Without an APA classification and list of symptoms necessary for a diagnosis, sexual addiction remains difficult to identify; but in general, the more problematic or compulsive the sexual behaviors or thoughts, the more likely the diagnosis.
Here is a list of "warning" behaviors; behaviors commonly associated with sexual addiction. Identifying with many of the following behaviors likely indicates the presence of a sexual condition and the need for a more formal diagnosis from a trained therapist.
Some Behaviors/Feelings Commonly Exhibited by Sex Addicts Include:
- Engaging in internet sexual activity at the expense of real world commitments
- Regularly buying pornography
- Buying sex or sexual services
- Paying for pornography over the internet
- Engaging in online sexual relationships
- Making an attempt to change or cut down on a certain type of sexual activity and failing to carry through
- Spending a lot more time engaging in sexual behaviors than you had planned on
- Engaging in increasingly extreme sexual behaviors
- Feeling preoccupied with sex. Thinking about it in advance and remembering it afterwards
- Engaging in sexual fantasies online that are very taboo or illegal in the real world
- Feeling irritable when unable to spend time online engaged in sexual activity
- Engaging in sadomasochism
- Engaging in sexual activity with minors
- Feeling depressed after sexual activity
- Engaging in sexual behaviors that if "found out" would cause you or your family significant troubles/problems/embarrassment
- Continuing to engage in problematic sexual behaviors even after suffering real world consequences from them
Page last updated Aug 17, 2010
