Pornography use is a very common behavior in the United States, among both men and women.
Pornography use is a very common behavior in the United States, among both men and women. People can use pornography in many forms: magazines, movies, online videos from websites or social media, virtual reality gaming, phone apps, hiring escorts, and going to massage parlors. Since the pandemic, the use of pornography has seen a significant increase as people were isolated and spent more time online.
Understanding Intimacy Disorder for Men
Did you know?
According to the National Institutes of Health:
- 11% of men and 3% of women reported that they are addicted to pornography which could translate to approximately 24 million U.S. Adults
- Compulsive Sexual Behavior, or sex addiction, is recognized by the World Health Organization as a mental health disorder underscoring the legitimacy of the condition and the need for professional treatment, just like other mental health issues.
Why do people engage in pornography?
- You are bored
- You want to numb your feelings
- To be a part of a fantasy life
- Your sexual life is not satisfying
- To understand my own sexual desires
- To learn new things
- As a stress reliever
- To help cope with depression or anxiety symptoms
The Symptoms of Intimacy Disorder for Men
The use of porn can cause many problems and changes brain’s chemistry! Here are some signs porn use may becoming an addiction:
Emotional and Psychological Symptoms
- Constantly thinking about sex, which can become distracting and overwhelming.
- Experiencing guilt, shame, or depression due to inability to control sexual urges.
Behavioral Symptoms
- Engaging in sexual activities excessively, even when it interferes with daily life.
- Participating in unsafe or inappropriate sexual activities, often with multiple partners or strangers.
- Spending a significant amount of time planning, engaging in, or recovering from sexual activities.
Physical Symptoms
- Engaging in sexual activities to the point of causing physical harm or injury.
Social and Occupational Impact
- Ignoring work, school, or personal responsibilities due to preoccupation with sexual activities.
- Experiencing conflicts or issues in personal relationships due to sexual behavior.
What are the Risk Factors?
Ignoring sex addiction can lead to significant and far-reaching consequences.
Here are some key risk factors:
Emotional and Psychological Impact
- Without treatment, compulsive sexual behavior often escalates, leading to increased emotional distress and suffering.
- Untreated sex addiction can contribute to or exacerbate other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Physical Health Consequences
- Engaging in risky sexual behaviors can increase the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other health complications.
Social and Occupational Impact
- Persistent compulsive sexual behavior can damage personal relationships, leading to conflicts, breakups, or divorce.
- The addiction can interfere with job performance, leading to job loss, financial instability, and legal issues.
Safety Risks
- Engaging in illegal sexual activities can result in legal consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.
- Euphoric Feelings: Users may feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert.
- Decreased Need for Sleep: Cocaine use can lead to a decreased need for sleep and loss of appetite.
- Restlessness: Users may experience restlessness and heightened sensitivity to sight, sound, and touch.
Overall Quality of Life
- The ongoing struggle with addiction can significantly reduce overall life satisfaction and well-being.
What is the Treatment?
There are several effective treatments for mental health conditions, often tailored to the individual’s needs. These treatments can be used individually or in combination, depending on the person’s needs.
Here are some common types of treatment:
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
You have an automatic thought. That thought produces an emotion. As humans, our emotions can affect how we act. Once you recognize the thought and emotion associated with that thought, you usually have several choice to make, which can lead to consequences of your behavior. CBT aims to change the thought(s) to more productive and more helpful consequences. -
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):
Combines CBT with mindfulness techniques and emotional regulation, often used for borderline personality disorder. -
Psychodynamic Therapy:
Explores unconscious thoughts and emotions to understand and resolve psychological conflicts. This is a long term therapy, typically working with the same psychodynamically trained therapist for several years or longer. -
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT):
Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning.
Medication Management
- Antidepressants: Used to treat depression and other mood disorders.
- Mood Stabilizers: Used to help control mood swings and Impulsive behaviors.
- Anti-Androgens: Medications that reduces sexual drive by lowering testosterone levels
Lifestyle and Self-Care
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Healthy Diet: Proper nutrition can positively impact mental health.
- Sleep Hygiene: Good sleep practices can help improve overall mental well-being.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Techniques to help reduce stress and promote mental clarity.
Support Groups
- Peer Support: Groups of individuals with similar experiences can provide mutual support and understanding. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) is one of the leading organizations in the country that offers free peer support groups.
- 12-Step Programs: Structured support groups for recovery, such as Co-dependents Anonymous (CODA), Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSAT)
A Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) is a mental health professional who has undergone specialized training to effectively treat individuals with sex addiction. Here’s how CSATs fit into the treatment landscape:
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Specialized Training
CSATs complete intensive training and certification through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). This training equips them with the skills to assess the level and type of sexual dependence, understand the client's sexual and trauma history, and address family of origin issues and other addictions.
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Trauma-Informed Approach
CSATs use a trauma-informed approach to therapy, recognizing the significant role that past trauma can play in the development of sex addiction. This approach helps clients address the root causes of their addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
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Comprehensive Treatment
CSATs are trained to use a highly manualized, 30-task approach to treatment, which can be applied in individual and group therapy sessions.
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Expertise in Addiction Dynamics
CSATs have a deep understanding of the dynamics of sex addiction, including how it can interact with other addictions (e.g., substance abuse) and mental health issues.
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Support for Partners and Families
CSATs have a deep understanding of the dynamics of sex addiction, including how it can interact with other addictions (e.g., substance abuse) and mental health issues.
At Desert Star we combine many of the treatments above including, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, Talk Therapy, Art Therapy, Support Groups, lifestyle, and selfcare to help you on your journey to recovery. Our program is also gender specific which means that you will be placed in a male or female specific group according to your gender assigned at birth. If intimacy is something you or someone you love is struggling with we invite you to explore our resources to familiarize yourself with what we treat and how we may be best suited to your needs. If you want to learn more or have questions schedule a call below or give us a call now! Seeking treatment is crucial for breaking these patterns and improving one’s quality of life.
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Get the help you need without putting your outside commitments on hold! We individualize treatment for every client and can combine groups from different programs to suit your unique needs. We offer varying levels of structure and support, from partial hospitalization to intensive outpatient to once-weekly outpatient groups.
