Sex Addiction Symptoms

The addicted person continues to engage in the behaviors even in light of consequences that may include:

• Intimate relationships impaired
• Promiscuous
• A constant need to watch porn
• High frequency of masturbation
• High levels of Cheating
• STI
• High levels of pregnancies
• Paraphilic behaviour
• Arrests for: sexual harassment, sexual assault, soliciting sex and sex in public
• Spending all finances on porn, prostitutes
• Narcissism
• Preoccupation with sex on the mind
• Risky sexual behaviours like frequent unprotected sex
• Missing work due to active  sexual behaviour
• Withdrawal, can’t go a day without sexual behaviour

Sex Addiction Treatment at our Drug Rehab

Codependency

Codependency is a relationship pattern where you focus on others at your own expense. Codependency happens when you put one person’s needs over your own. Codependence is a need for others to fill their own self-worth. Codependency and active addiction/alcohol abuse directly contribute to maintaining unhealthy behavior. Codependent characteristics include: low self-esteem, people pleaser, difficulty saying no, doesn’t take criticism well, feels taken advantage of, and is constantly putting others needs over their own.

For example, within Sex Addiction, manipulation is a key symptom. Manipulation happens when an individual will try whatever means possible to get something from someone else. Like in active addiction/alcohol abuse, there is a sense of satisfaction from “being needed,” but at the end of the cycle, the codependent feels choiceless and helpless.

Boundaries

Within Sex Addiction, boundaries for the individual and others are important. Boundaries are rules and limits, that are defined by the individual. This can mean material, physical, mental, emotional, sexual and spiritual boundaries. For example, sexual boundaries can be the amount of physical interaction that creates feelings of comfort and at peace.

Examples of Healthy and Unhealthy Boundaries

Are you ignoring your own boundaries or ignoring someone else’s boundaries? Do you find it difficult to talk about intimacy, relationships, sex, and love? At Addiction Rehab Toronto, our trained and education clinical team are equipped in understanding how Addictions intersects with codependency and boundaries.

Healthy Boundaries	Unhealthy Boundaries
Staying focused on recovery and growth Maintaining personal values despite what others want Open to learn more Saying no to things you don’t want Asking for consent	Reinforcing negative thinking and telling ourselves that it sounds accurate Always saying yes to things you don’t want to do Accepting things you don’t want Not asking for consent

Sex & Intimacy

At Addiction Rehab Toronto, we offer specific programming in Sex & Intimacy, specifically its intersection with Addiction and Addictive behaviours. In addition, we offer process groups that allow individuals the space to speak about support systems and relationships. For example, often individuals will engage in sexually addictive behaviours due to the impulsivity of its nature. Most often, individuals are searching for the euphoric dopamine feeling that encompasses a sexual release. In addition, our clinical team will support an individual to identify cravings and triggers identified by sexual addiction.

Other Sex Addiction treatment programming offered are:

• One on One counselling
• Psychotherapy
• Communication Programming
• Sex & Intimacy
• Codependency
• Impulsivity
• Anger Management Programming
• Stress Management Programming
• Group Therapy through weekly Programming on Relapse Prevention, Anger Management, Communications, Self-Esteem, Codependency, Values, Grief and Loss, Stages of Change, Self-Love, Loneliness, and much more
• Feelings Wheel
• Mindfulness through Yoga, Reiki, Walks, Breathing Techniques, Independent Reflections, and Journaling
• Meditation
• Music Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Nutrition
• Fitness through our instructed boxing and Muay Thai gym, outdoor walks, recreational activities, and fitness boot camps
• And more.

Addressing Codependency and Sexual Addictive Behaviours

For an individual to start the process of Sex Addiction Recovery, one must take the moment to admit to themselves that they engage in unhealthy sexual addictive behaviours. Just like alcohol or substance addiction, we must admit to ourselves that life has become unmanageable.

An individual needs to have the desire and the gumption to work on the change, with the acceptance of self, the situation, and the addiction. An individual accepts there is an unhealthy relationship being formed by codependent behaviours; by identifying the symptoms, behaviours and scenarios.

Lastly, an individual must accept that work must begin to work on an action plan and sexual boundaries.  address their own patterns of unhealthy sexual behaviours. These changes include communication, addressing active addiction/alcohol abuse, and remaining trust within active recovery.

For information on our Sex Addiction Treatment, please give us a call at 1-855-787-2424, or email us at info@addictionrehabtoronto.ca. We’ll be happy to help you.