The video for this presentation is available on our Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/allceuseducation A continuing education course for this presentation can be found at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/index?c=
Define Sex Addiction
Discuss Similarities and Differences Between Drug Addiction and Sex Addiction
Explore Interventions for Sex Addiction
Unlimited Counseling CEUs for $59 https://www.allceus.com/
Specialty Certificate tracks starting at $89 https://www.allceus.com/certificate-tracks/
Live Webinars $5/hour https://www.allceus.com/live-interactive-webinars/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CounselorToolbox
Pinterest: drsnipes
Earn a certificate as a sex and pornography addiction recovery coach (SPARC) https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/search?q=sex
6. Needing more of the same substance to get
the same high
◦ Tolerance
Dopamine system self-regulating
Coolidge Effect
◦ In response to worsening problems
7. Using more or for longer than intended
◦ Online porn sites, dating apps Novelty
Unsuccessful efforts to cut down
◦ Biologically driven urge for stimulation as well as
procreation
8. Spending significant time and/or resources
(i.e. money) thinking about, preparing for,
acquiring, using and/or recovering from use
9. Continued use despite negative
consequences in one or more areas of life
due to the addiction
◦ Relationship
◦ Financial
◦ Work
◦ Emotional (Anxiety, Motivation, Depression)
10. Driven by survival mechanisms
◦ Reduce pain (emotional, physical)
◦ Safety (Eliminate threats)
◦ Food/water
Maintained by positive and negative
reinforcement
11. ◦ Give your brain a rest from the rush
◦ Take care of yourself to allow your brain to recover
Sleep
Nutrition
Exercise
◦ Consider pharmacological interventions
◦ Identify other things that make you (or used to
make you) happy
◦ Find activities to occupy your time
12. Identify and eliminate or recondition things
that trigger your cravings
◦ People, places, things (including TV shows),
emotions, times of day
◦ Engage in competing behaviors
Identify the function of your behavior and
develop alternatives.
13. Only allow yourself to experience sexual
pleasure with a single other person in a
monogamous relationship.
Understand that during the rewire, there may
be a period when you cannot get aroused.
Procreation is genetically programmed, once
your brain recovers, arousal will be possible
again.
14. Address loss of motivation through
◦ Goal setting
◦ Decisional balance exercises
◦ Rewards
Remember that as the dopamine system recovers
motivation will return
15. Live in the present instead of the past /future
Observing/Awareness
◦ External and Internal
◦ Vulnerabilities and Assets
Describing
Accept without judgment
Act with Awareness / Purposeful Action
16. Cope with crisis situations/urges in healthier,
less self-destructive ways
Examples:
◦ Urge Surfing
◦ Alternate activities
Less problematic (ice)
Active Distraction (Do 15)
17. Manage and tolerate your emotions
Accept that sometimes your can't change
them or reduce their intensity
Learn what makes your negative emotions
worse
Get support
See the silver lining
18. Maintain healthy relationships
Act assertively
Take good care of yourself
Don’t forget about karma
19. Sex addiction has similarities and differences
with drug addictions
The younger the brain changes occur, the greater
the possibility for damage
Antidepressants can be helpful in the short-term
DBT interventions can also be extremely helpful;
As with any addiction, the reason someone
started and continues needs to be addressed.
20. Unlike other addictions, permanent abstinence
from sex is not recommended, so a strong
relapse prevention plan is needed.
Common triggers to many addictions including
sex addiction include anxiety, boredom,
depression, guilt, habit, relationship problems,
shame, stress, television/media, and low self-
esteem.