is defined as “the gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation that is accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and specially designed apparatuses and measurement procedures” (Cohen, Swerdlik, &Sturman, 2013). Although examiners strive toward the assessment being good enough to be useful, they sometimes have to make decisions about what type of error is acceptable. There are many psychological assessments that have been used in the study of addictions, but we will take a look at the Addiction Severity Index.
on how to help those who suffer from sexual addiction and to prevent it from occurring.
Some researchers believe sex addiction is not a disorder, but something that is excessively used. The internet has made everything so easy to access. Sex addiction is not even included in the category DSM-5. Based on the DSM-5 list of various disorders, the clinicians then decide whether an individual shows the characteristics of someone who has a psychological disorder. Maybe in the future, sexual addiction would have a chance to make it into a sub category of the DSM-5 instead of labeled in a single category alone. Sex addiction seems to become a problem when it is harming the family unit or the image of someone famous when it becomes headline news. We really do not know how many people suffer from this disorder. There has not been sufficient research about this, a situation which makes this topic very delicate. To some, the word addiction alone is without meaning. Most individuals that do suffer from this disorder do suffer from a chemical imbalance as well. A twelve-step program, self-help support groups, and individual counseling can be recommended for treatment. In recovery they will have to learn how to come to terms with their addiction and how to think differently if placed in certain scenarios. For example, they must live a life that does not put them in situations that may cause one to relapse. It is important to surround themselves around individuals that have
Treatment of Sexual Addiction." HealthyPlace.com - Trusted Mental Health Information and Support. HealthyPlace, 25 Sept. 2009. Web.
An addiction counselor is a support system for someone that is having problems with drug and alcohol problems, eating disorders and other addictive problems they are having. They teach people how to modify their behaviors with the intention of a full recovery. One step at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. This talks about how the counselors are helping one step at a time, they are doing it one hour at a time, and they are doing it one day at a time, this is all helping the addicted person through it all. It is critical to have someone there for them at all times and addiction counselors provide this support that they need. After receiving the training one is able to enjoy this career with the great reward of helping others.
Sex is a beautiful thing that happens between two people, but sometimes sex can become addictive, and like with any other addiction, it can ruin lives. Patricia is in her mid-thirties, and to those who know her, she is a soccer mom with a successful career. But after her marriage ended due to her husband’s affair, Patricia became insecure, and started exploring dating sites on the internet – soon, Patricia was going on dates, sex dates - and in an interview with the Philadelphia Weekly, she admits that she is addicted to sex, and there is a problem. The American Psychiatric Association and Diagnostic (APAD) and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) don’t recognize the abuse of sex as an addiction. Although not recognize as an addiction, the abuse of sex has the same qualities as drug addiction and should be recognized as a medical condition.
Addiction controls people in many ways. Some addictions can even lead to death if not stopped early on. Addiction to any kind of substance or drug is not an easy thing to quit. It is hard to quit because it is not physically hard but also mentally hard to end an addiction. Addiction controls people by making them lose control of their actions and cravings. Also addiction controls people by changing their circadian rhythms which make it hard to stay away from what they are addicted to.
A substance abuse counselor is a person who helps people that are struggling with alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Substance abuse counselors provide patients with treatment and support while they are working to overcome their addiction and piece their lives back together. In addition, substance abuse counselors help patients’ families cope with their loved one’s disease and subsequent recovery. Finally, substance abuse counselors may work to spread awareness of addiction throughout the community by starting up/working for outreach programs.
George F. Koob defines addiction as a compulsion to take a drug without control over the intake and a chronic relapse disorder (1). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association defined "substance dependence" as a syndrome basically equivalent to addiction, and the diagnostic criteria used to describe the symptoms of substance dependence to a large extent define compulsion and loss of control of drug intake (1). Considering drug addiction as a disorder implies that there are some biological factors as well as social factors.
Do you think that a medical treatment is the only option you can pursue to improve your sexual health? Well if yes, then trust me, you are completely wrong here! There is lot more YOU can actually do to make your sex life spicier and appealing! That’s true!
Addiction is a very strong word that brings along many negative connotations. When we think of an addiction we imagine someone who depends on a certain substance, most likely alcohol to have their needs met. Addiction is defined by the Webster dictionary as, "a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal." Even though our society sees addiction and only applies the word to drug addicts and alcoholics, there is a much wider range of subjects that fall under the umbrella of what an addiction truly is. An addiction is a dependency on any kind of materialistic object that you use on a day to day basis that brings
Addiction is the number one cause in accidental death in the United States. The rate has raised astronomically in the last few years and happens even more than car accidents. It is a condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing or activity. There have been several debates on whether addiction is a disease or a choice. What is the difference between an addiction and physical dependence? Is it just a habit or is it an addiction? Once you’re an addict, are you always an addict? Those are the most commonly asked questions when it comes to addiction. The most arguable question of all is, is there a cure for addiction? As you read on, hopefully I am able to clear up some of those questions and answer them for you.
Substance abuse is an issue that plays a major social problem in society, the effect of drugs on families and communities is destructive. This paper will discuss evidence showing how substance abuse is a specific social problem that is widespread, and is affecting every level of our judicial system. Many people turn to drugs for many different reasons, they will try just about anything to relieve the pain. In our society today many people go through devastating experiences in their life. Furthermore people turn to drugs to mask the horrible memories and find relief. Drugs can temporarily relieve the symptoms of angry, loneliness or boredom, but it may be a temporary fix to an individual problems. They may
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.