Do you believe sex addiction is real?

Addictive personalities can be addicted to anything: alcohol, sex, working, jogging, etc...

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as “engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.”

It is hard for me to imagine that someone could be addicted to something like sex unless there is a trigger in their brain that is causing a consequence if they don't have sex. For alcoholics, it's a hangover...for drug addicts, its the after effects that they are trying to avoid by staying on the drug. What is happening to supposed "sex addicts" when they stop having sex? Are they just extremely horny all the time? Maybe so...but isn't that what masterbation is for? I'm not sure if I can believe this, and it sounds like an excuse.

Whereas, I thought that it was true, and that my husband had it, according to all the websites and books on it, 6 months later, he all of the sudden doesn't love me anymore, making me think that it's really not true.....

Just because someone finds an addiction repulsive doesn't mean that its not real. All addictions are used to medicate against pain, whether alcohol, food or work. People dodge pain and hurt different ways, some hide playing video games or watching movies, but make no mistake about it, its very real. Its far more people using sex as an escape than many of us would like to believe.

Free will is both a blessing and a curse. We are not born with these vices controlling us they are developed and nurtured by our desires and levels of morality and self control. We are not born murderer's or alcholics or thieves etc. we choose to participate in these activities for various reasons, but we are not forced to, we choose to. It is dangerous when we start medically labeling selfishness and irresponsibility because those are the only names which they should go by. Not addicts or ....... My point is that we are lowering the bar so far for accountability that soon none will exist.

oh,give me a break!! sex addict my ass. now if every chick i meet goes to bed with me then perhaps i could 'maybe' consider myself a sex addict.ha!! only in my dreams.i find women are very defensive today vs 20 yrs. ago.what a drag..

lead me to her

After being married as long as the Phillip's have been his wife would not be divorcing him over wanting sex if he came home to feed his addiction. Having been married a long time myself I would be the happiest woman alive if my husband had a sex addiction and the last thing I would be doing is divorcing him. This is not the first time for Steve it was just the scariest of affairs his family had to endure with a crazy woman playing out "War of the Roses" at their home.

Any activity that stimulates production of endorphins has the potential to addict. Sex is the ORIGINAL endorphin stimulator!

It was documented in the case of a high-profile pedofile who kidnapped, raped and killed a young girl, that he required a release of his sexual tensions 3 times a day. I'm not sure that is the same as being addicted to sex, but a super-enhanced sex drive would biologically require release, I would think.

People need prayer in their lives!

If you are deprived of one of your drives, you tend to make it up with another. It is well known (by experiment) that if you do not drink (not alcohol) enough, your cravings will try to make up the difference by eating. Deficits are compelled to be filled by powerful physical and mental forces. This will explain why the person above can not explain it to themself in terms of operant behavior.

I got married so that I could have sex any time I wanted it. Now I have sex any time she wants it.

Unnatural constraints on innate behavior leads to perversion. If you squeeze the tooth paste with the cap on you can not complain when it comes out in weird places.

Don't poll for an answer - do the litmus test:

Put the male addict in a room full of ugly, old, naked broads. If he gets aroused, it is addiction. If he does not, then draw your own conclusion

"Ugly, old, broads"? Are you showing us something about yourself? People repeat behavior under similar circumstances. An average male has trouble completing four acts. Most males can not help lacking interest after three. The forth becomes real work. If a male seems interested after four complete acts, I would call that a sign.

Steve Philips wife is the loser here. For another woman to manipulate her so easily into giving up her family shows that her immediate goals are same as his. She probably has her boy friend on the side and wants to stop hiding. Go girl.

I don't believe it is an addiction. It is a weakness. It's your decision to control it or not.

An addiction? Get real! I totally agree with the posters who think it's Bull!@#$ -- it's an excuse to do whatever the hell you want and not be held responsible.... "The naked ladies made me do it!"