Like an alcoholic unable to stop drinking sexual addicts are unable to stop their self-destructive sexual behavior. Family breakups, financial disaster, loss of jobs and risk to life are the painful themes of their stories. Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's work environment. Sexual addiction has been called sexual dependency and sexual compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life.
Sexual addicts make sex a priority more important than family, friends, and work.
Sex becomes the organizing principle of addicts' lives. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior. No single behavior pattern defines sexual addiction. Even the healthiest forms of human sexual expression can turn into self- defeating behaviors. Estimates range from three to six percent of the population.