Men’s sex addiction and pornography issues dominate headlines. Women aren’t exempt from the same sorts of issues.
Women’s sex addiction problems tend to be related to hook-up apps, anonymous and casual sex, pornography, serial relationships, and exploitative relationships.
Signs of Addiction
- Health issues
- Relationship consequences
- Financial repercussions as a result of the behavior
- Difficulty at work
- Continuing the behavior despite adverse consequences
- Compulsion
- Increased risky behavior over time
- Difficulty stopping the activity when making an effort
Women tend to have a more emotional component to sex addiction. It isn’t uncommon for these women to have a history of trauma. They often must heal old wounds from abuse before learning how to have healthy relationships.
Sex Addiction vs. Infidelity Sex addiction has a higher quantity of behaviors. It’s devastating for a partner to learn about. The partner’s world is shattered because addicts are good at lying. It takes a lot of work for couples to heal from it. Infidelity differs from sex addiction in that it is typically about one specific relationship.
Couples who find the greatest success recovering from sex addiction embrace treatment and work hard to remedy the trouble areas.
Listen as Dr. Stefanie Carnes joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how pornography and sex addiction affect women.
Sponsor:
Smarty Pants Vitamins
Featuring:
Stefanie Carnes, PhD
Stefanie Carnes, PhD, is the President of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals, a training institute and professional organization for addiction professionals, and a senior fellow for Meadows Behavioral Healthcare where she works with sexually addicted clients and their families.
Dr. Carnes is the clinical architect for Willow House: Relationship Healing for Women struggling with sex, love and intimacy disorders and works closely with the staff of Willow House and Gentle Path to bring her unique expertise to the programs and to aid the clients who suffer with intimacy and relationship disorders.
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an AAMFT approved supervisor. Her area of expertise includes working with patients and families struggling with multiple addictions such as sexual addiction, chemical dependency and eating disorders. Dr. Carnes is also a certified sex addiction therapist and supervisor, specializing in therapy for couples and families struggling with sexual addiction.
She presents regularly at conferences at both the state and national levels. She is also the author of numerous publications including her books, Mending a Shattered Heart: A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts, and Facing Heartbreak: Steps to Recovery for Partners of Sex Addicts, and Facing Addiction: Starting Recovery from Alcohol and Drugs.
