Tiger Woods is the latest celeb to trundle off to sex rehab following the public exposure of an affair (see also: David Duchovny), and his exile has everyone asking: Is sex addiction a legitimate diagnosis, or is Tiger just doing what most of us would do if we were rich athletes with relaxed morals?
Just the facts: According to the Mayo clinic, sex addiction affects about 3 to 6 percent of American adults.
Sex addicts are often unable to control their desire, even in the most inappropriate of situations. The pursuit of sex can hurt their families, careers and finances (think: Eliot Spitzer), not to mention their health and safety. For addicts, sex is often followed by feelings of shame and despair.
The clinic even offers up a neurochemical that may be to blame: Say the doctors, increased levels of phenylethylamine (PEA) -- the same brain agent that makes you feel so blissful when you're in love -- are often found in addicts, which may play a role in their pursuit of physical gratification.
As with many mental diseases, early experiences can set the stage for behaviors that become compulsive. For example, admitted sex addict Russell Brand claims his father took him to a prostitute at a young age.
Our question: Is sex addiction a bona fide disorder, curable after a stay at a clinic designed to treat it -- or merely a way for philandering men to pay lip service to their outraged wives?
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Thursday 21 January
By Kimy
I always figured that people branded "sex addicts" are people who need serious treatment for sex as a compulsive behavior for other serious issues, and have always questioned sex being treated as a "substance." I tried to watch the Dr. Drew show and was really dismayed at the instruction to people that they couldn't masturbate. I'm no expert, but I count masturbation as fairly harmless, as long as you can stop doing it long enough to go out and socialize and don't seriously hurt yourself. But it seems vaguely puritan to say don't do it ever.
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Friday 22 January
By keleeninteriors
For most people, masturbation IS a harmless act. Limiting this for individuals with sexual addictions or complusions is not being puritanical, it is keeping these individuals from stimulating their appetite, so to speak. Treatment for sexual addictions involves focusing on the emotional connection with another and limiting the purely physical release as a means of setting boundaries.
Friday 22 January
By landers
I got a different impression about masturbation being addressed in the Dr. Drew Rehab show. Some of those people reported that their masturbation DID prevent them from carrying on a normal life and they couldn't stop. I think they were only barred from masturbation during treatment; because if they didn't deal with the root of their sexual obsessions, the vice might shift to uncontrollable maturbation, if it wasn't already their main issue. Did it say they could never again masturbate? I missed that. Ugh, that'd be awful. I hope they get better and deal with their issues.
As for Tiger...seems like a cop out to me. He is a man who found himself with sudden fame, money and power; and he used it to get his kicks. And then he got caught. Sex addiction or extreme case of "look at me, I'm a badass! Come gimme a bj, Ho"?
Friday 22 January
By Lady Panther
Theres No Excuse For Sex Addicts.........They Can Stay Faithful 2 Thier Mates........If They Have 1........Wear Them Out.......LOL.....But ya Dont Have 2 Cheat!!
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Friday 22 January
By outofthewoodwork
I was married to a " sex addict" and when I went to the Dr. and I said oh
he was a sex addict and yes I would wear him out but he traveled, the
Dr told me what if he is just a bad guy? with bad morals and character..
stop making excuses for him. good point
Friday 22 January
By Peter Slovak
If Sex Addiction is a mediclal condition, how would I go about catching it? It
sounds like it might be fun and gratifying.....
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Friday 22 January
By Cynthia
Sex addiction isn't as pleasurable as it might sound. I know a sex addict who masturbates until his genitals are bleeding... and then he still can't stop. Sex addicts don't just go out and cheat -- their addiction controls their lives, puts them in dangerous situations and is anything but pleasurable. These celebrities are using a real mental problem as a convenient excuse and, personally, I am offended. It makes sex addiction seem like a lame excuse for infidelity, and it's not.
Saturday 23 January
By Irena
sounds like you already have problems!
Friday 22 January
By TODD
No, it's not an illness, as every MAN is addicted to sex. Tiger is just going through the show and pony act to keep his sponsors happy, just like he did when he married Elin, for the family value effect. Sad but true.
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Friday 22 January
By Me
YES! It is an Illness if you believe every other excuse is an illness tooo..... for Me it is just another excuse for US not taking Responsibility for Our gluten Behaviors...... No Wonder Our World, (and Foremost, Nation), is in this mess..... We have some Ilness ALWAYS to blame our personal actions and behavior on!!!....... Self destruction ensues!
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Friday 22 January
By Sarge
If you can be addicted to drugs, video games, alcohol, ext. you can be addicted to sex.
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Monday 25 January
By d-nick
theres no such thing as sex addiction, everyones horny you just need a partner that you keep up and meet your bed room expecations, or your gonna end up going out an finding it like the that lion cheeta did, it happens everyday all the time it doesnt make it ok, by any means it just shows that the tension is out there
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Friday 22 January
By Anonymous
Sexual Addictions are real. I have someone in my family who is battling with it (and No, it is not my husband). I do get upset when people do use it as an excuse when getting caught fooling around just because they want to. Sexual Addiction is destructive, and tears the person apart. It is a compulsion. They want the gratification, but then they feel like crap because of their actions. And as for the comments regarding masturbation.....Sexual addicts need to avoid sexually stimulating situations, and hence the need to abstain from masturbating. A sexual addict masturbating is the same as an alcoholic having a beer.........it leads to another, and another....you get the picture.
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Friday 22 January
By ablacksafari
Us men were by nature meant to go out and mate and keeping mating where a female gets pregnant and settles down somewhat for a while. Why is it that males must have some type of arousal to get a women pregnant but a women can have no arousal at all and still get pregnant? See my point...
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Friday 22 January
By Frances
All I see in this theory is the typical excuse men use - "that's how men were made"/ No, that's how monkeys were made. Men have brains and should have a desire to be more than monkeys. So my question is - why are so many men content to see themselves as monkeys?
Friday 22 January
By hd
Women can achieve orgasm too ... sorry you can't get your woman to that point but maybe thats why she bought a vibrator ... Women, like men cheat and look for sex. I worked with a woman that searched for sex everywhere ... she followed guys into the bathroom at work, groped guys and stared guys down while touching herself from across the room ... She was a married mother but still a total pervert ...got caught ... etc. She couldnt stop and I wouldnt be suprised if she isnt a "truck stop ho" or bar ho now (And yes there are women that just want sex sex sex)
Friday 22 January
By Thomas
The whole concept of addiction as a disease is annoying- How many other diseases are there that one can get over just by going to rehab or changing one's mind? Addicts are narcisscistic and love the idea that they have a disease through no fault of their own- There may be a genetic predisposition , but a true disease? I dont buy it-
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Friday 22 January
By Al
"Sex Addiction" is a crock! It is a convenient excuse for low life men and woman who cannot be faithful to their partner (spouse). In society likes to made everything "an addiction" so that no one is responsible for their actions!
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Friday 22 January
By SHARIANN MILLS
TO ME SEX IS NOT SEXUAL ADDICTION.THIS IS A VERY LAME EXCUSE.TO TRY TO TALK THERE WAY OUT IF IT.MY EX TOLD ME THAT HE HAD AFFAIR. THAT PERSON IS A HOE. I KNOW THIS FOR FACT.
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Friday 22 January
By Tommy
The desire for sex is a natural animal instinct driven by hormones. It's too bad that there are so many people out there that are profiting or attempting to profit on this natural human drive!
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