A few weeks ago I was speaking with a colleague who teaches at an institution on the West Coast whom I converse with several times per year. We were able to catch up on a lot of things. Everything was going well for him and his immediate family.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for one of his relatives. This was due to the fact that my friend’s relative had been diagnosed as a sex addict. My friend had spoken to me in the past about the “renegade, devil may care,” carnal-like behavior this particular relative of his had long exhibited. Thus, when he mentioned this piece of unfortunate news I was somewhat shocked, but not surprised.
The fact is that sexual addiction is a disease that is a slowly but surely growing epidemic in American society. Given the varied methods that have been used to determine what accounts for sexual addiction, precise statistics as to its level of prevalence are difficult to determine. Nonetheless, it is estimated that between 3 percent and 6 percent of Americans suffer from some form of sex addiction, according to the National Association of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity. It is a vice that affects men and women, people of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual persuasions and religions.
Some psychiatrists and sex therapists argue that there are a number of factors that can result in a person devolving into a cycle of sexual obsession and dysfunction. A traumatic childhood, excessive drug use, social insecurity are just a few examples. Some sexologists and other sex experts argue that a person’s genetic composition can be a factor in their sexual addiction. Regardless, for its victims, it can result in a traumatic life of risk and frustration.
While the signs can be multiple and varied, among the most prominent symptoms are:
· Chronic, obsessive sexual thoughts and fantasies
· Relations with multiple partners on a frequent basis, especially with strangers
