Have you ever wondered if you suffer from sex addiction or not, then been confused by what mental health professionals say about the topic? It’s not just you, it’s the therapeutic community as a whole that is confused by the topic. I will do my best to try and clear up the misinformation to give you a better idea about what you have and what to do about it.
So Many People Suffer From the Effects of Misinformation These Days
It’s almost a hallmark of our times: the amount of misinformation and disinformation that circulates in the media, online, and person to person. I can certainly say it’s true for the topic of sex addiction that much misinformation is pervasive for various reasons, and it often leads people to be confused about just what they suffer from and what to call it. Much of it is unintentional and is a result of not agreeing on terminology and exactly what the signs and symptoms of what has commonly become known as sex addiction really are.
Misinformation is Causing More Isolation
While it’s certainly true that you are not alone in experiencing confusion about the issue, it doesn’t help that there are so many differing opinions about the matter. Rather than clearing things up, some sources of information wind up clouding things more by patently calling sex addiction a ‘myth’ as if it was some kind of fiction. The goal of people who practice therapy is to help instead of stir confusion and controversy, but that focus can easily get lost due to human weaknesses and the desire to be ‘right’ about a matter. The reality is that some people actually suffer harm from the misinformation that comes at them when they really just need help with an honest-to-god problem as they perceive it.
What To Do About Misinformation Relating to Sex Addiction
The main thing is to not get caught up in the latest variation on lingo and call it what you are most comfortable with. Suffice it to say you think you have a problem with sex…not having it but that it feels out of control. You can go on the internet and put in search queries for whatever you want to call it. If you avoid clicking on websites and forums that have a bunch of people with few or no credentials after their name, that’s a good start. You can look at 12-step groups that focus on that issue, but be aware there are many of them and they each have different ideas about what acceptable sexual behavior is. They may or may not be for you, but don’t think they’re not worth trying just because there are those who disparage them. They have helped many, many people. They don’t focus on sexual health, which is my big focus; but they can help some people.
Misinformation Often Comes from ‘Know-It-Alls’
The other thing to avoid is the know it all: the self-proclaimed expert on all things sexual who claims that sex addiction is a ‘myth’ and no one can ever suffer from sexual compulsion. Either that or the ‘expert’ who thinks that everyone is an addict and needs a recovery program for it. Sure, sexual health is a good thing for everybody, but not everybody needs a 12-step support group or treatment program for their problems. In other words, steer clear of extremist views about problematic sexual behavior, as it is commonly called.
What To Do If You’re Still Confused About Misinformation and Problem Sexual Behavior
You will eventually need to talk to someone about your problem if it persists. Only you know for sure if you need help, and if you’ve tried and tried on your own to do something about it and it hasn’t had any lasting results, talking to others about it is the next right thing to do. If this leads you to calling a professional therapist like me, then great! I don’t care whether you reach out to me or not, but if you or someone you care about thinks you need professional help then you owe it to yourself to take the next step. You can reach me at the number above or you can fill out the form below as well. I offer free 45-minute in-person consults for those who are fully vaccinated, and have been helping men overcome problematic sexual behavior for most of my 12-year social work career. I will give you my honest opinion about whether you need help or not, and I have several different methods for helping resolve this issue from a standpoint of sexual health. Whatever you do, take good care of you and let me know if I can be part of the solution!
Visit our page on sex addiction therapy to find out more about how you can overcome problematic sexual behavior.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.
