Addicts may lose money to pornography or prostitution. And for a man who once sat in a jail cell and wished to die, a little hope means a lot. Irene Maher, Newschannel 8. Treatment for a sexual addiction may include medications to control obsessive thoughts. People who are addicted to sex say that the behavior produces a type of euphoria, similar to that described by drug addicts.
Sexual addicts become preoccupied or obsessed with the goal of participating in sexual behaviors.
A sex addict may have several ways to rationalize or find justification for continuation of the behavior. Many sex addicts also have other types of addictive behaviors, such as alcohol or drug use. Despite the nature of sexual compulsivity, the American Psychiatric Association does not consider the problem to be a form of addiction or a true mental disorder. Researchers estimate that about five to six percent of the general population is addicted to sex. Men appear to be affected more often than women.