Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Treating multiple addictions

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently will help you remove the element of shame that is always associated with sex and besides it will give you the new lease of life full of comfort and fulfillment.

Talking of addiction, people often associate addiction only with drugs and other substance of abuse. We have actually been brought up knowing that drugs both illicit and prescription drugs are the elements that qualify for abuse and so many people have narrowed their minds in that school of thought. But is it really the true position of the understanding of what addiction is all about? We spoke with the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of a renowned addiction expert doctor Dalal Akoury about this subject and we want to share with you some of the outcome of that discussion particularly on the significance of treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently. From the discussion we were able to establish that there are different kinds of addictions. One could be addicted to drugs and alcohol, or to certain behaviors or even both. Doctor Akoury explains that behavioral addiction may include addiction to sexual activities, gaming from the computer devices, gambling and many others. And like we had stated before that, one could be addiction to either one or both. Therefore take for example sexual addiction can be accompanied by other addictions or other substances of abuse. She continues to states that while on the surface, different addictions seem to be associated with their own unique set of behaviors they are often fueled by the same underlying feelings of guilt, shame, avoidance and trauma. Addictions interact within the individual making it difficult to tease them apart.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Patterns of problematic substances

When examining patterns of problematic substance use in individuals seeking help for a sexual addiction, it becomes clear that the two are indistinguishably linked together. It is estimated from the various studies that between 40-60% of individuals struggling with sexual addiction also meet the criteria for alcohol or drug addiction. And according to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center it is evident that many individuals with sexual addiction problems have actually admitted to using substances in order to deal with, or escape from, the pain that is caused by their sexual behavior. Besides that it is also very common that many people are currently using substances to get over their inhibitions in order to engage in sexual behaviors that might be uncharacteristic for them if they were not drunk or high further explaining the significance of multi addiction. We must therefore seek for information by way of investigating how multiple addictions can feed into one another. This is very important because it is possible that individuals may use one of their addictions to mask or dismiss the other addiction and this could be influenced by various reasons including fear and shames especially those elements that are considered shameful addiction. Like for instance take for example, an individual may deny having a problem with sexual addiction and insist completely that their problematic sexual behavior is only caused by intoxication. However, the truth of the matter in this case may be that the drugs or alcohol are merely concealing the pain and shameful acts that are associated with the sexual addiction thereby helping the person to be spared from the emotional consequences of his or her actions. By the same token, both addictions may work on intensifying one another in such a way that the person only engages in their sexual addiction under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These rituals then serve to protect the addiction and ensure that patterns of use are stable and predictable and this can be very dangerous if not dealt with expeditiously.

A major concern with treatment of substance use disorder alone is that untreated sexual addiction often precipitates a relapse of substance use. Dealing with one addiction while ignoring the other may end up intensifying the problem that has not been addressed. A good example would be when a person in early recovery from a substance addiction turns to sexual performance enhancers in order to continue the ritualized sexual behavior that was previously enhanced by the substance use. This sexual behavior can continue to be problematic for the individual. The individual may continue to feel a sense of shame and pain. Therefore recovery is about addressing the entire addictive process, not just those associated with a particular substance or behavior. The addictive process, whether it be related to sexual behavior or substances is often characterized by a pattern of secrecy, cognitive distortions and rituals. Therefore recovery from addiction regardless of type, would involve embracing and attempting to live a life of honesty, authenticity and emotional growth.

Fortunately, many underlying similarities between multiple addictions mean that the underlying framework for concurrent treatment is quite effective. According to a recent study conducted at Bellwood Health Services confirms that individuals with a comorbid sexual addiction and substance use disorder attending the same treatment centre as those with only sexual addiction, have comparable treatment outcomes at six months follow-up. Both groups demonstrated substantial improvement not only on measures of substance use and sexual impulse control but also on self-reported measures of well-being and quality of life.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Replacing the maladaptive coping strategies

Finally and looking at some of the past psychological trauma, sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect, doctor Akoury reiterates that these are some of the very important issues that need to be addressed in treatment. Therefore any recovering addict must endeavor to learn on how to recognize the signs of being actively involved in the addictive process and work hard primarily at replacing all the maladaptive coping strategies with positive and affirming ones. Moreover the individual addict needs to be empowered and be given the necessary tools to be able to function effectively in their environment and successfully meet all life’s challenges without turning to substance use or problematic sexual behavior. We know that this can be very difficult to some of you and if you’re that person, then you need not to give up because there is help on the way upon calling doctor Dalal Akoury today to schedule for a one on one meeting with her and your life will never be the same again thereafter.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Treating multiple addictions