If Your Partner Has a Sexual Addiction, Can You Have a Healthy Relationship?

Are you wondering if your partner has a sexual addiction?

Even at their very best, relationships are complicated. They become even more so when the relationship involves sex. Adding levels of intimacy into any relationship can bring two people closer together, but it can also drive them apart. This can be especially true if your partner has a sexual addiction.

Sexual addiction can cause personal issues in many areas of life. Likewise, the effects on the partners of sexual addicts can be equally devastating. Living with a partner who has a sex addiction can affect your physical and mental health. As a result, without boundaries in place, it's unlikely you can have a healthy relationship.

Do things seem off in your relationship recently? Are you wondering if your partner has a sexual addiction? There are things you can do to find the help you need. With the right support, this is something you can overcome together.

What Is Sexual Addiction?

Sexual addiction is commonly misunderstood as it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM 5. As a result, determining if your partner has one can be a challenge. Sex addiction is a progressive intimacy disorder. You can distinguish it as compulsive sexual thoughts and acts with negative impacts. As an addiction intensifies, an addict will need to escalate the addictive behaviors to achieve previous results. These behaviors can exhibit themselves in multiple ways, such as:

Pornography
Masturbation
Sadistic or masochistic behavior
Exhibition/Voyeurism
Prostitution
Other excessive sexual pursuits

Capstone Counseling and Coaching - How does a Sexual Addiction affect you in Atlanta, GA

How Does Sexual Addiction Affect Partners?

It can feel extremely alienating to be in a relationship with someone who has a sexual addiction. There are times you may feel isolated, depressed, angry, frustrated, and humiliated. At times you may take the addiction personally. For example, you may begin to believe it is your fault or that you are not satisfying your partner enough. However, this is not the truth; it is not your fault.

Just as your partner will need support or therapy for the addiction, you may need it too. The emotional toll of living with a sex addict can be devastating. As a result, it can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and betrayal trauma. However, with help, you can process the ways the addiction is impacting you. Likewise, you can learn how to implement and uphold healthy boundaries.

How to Get Help for Sexual Addiction

Many couples may try to ignore the signs of sexual addiction. Likewise, those with a sex addiction may deny it exists. Often, partners of sex addicts feel alone in their feelings about the negative impact the relationship is having on them. Over time, the effects can lead to isolation, resentment, and eventual split-up or divorce.

At Capstone Counseling and Coaching, we offer both you and your partner help. It can be difficult to support your partner through sexual addiction recovery without support for yourself. If your partner's addiction is weighing you down, please contact us. We can help both of you through the process of healing and recovery.

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