Dr. Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT

The World Health Organization provides useful diagnostic criteria for Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), a diagnosis that encompasses sex and porn addiction. That definition reads as follows:

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior. Symptoms may include repetitive sexual activities becoming a central focus of the person’s life to the point of neglecting health and personal care or other interests, activities and responsibilities; numerous unsuccessful efforts to significantly reduce repetitive sexual behavior; and continued repetitive sexual behavior despite adverse consequences or deriving little or no satisfaction from it. The pattern of failure to control intense, sexual impulses or urges and resulting repetitive sexual behavior is manifested over an extended period of time (e.g., 6 months or more), and causes marked distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Distress that is entirely related to moral judgments and disapproval about sexual impulses, urges, or behaviors is not sufficient to meet this requirement.

This description meshes nicely with the criteria Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSATs) have used for many years to identify and diagnose sex and porn addiction. The short version of those criteria reads as follows:

1. Preoccupation to the point of obsession with an addictive behavior.
2. Loss of control over engagement with that behavior, best evidenced by multiple failed attempts to quit or cut back.
3. Negative life consequences related to that behavior—troubled relationships, issues at work or in school, declining physical health, depression, anxiety, diminished self-esteem, social and emotional isolation, loss of interest in previously enjoyable hobbies and activities, financial woes, legal problems, etc.

Any person who identifies with the WHO’s definition of Compulsive Sexual Behavior or the typical CSAT criteria related to their sex life is probably a sex or porn addict.

Individuals who are addicted to sex and porn feel compelled to engage in sexual behaviors, even when they promise themselves that they won’t. Over time, they organize their lives around sex. Sex becomes an obsession to the point where important relationships, interests, and responsibilities are partially and sometimes completely ignored. They spend inordinate amounts of time searching for sex, pursuing sex, and covering up their sexual behaviors.

Sadly, sex and porn addicts are often reluctant to seek help. Sometimes this is because they are too ashamed to talk about their behavior. Other times it’s because they don’t view their sexual behaviors as an underlying source of their unhappiness. If they do seek therapeutic assistance, they often ask for help with symptoms of their addiction—depression, loneliness, relationship troubles, and the like—rather than the addiction itself. Many are in therapy for extended periods without ever mentioning (or even being asked about) sex or pornography. As such, their core problem remains underground and untreated.

* * * * * * * * * *

If you or a loved one are struggling with sex, porn, or substance/sex addiction, Seeking Integrity can help. In addition to residential rehab, we offer low-cost online workgroups for male sex addicts and male porn addicts new to recovery. Click HERE for information on our Sex Addiction Workgroup. Click HERE for information on our Porn Addiction workgroup.