Sexual thoughts and behaviors may be a normal part of life, but for some, expressing one’s sexuality can morph into full-blown addiction. Many people enter relationships with sex addicts without ever suspecting that something is amiss, but they are left devastated when the truth comes out for a sex addict.
With a bit of education, however, you can spot several warning signs that someone might have an unhealthy relationship with their sexuality. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the top four characteristics of a sex addict.
1. They’re Obsessed With Sex
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that sex addicts can’t control their sexual thoughts. While most people think about sex from time to time throughout the day, a sex addict’s thoughts are compulsive and can make focusing on regular activities nearly impossible. Eventually, these obsessive thoughts become the focal point of the sex addict’s life.
It can be hard to tell if someone is sex obsessed, especially if the person is a platonic friend or family member, but there are a few clues that you can look out for:
- Does the person spend an unusual amount of time talking about sex?
- Do they have a large collection of pornographic material?
- Are they always trying to get their friends to go to strip clubs or adult video stores?
2. Their Sexual Activity Intensifies Over Time
A full-fledged sexual addiction doesn’t develop overnight. At first, the sexual behavior may be relatively normal, but over time, you may begin to notice a troubling pattern.
A common story among sex addicts is early exposure to pornography. In the beginning, the pornography may be only mildly erotic, but this quickly becomes unenthralling and they move on to more extreme and stimulating content.
In the end, the sex addict may spend multiple hours every day watching the most intense or deviant kinds of pornographic videos in an attempt to achieve sexual gratification.
3. Their Sexual Behaviors Often Land Them In Hot Water
Because fulfilling sexual desires is their top priority, sex addicts will see other parts of their lives begin to suffer. For example:
- They may get in trouble at work for being sexually forward with a coworker, or watching pornography on the job.
- They could get arrested for soliciting the services of a prostitute.
- They might alienate themselves from their family due to constant infidelity.
- Their unsafe sexual activity could result in contracting an STD.
Even when a sex addict’s life appears healthy, under the surface there is often a web of lies that could unravel at any moment.
4. They Experience Mood Swings And Depression
Like all addictions, sex addiction can cause a sufferer to experience wild mood swings and periods of depression. When a sex addict is in a manic state, he or she becomes consumed by lustful desires. The world melts away and the individual’s entire focus turns to sex. Once certain desires are satisfied, however, there is a corresponding crash when all of the feelings of shame and guilt come flooding in.
These mood swings can cause sex addicts to become incredibly short-tempered, often lashing out at friends and family. Because they wish to keep their sexual addiction secret, they’ll become defensive when confronted about their behavior. Even the most innocent questions and statements can incite a furious reaction from the addicts, making it nearly impossible to help them.
Community Discussion: Share Your Thoughts Here!
Do you know someone who struggles with sex addiction? If so, what kinds of personality characteristics and behaviors have you noticed? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.