Addicted to You

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, addiction, sexual content, and suicidal ideation.

Compulsive sexual behavior (or sex addiction) is characterized by an overabundance of sexual urges and behaviors that interfere with a person’s ability to function, causing the person significant distress. While sexual fantasies and urges are a normal part of human experience, they reach a compulsive level when a person’s relationships, work, health, and self-image are affected. Risks of this disorder include disease transmission, negative effects on work and relationships, injury, and the possibility of assault. People with this condition are also more likely than the average population to have thoughts of death by suicide, largely because sexual compulsions can become overwhelming and a controlling aspect of a person’s life. Many people with compulsive sexual behavior enjoy the experience at the time, but they often experience remorse or regret following the experience. Through various studies, it is estimated that somewhere between 5% and 15% of university-age people experience this condition, and while the majority of people who seek treatment are male, it is possible that women who experience compulsive sexual behavior are underreported due to stigma and societal shaming. Sex addiction is usually treated with therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or group therapy, and people with this condition can overcome it and lead healthy lives (Derbyshire, Katherine L., and Jon E. Grant. “Compulsive Sexual Behavior: A Review of the Literature.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 4, no. 2, 2015, pp. 37-43).

Alcohol use disorder (or alcohol addiction) is defined by a dependency and inability to control consumption of alcohol. Alcohol dependency or lack of control usually leads to challenges in a person’s personal or work life, as well as health and other safety hazards. Risks of alcohol use disorder include alcohol poisoning, organ failure, serious or fatal accidents, aggression, and involvement in other illegal activity. People who experience alcohol use disorder may resort to illegal or otherwise unusual methods of acquiring it, such as stealing it or selling their possessions to pay for it. Like any dependency issue, alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe, with the worst cases resulting in death of the person or someone else they come in contact with. About 10% of adults have alcohol use disorder to some degree, as well as 3% of minors. Starting to drink at an early age, having a family culture surrounding alcohol, or having trauma in one’s past are all risk factors for developing alcohol dependency. Alcohol dependency has seen successful treatment with group therapies like Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as through inpatient rehabilitation programs (“Alcohol’s Effects on Health.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).