Undressing Sex Addiction

Contributions by Emily Messall | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Krista Kok

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It’s more than just watching too much porn or thinking about sex too often. Sex addiction is a real disorder with statistical and scientific proof, which some people struggle with every day.

According to WebMD, those who face sex addiction are “people who keep engaging in sexual behaviors that are damaging them and/or their families.” This can include things like “men who spend half their income on prostitutes, and office workers who surf the web for porn despite warnings that they’ll lose their job if they keep it up.”

However, there are often many misconceptions about what sex addiction is or looks like. People with hypersexual disorder show behaviors that are similar “to those associated with obsessive compulsive disorder … or, problems related to attention, impulse control or emotional regulation could also be involved,” says the WebMD website.

There are many symptoms associated with sex addition. It is important to remember that not everyone faces addiction in the same way and treatment can be different for each individual.

To learn more about what sex addiction can look like, check out the PULSE YouTube channel for a video portrayal.

Test Your Knowledge

Do you think you have any misconceptions about sex addiction? Take this quiz and put your knowledge to the test! Be sure to check your answers so you don’t forget your score.

1. People who watch a lot of porn are sex addicts. TRUE FALSE

2. If you like to have sex, you’re a sex addict.

3. Love addiction and sex addiction can go hand in hand.

4. Masturbating a lot means you’re addicted to sex.

5. People pretend to be addicted to sex to excuse inappropriate actions.

6. Only men can be addicted to sex.

7. Sex addiction isn’t real.

8. Using sex or porn is an okay way to cope with other stressors of life.

9. There’s no help for people who are addicted to sex.

10. People sometimes develop a sex addiction to replace other addictions.

Final Score:

/10

Sources: WebMD, Psych Central, Time Magazine