Can sexual addiction be prevented?
That is the question many sex addicts ask themselves. They want to know if there is anything they could have done or should have done differently to avoid becoming sex addicts. They feel lost in the cycle of addiction, and they’re not even sure if some type of sexual addiction counseling will help them. Perhaps you’ve felt this way too, and you’ve been wondering if you could have prevented your sexual addiction.
Let’s talk a little bit about treatment for sexual addiction and then we’ll discuss whether or not you could have done something different to change your own addictive behaviors.
Treatment for Sexual Addiction
When it comes to sexual addiction counselling, the most important thing for you to realize is that your addiction is not the root of your problem. People form sexual addictions because they’re trying to self-medicate a pre-existing problem. Most of the time, sexual addiction results because of some sort of traumatic (physical, sexual or emotional) event or events that happened in their lives. Often, the trauma is because of neglect and abandonment which makes it harder for the person to recognize as trauma because the trauma is that “nothing” happened.
Sex addiction counseling is helpful because once you gain sobriety from the self-medicating behaviors, you’re able to get to the heart of what the real problem is. You might not even be aware of it, but with time and with the right kind of professional help and support, you can experience freedom from your sexual addiction.
The Impossibility of Preventing Sex Addiction
Because your sex addiction most likely occurred because of something that happened to you that was beyond your control, there really would have been no way to prevent it unless you were removed from that situation when it happened. Even then, the roots of addiction often go pretty deep. The slightest trauma can result in addiction. Had you has assistance at the time of the traumatic event or during your dysfunctional childhood, you may have been able to make it in life without resorting to addiction. Also, when you first started using sex to medicate, had you had someone to work that through with you and help you see the potential dangers of your behaviors, you may have been able to prevent the escalation to addiction. Still, that’s not to say that every individual that goes through a traumatic event suffers from sex addiction. Everyone is different. However, if you’re the one who is struggling, please remember that although it may not be your fault that you got into it, it is your responsibility to get out of it and help is available.
Preventing Sex Addiction Relapse
While you might not have been able to prevent your sex addiction, many times you are able to prevent your relapse. Meeting with a therapist and getting your addictive behaviors under control is an excellent first step, but you also need to remain abstinent from those behaviors. That might mean that you need to change the people you associate with. It might mean that you stop going to certain clubs or that you have your Internet service shut off for a while. Your situation is going to be different from someone else’s, and it’s important for you to take the appropriate steps to ensure that you don’t do something that leads you back to your addiction.
Part of that is becoming involved with a support network that can help you stay accountable. Our New Beginnings Program was designed to help men who are struggling with sex addiction. It might seem a bit intimidating to talk about the issues you’re facing with other men, but once you experience how helpful it can be, you’ll realize the importance of having that type of peer support. In turn, you will also provide support to others who are struggling with their own sex addictions. Getting involved in the right type of non-judgmental support system might just be the key to helping you leave your life of sex addiction behind for good.
I would love to help you get started on the path to freedom. Please contact me to make an appointment.
