Understanding Sexual Addiction: Part I
Understanding addictions is neither simple nor easy. Understanding sexual addiction is even more complex. Alcohol and drugs are the two most commonly known addictions. It is easier for most people to accept the addiction model for these two substances than it is to accept an addiction model for either sex or food. We know that both alcohol and drugs have chemically addictive properties. Chronic use of either of these will create a dependency on them which, in turn, can develop into an addiction, i.e., where the body craves the substance upon which one becomes dependent.
Food and sex addictions are difficult for most people to understand since the drive for either is biologically part of being a human being. So people naturally ask the question, "how can a biological drive become an addiction?" It is even more difficult when it comes to the issue of sex. Though it is not possible to live without food it is possible to do without sex, e.g., people who chose to be celibate. Therefore, people think that since sex is a choice, people choose to become overly involved with sex; hence it cannot become an addiction. It is simply a matter of choice.
Once one understands the biological aspects of the addictive process, however, it will become clear that both compulsive sex and compulsive eating can become as addictive as for drugs and alcohol. It will also become clear that for sexual addictions the process is even more complex than for food addictions. In this essay I intend to explore various aspects of addiction, offer an understanding of compulsive behavior and how it relates to addiction, and finally, I hope to offer a clearer understanding of the various aspects of sexual addiction in particular.
Defining addiction
Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive behavior in pursuit of a gratifying substance with its abuse causing long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or nicotine. Every addictive substance induces pleasant states or relieves distress. Continued use of the addictive substance induces adaptive changes in the brain that lead to tolerance, physical dependence, uncontrollable craving and, all too often, relapse. Dependence is at such a point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions from withdrawal. The risk of addiction is in part inherited. Genetic factors, for example, account for about 40% of the risk of alcoholism. The genetic factors predisposing to addiction are not yet fully understood. Addictive behavior has profound effects on an individual’s life interfering with health, relationships, and work. Addicts rarely think about the consequences of their behavior and will often risk everything to satisfy their cravings. When dealing with food or sex, the individual becomes addicted to the pursuit of the substance and becomes addicted to the rush received when in pursuit. The compulsive behavior, as with alcohol and drugs, causes chemical changes in the brain.
The addictive brain
According to recent research studying the human brain through brain scan studies, there appears to be a strong relationship between brain activity and pursuit of the substance of choice. Individuals who are in pursuit of drugs, alcohol, sex and food exhibit electrical activities in the same areas of the brain. Blood studies indicate that when these people are in pursuit of their substance of choice (e.g., alcohol, drugs, sex and food) all show increased cortisol levels. Cortisol is the "stress hormone" that is released by the brain through the adrenal glands, that helps to reduce stress. It appears that people who become addicts produce lower levels of cortisol than nonaddicts. However, those levels are increased when they are in pursuit. When someone is pursuing illicit sex, cortisol levels increase. Thus the individual feels a sense of release and calm. This period is often referred to by addicts as "being in the bubble." Once in it, cognitive functioning is often impaired as they pursue their substance. It is only afterward, once they have satisfied their need, that they realize what they have done. This good feeling and sense of euphoria become highly gratifying to the point of addiction.
The food and sex addict primarily are looking for this sense of well-being achieved by the increase in cortisol while they are in pursuit of their goal. Most will describe the period before achieving the goal as more satisfying than the goal itself. The goal is the final release, followed by immediate calm. Often this is followed by shame and/or guilt. But within a relatively brief period as the stress increases the desire to repeat the process begins once again.
Drug and alcohol addicts have two chemicals with which to deal. One is the aforementioned increase in cortisol which helps to reduce stress and the second is the addictive substance itself. Both alcohol and drugs have addictive properties creating a bio-physiological dependence. The body literally craves the drug or alcohol. Sex and food addicts only seek the first type of craving with the pleasure derived from the substance playing a secondary role.
Triggers
Triggers are events that stimulate an individual to respond in a particular way. Triggers can be visual, auditory, or a thought that becomes persistent; or it can be a familiar situation associated with a previous experience. A sex addict, for example, might be in a stressful environment when he notices an attractive woman with a short skirt or open necked blouse. He feels a twinge of excitement that distracts him from the stress he is experiencing. This can lead to thoughts of going online to view some pornography or to visit a massage parlor or simply to go to the bathroom to masturbate. Once the trigger takes hold, it becomes difficult to resist. It becomes intrusive and persistent leading the individual to take action in order to relieve the internal pressure and remove the thought.
Self-medication
For the most part, all addictions begin with some form of experimentation. No one decides to become an addict. Once one discovers the pleasures from a particular behavior, there is the human tendency to want to experience it again. People who develop addictions experience their lives as highly stressful. It does not matter whether the stress is related to a traumatic event or events, painful relationships, environmental stress as in wartime, poverty, highly stressful occupations, etc. The stress creates significant internal psychological pain from which the individual seeks respite. These individuals rarely seek other people for comfort; many distrust others. In fact, most of these individuals do not view others as a form of nurturance; they pride themselves as being able to deal with their lives alone. Men, in particular, take pride in being self-reliant. Drugs, alcohol, food, and sex are often viewed as more reliable sources of comfort and relief than people; they can count on their substance to always be there for them. Furthermore, asking for help, love, nurturance or support are all viewed as a sign of weakness. Hence, when they discover their substance of choice, they are able to find solace; it becomes a source of self-medication to help reduce the stress and afford them relief.
(Please continue reading Understanding Sexual Addiction: Part II on this blog.)
Food and sex addictions are difficult for most people to understand since the drive for either is biologically part of being a human being. So people naturally ask the question, "how can a biological drive become an addiction?" It is even more difficult when it comes to the issue of sex. Though it is not possible to live without food it is possible to do without sex, e.g., people who chose to be celibate. Therefore, people think that since sex is a choice, people choose to become overly involved with sex; hence it cannot become an addiction. It is simply a matter of choice.
Once one understands the biological aspects of the addictive process, however, it will become clear that both compulsive sex and compulsive eating can become as addictive as for drugs and alcohol. It will also become clear that for sexual addictions the process is even more complex than for food addictions. In this essay I intend to explore various aspects of addiction, offer an understanding of compulsive behavior and how it relates to addiction, and finally, I hope to offer a clearer understanding of the various aspects of sexual addiction in particular.
Defining addiction
Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive behavior in pursuit of a gratifying substance with its abuse causing long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or nicotine. Every addictive substance induces pleasant states or relieves distress. Continued use of the addictive substance induces adaptive changes in the brain that lead to tolerance, physical dependence, uncontrollable craving and, all too often, relapse. Dependence is at such a point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions from withdrawal. The risk of addiction is in part inherited. Genetic factors, for example, account for about 40% of the risk of alcoholism. The genetic factors predisposing to addiction are not yet fully understood. Addictive behavior has profound effects on an individual’s life interfering with health, relationships, and work. Addicts rarely think about the consequences of their behavior and will often risk everything to satisfy their cravings. When dealing with food or sex, the individual becomes addicted to the pursuit of the substance and becomes addicted to the rush received when in pursuit. The compulsive behavior, as with alcohol and drugs, causes chemical changes in the brain.
The addictive brain
According to recent research studying the human brain through brain scan studies, there appears to be a strong relationship between brain activity and pursuit of the substance of choice. Individuals who are in pursuit of drugs, alcohol, sex and food exhibit electrical activities in the same areas of the brain. Blood studies indicate that when these people are in pursuit of their substance of choice (e.g., alcohol, drugs, sex and food) all show increased cortisol levels. Cortisol is the "stress hormone" that is released by the brain through the adrenal glands, that helps to reduce stress. It appears that people who become addicts produce lower levels of cortisol than nonaddicts. However, those levels are increased when they are in pursuit. When someone is pursuing illicit sex, cortisol levels increase. Thus the individual feels a sense of release and calm. This period is often referred to by addicts as "being in the bubble." Once in it, cognitive functioning is often impaired as they pursue their substance. It is only afterward, once they have satisfied their need, that they realize what they have done. This good feeling and sense of euphoria become highly gratifying to the point of addiction.
The food and sex addict primarily are looking for this sense of well-being achieved by the increase in cortisol while they are in pursuit of their goal. Most will describe the period before achieving the goal as more satisfying than the goal itself. The goal is the final release, followed by immediate calm. Often this is followed by shame and/or guilt. But within a relatively brief period as the stress increases the desire to repeat the process begins once again.
Drug and alcohol addicts have two chemicals with which to deal. One is the aforementioned increase in cortisol which helps to reduce stress and the second is the addictive substance itself. Both alcohol and drugs have addictive properties creating a bio-physiological dependence. The body literally craves the drug or alcohol. Sex and food addicts only seek the first type of craving with the pleasure derived from the substance playing a secondary role.
Triggers
Triggers are events that stimulate an individual to respond in a particular way. Triggers can be visual, auditory, or a thought that becomes persistent; or it can be a familiar situation associated with a previous experience. A sex addict, for example, might be in a stressful environment when he notices an attractive woman with a short skirt or open necked blouse. He feels a twinge of excitement that distracts him from the stress he is experiencing. This can lead to thoughts of going online to view some pornography or to visit a massage parlor or simply to go to the bathroom to masturbate. Once the trigger takes hold, it becomes difficult to resist. It becomes intrusive and persistent leading the individual to take action in order to relieve the internal pressure and remove the thought.
Self-medication
For the most part, all addictions begin with some form of experimentation. No one decides to become an addict. Once one discovers the pleasures from a particular behavior, there is the human tendency to want to experience it again. People who develop addictions experience their lives as highly stressful. It does not matter whether the stress is related to a traumatic event or events, painful relationships, environmental stress as in wartime, poverty, highly stressful occupations, etc. The stress creates significant internal psychological pain from which the individual seeks respite. These individuals rarely seek other people for comfort; many distrust others. In fact, most of these individuals do not view others as a form of nurturance; they pride themselves as being able to deal with their lives alone. Men, in particular, take pride in being self-reliant. Drugs, alcohol, food, and sex are often viewed as more reliable sources of comfort and relief than people; they can count on their substance to always be there for them. Furthermore, asking for help, love, nurturance or support are all viewed as a sign of weakness. Hence, when they discover their substance of choice, they are able to find solace; it becomes a source of self-medication to help reduce the stress and afford them relief.
(Please continue reading Understanding Sexual Addiction: Part II on this blog.)
posted by DocDreyfus | 4:02 PM
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