Facebook, Twitter, mySpace, and YouTube have created a whole new world of possibilities for sex addicts to act-out sexual fantasies. While the majority of individuals using social media will not have problems as a result of their use, others will. Sexting, live video streaming, and GPS hook-up apps for Smart phones add to the possibilities of immediate gratification and expansion of sexual possibilities for addicts. Virtual sex outlets, once a fantasy of the future, are now here and accessible to those willing to alter the paradigm of what they consider "normal" sexuality.
Common Problems We Treat
Sexual addiction is characterized by out-of-control (compulsive) sexual behavior with marked consequences. Sex addicts use denial, rationalizing, minimizing , and lying to avoid the truth to themselves and others. They typically have difficulty with closeness in committed relationships and use their sexual addiction behavior to escape painful and stressful feelings. The sex addict typically cycles through an addictive cycle of preoccupation, ritualization, compulsive sexual behavior, and despair (shame).
We understand that sexual addiction is a disorder or problem of intimacy. Many sex addicts report chronic histories of loneliness, difficulty trusting others, and feeling uncomfortable being close with those they love. "Acting-out" sexually becomes a way to seek intimacy without being emotionally close. A pornographic image on a screen or a prostitute is not a place where emotional intimacy is required. At Kenneth M. Adams and Associates we treat both the addiction and the underlying intimacy problem. We know that for spouses or partners of sex addicts, this pattern is confusing and devastating.
Cybersex is a growing problem which is even causing those who have never had problematic sexual behavior to enter the world of sex addiction. Increasingly, people's online sexual behavior is affecting their daily lives negatively. It is referred to as the "crack cocaine" of sex addiction. Dr Patrick Carnes points out some specific patterns noted in people abusing online sex are: