Unfortunately, the belief sex addiction is immoral and reckless behavior is still a widespread stigmatizing belief, preventing many suffers to seek appropriate therapy. It is not uncommon for sex addicts to remain undetected over decades, and only step forward when their lives have spiraled out of control, families are threatened to break up, or jobs and money may be lost due to sex addiction.
The encouraging new research by Dr. Valerie Voon, Cambridge University, UK marks a step forward to universal acceptance of sexual addiction as a diagnosable and identifiable disorder of the brain.
Dr. Voon and her team researched brain involvement in a particular area of sexual addiction, pornography addiction, using fMRI, establishing pathological responses to explicit sexual material shown to study samples with pre-excising compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), and comparing to a control group without CSB. This research revealed changes in three significant regions of the brains of individuals with CSB;
- Dorsal anterior cingulate, (anticipating rewards)
- Ventral striatum, (processing rewards)
- Amygdala, (processing the significance of emotions and events)
These brain responses were found to be compatible to previously researched brain responses in drug addicts. Drug addiction is a confirmed addiction, and is included in the DMS 5.
Dr.Voon's research supports the 2011 definition of addiction, released by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), stating 'addiction is a primary chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory
and related circuitry, and not simply a behavioral problem involving too much
alcohol, drugs, gambling, and sex'. The affected individual pathologically
pursues reward and/or relief by sexual behaviors, substance behavior, and/or other behaviors.
Much more research is needed to fully understand the nature of sexual addictions, and why some individuals addict, and others do not.
It is encouraging to know that sexual addiction gains recognition and acceptance. Sex Addiction Australia provide effective, holistic and proven treatment for sexual addiction since 2005. We include;
- Psychotherapy
- Sex therapy
- Trauma counseling
- Professional sex addiction counseling and therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Partner counseling and support
- Specific Relationship counseling after sex addiction
Article by Heide McConkey, Director Sex Addiction Australia. www.sexaddictionaustralia.com.au and www.affirmotive.com
