What are the Most Common Treatments for Compulsive Sexual Behavior?

What are the Most Common Treatments for Compulsive Sexual Behavior?

While there is no set treatment for compulsive sexual behavior, it generally involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and self-help/self-help groups. The main goal of treatment is to help people overcome their urges, minimize their sexually compulsive behavior, and ultimately develop healthy sexual activities.

Compulsive sexual behavior can be treated on an inpatient or outpatient basis. However, people who suffer from serious mental health problems or who pose a danger to the public must be treated as inpatients, at least initially. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment options are very intensive in the early stages. The withdrawal process can be one of the more difficult hurdles to overcome in the recovery process because recovery occurs from a drug out of the body. Many people struggle with their compulsions for years. Ongoing or regular treatment may be effective for these individuals to prevent relapses.

Surely the biggest step anyone can take is to seek help. Once someone has taken this step, it is important that they find the right type of treatment. In many cases, sex addiction is not the only problem. Many people who suffer from sexually compulsive behavior need treatment for an existing mental illness. Others may suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction. Addicts may also battle obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety or mood disorders such as depression.

Psychotherapy:

There are a number of psychotherapy treatments used to treat compulsive sexual behavior. Treatment options include:

Psychodynamic psychotherapy:

This treatment focuses on increasing awareness of unconscious thoughts and behaviors. This awareness will provide helpful insight into people's motivations and ultimately help them overcome their conflicts and problems.

Cognitive behavioral therapy:

This treatment helps people identify unhealthy, negative behaviors and beliefs. Once identified, it helps people replace them with healthy and positive ones.

Group therapy:

This form of therapy involves attending regular group meetings under the supervision of a healthcare professional. It helps people explore their emotions and relationships in a safe environment. Discussing problems, successes, failures, and confusions with other people battling the same addiction provides a support network that can help strengthen any recovering sex addict.

Family therapy/marriage counseling:

Sexually compulsive behaviors have devastating effects on family life, especially marriages/partnerships. This form of therapy is helpful for the recovery of spouses, partners and children. It will also help rebuild the broken relationship and help partners restore trust and intimacy.

Medication:

Psychiatrists have identified a variety of medications that can help people suffering from compulsive sexual behavior recover. Because sexually compulsive behavior is linked to the brain's chemical reward system, there are certain medications that may help. Each individual is different and may require different medications. In some cases, a doctor may try a variety of medications before determining an appropriate medication. Some common medications used to treat compulsive sexual behavior include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antiandrogens, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH).

Self-help and self-help groups:

Many people find support groups and self-help groups essential to their recovery. The effects of sex addiction are far-reaching and these groups can be an effective way for people to address many of their issues in a safe and supportive environment. There are a number of groups adapted from the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-step program. SA, Sexaholocis anonmymous, SLAA, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous and SAA Sex Addicts Anonymous.

These groups can help people work toward recovery and provide them with resources. In the end, these people walk away with valuable skills that will help them on their lifelong journey to recovery. Although these groups have proven effective, they are not for everyone. If you are not comfortable with this type of attitude, you can work with your mental health professional to find an appropriate alternative to support you on your path to recovery from compulsive sexual behavior.

Alternative practitioner psychotherapy

The best place to find alternative practitioners psychotherapy is in our free alternative practitioner directory. To view all alternative psychotherapy practitioners, please click here.