According to statistics provided by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, almost 12 million Americans currently suffer from some form of sexual addiction. Unlike substance abuse, wherein the drugs or alcohol can simply be avoided during the recovery phase, sexual addiction prevents additional issues due to the prevalence of sex and sex-based materials in today’s society. Whether in advertising, music, television and film, magazines, books, or simply as part of normal day-to-day interaction with one’s partner or spouse, sex is absolutely everywhere.
While typical adults know how to corral their sexual urges and act on them only when and where appropriate, sexual addicts struggle to control their compulsions and often seek out bigger risks and more sexual encounters just to feel some form of relief. Luckily, treatment is available, hopefully provided as part of your MVP Health Care sex addiction coverage.
Diagnosing Sexual Addiction
Your MVP Health Care sex addiction coverage will most likely require a diagnosis at the hands of a qualified medical professional before treatment can commence. Still, being able to recognize certain signs and symptoms associated with sexual addiction may be the wake-up call you need in order to seek out that necessary assistance. These symptoms include:
- Needing either more sexual interaction or interaction with increased intensity in order to feel the same level of satisfaction or high
- Feeling guilty or ashamed following sexual activity
- Taking illegal or otherwise dangerous risks in order to pursue sexual gratification
- Choosing sex or fantasizing about sex over real-world activities
- Finding that sex is having negative effects on home, work, or school life
- Engaging in risky behavior far beyond previously set boundaries or personal comfort levels
- Feeling sick, unsettled, or otherwise depleted when unable to participate in the sexual activity craved (withdrawal)
- Inability to stop or lessen sexual behaviors despite attempting to try (often repeatedly)
Treating Sexual Addiction
Your treatment plan will rely, at least partly, on the details of your MVP Health Care sex addiction coverage. While some policies expressly cover sex addiction, other policies will allow treatment under the auspices of mental health issues or behavioral disorders. The treatment process will likely include ongoing therapy designed to identify triggers and work through each patient’s particular behaviors, and therapists will help patients work through underlying issues like bi-polar disorder or past abuse that may be contributing to the addiction as well.
There is no cure for sexual addiction, but there are treatments that have proven to be effective. With the proper help, you can learn how to control your compulsions and be comfortable with your decisions – the first steps towards living a healthy lifestyle, sex included.