Tag Archives: Dopamine And Sex Addiction

female sex addiction2

Simultaneous treatment of sex and drug addiction

March 26, 2016

Simultaneous treatment of sexual addiction and drug abuse: Multiple addictions solutions

Simultaneous treatment

Simultaneous treatment of sexual addiction and drug abuse is very fundamental if recovery is to be meaningful and sustainable.

The trend with which addiction is changing is one that needs all the stake holders to join hand together and fight the problem from one common front. For a very long time all we have known is the monolistic addiction where one could be seen to be struggling with only one kind of substance say being an alcoholic. Things are now changing and multiple addictions are becoming the order of the day. This has necessitated experts including those from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury to think outside the box on the best treatment approach. In most cases multiple kind of addiction will involve substance abuse and sexual addiction. Therefore experts are now applying the simultaneous treatment where a number of addiction are treated all at the same time a patient enroll in addiction medical facility for treatment.

Looking at addiction critically, we have actually been brought up in the full knowledge that drugs whether illicit or prescription drugs are actually all candidates for abuse and because of this upbringing many people wallowing in that school of thought. The question that follows next is that really the true position of the understanding of what addiction is all about? Let’s get some expert opinion from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. From the discussion with the experts from this facility, it is very obvious that there are different kinds of addictions. That is to say that one could be addicted to drugs and alcohol, or to certain behaviors (e.g. sex) or even both. And just for clarity it is important to note that behavioral addiction may be so many and that may include addiction to sexual activities, gaming from the computer devices, gambling and many others. We are therefore at risk of either becoming victims of either of them or even both and that is when simultaneous treatment becomes relevant. Simultaneous treatment is very important in the sense 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.

Simultaneous treatment of sexual addiction and drug abuse: The trends of problematic substances

When examining the trends of problematic substance use in individuals seeking help for a sexual addiction, it becomes clear that the two are indistinctly linked together. The available statistics also indicate that majority of people who are struggling with sexual addiction also meet the criteria for alcohol or drug addiction. Studies have also established that many individuals who are struggling with sexual addiction problems have actually admitted to using substances mostly to help them in dealing with, or escaping 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. This further explains the significance of multi addiction and the need for simultaneous treatment.

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, 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 any 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.

Simultaneous treatment of sexual addiction and drug abuse: Replacing the maladaptive coping strategies

Finally, 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 commit to learning on how to identify 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.

Simultaneous treatment of sexual addiction and drug abuse: Multiple addictions solutions

http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictionconference/

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
sex-addiction-treatment

Sexual Addiction: No Shame Dealing With Recovery.

February 23, 2016

Shame Reduction: The Best Way To approach Sexual Addiction treatment.

Sex is a need. Sexual addiction isn’t. Human nature has done so much in confusing the two statements. Just like alcoholism, too much sex ends up as an addiction, and if not watched, it can go as far as needing some counselling intervention to save the situation. It isn’t right to call it a disease simply because, unlike alcohol or drug use, humans are naturally created to desire sex. The most disturbing fact is that sexual desire can get out of your control.

treating sex addictionInstead of controlling your craving, your sexual craving might end up controlling you. As a result, you might find yourself doing it in appropriate places, taking a break during an important meeting to save yourself the trouble or even worse, getting involved in sexual crimes such as rape and more. If your sexual journey approaches a destination, where it controls you, it is advisable to seek some help. However, this doesn’t seem much of a solution for several reasons that are,

  • There are lower chances of sexual addiction ruining your life
  • Too much sex isn’t one of the most dangerous diseases that needs immediate attention
  • Sexual addiction is normal and lastly,
  • You don’t need to discuss your sexual life with anyone.

The truth is, you might not see how dangerous sexual addiction is until you start searching for articles such as dangers of too much sex, masturbation health risks and more. Why are you doing trying to link your situation with health risks? Simple, you are looking for help. The question is, why not come forward and explain your situation to an expert face to face? Also simple, you are ashamed.

You don’t want to accept that your addiction as become a problem simply because you are worried about what others might think about you. What you mustn’t forget is that not everyone takes alcohol, smokes or do drugs. However, when it comes to sex, a normal human being needs it. There are millions of sexual addicts out there including your role models, rich people around the world, public figures, celebrities and more. What makes you different?

It doesn’t matter, what you have done or plans to do in future. It doesn’t matter what is happening to you right now. Get a chance of beating shame by attending Integrative Addiction Conference and realize what other sexual addicts and experts around the world have in store for you. For more information visit, http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictionconference/. At this conference, you’ll learn how to use shame reduction tools against sexual addiction.

What Are The Causes Of Sexual Addiction

  • Watching too much Porn: You don’t get to like something because someone does it, but you might be influenced to do it if you are there to watch him or her do it all the time. Porn movies are meant for sexual arousals. Most of the times, watching porn is accompanied by masturbations and other sexual activity simply because watching it will automatically stimulate the sexual hormones in your body that in turn will make you want sex.
  • Childhood abuse: The world is full of paedophilia (Adults who are attracted to children). This kind of people can’t help abusing children simply because they are also addicts. If this kind of behaviour isn’t noted earlier, the child ends up getting used to it and takes it with him or her to adulthood. It is evident in several studies that a good number of sexual addicts were abused during their childhood.
  • Social influence: Most sexual addicts pick this behaviour at an adolescent stage, where peer pressure rules. It doesn’t matter whether you are gay, a lesbian or straight. If you like hanging around sexual addicts, you will become one.
  • Hormones: Humans were created with a hormone called androgen. This hormone affect the levels of libido and according to studies, it can cause sexual addiction. Most of the sexual addiction treatments involve reducing the effects of androgens. The treatment involves using several remedies such as Anti-androgens and more.

 

Developing Sexual Boundarytreating sexual addiction

Going through the sexual addiction influences above, we realize that some of them are avoidable. One of the most amazing facts is that your body can’t trigger itself to have sex. It depends on what you watch, where you touch, who you hang out with and most importantly, your principles. One of the most effective tricks to employ when dealing with sexual addiction is setting up a boundary. You must make decisions for your life, choose when and where to have sex and lastly who to have sex with. To achieve this, you need a boundary that will warn you each time you are about to encounter anything that might trigger you to have sex either at an inappropriate time, place or person. Here are some of the tips on sexual boundary development that will help you control your sexual desires.

Most of the times, sex addicts aren’t in control of their cravings simply because they allow other things or people decide for them when to have sex. As a result, they end up engaging in sex even when they don’t feel like. Engaging in sex is a decision you need to make alone. If you feel you aren’t ready, don’t let anyone lure you into doing it. You must know your limits: When it is bad and when it is not bad for you and most importantly, where and where not to do it.

Sex isn’t money or a gift you can owe anyone. It is an agreement between two partners to have it at an appropriate time and place. Most sex addicts find themselves engaging in sex just because, they fear that their lovers might leave them. They find themselves being controlled and as a result, become sex addicts. What you must remember is that your lover will only break your relationship if he or she is only interested in sex part but not the whole you.

You can’t just have sex with anyone simply because it robs you of your dignity. You have to keep that in your mind whenever you are about to have sex. Having sex isn’t a sign of engagement. What does that make you? How do you explain that to your husband or wife in future when he or she realizes that you did have sex several years back with your co-worker, friend or any other person that you might be close to? If you respect your dignity, it is vital to be aware where your girlfriend or boyfriend stand when it comes to a relationship.

One of the things that might haunt you in future is engaging in sexual intercourse in a less private location and as a result being caught in the action. Sex was meant for privacy or else; there would be nothing like cheating. You can’t just have sex anywhere simply because it might change how others view you. Another factor to consider is that, if you are fond of having sex anywhere, then there are high chances that you might have it at workplace with your boss, in a taxi with a taxi driver, in a public toilet with a watchman or your ex or the worst part, in the hospital with a doctor.

In summary, sex isn’t something to brag about. That’s one of the reasons; most sexual addicts are not coming forward for help. You might be a born paedophile, gay, lesbian or even attracted to animals and funny objects. If you don’t seek help earlier, chances that it will develop into something much bigger are high. You don’t need to be ashamed. At the Integrative Addiction Conference, you’ll meet all sorts of sexual addicts who will also have come to learn some few techniques of shame reduction as a remedy for their problem. For more information on Integrative Addiction Conference click here, http://regenerativepotential.com/integrativeaddictionconference/

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
dopamine-5

Dopamine And Sex Addiction

February 9, 2016

The Contribution Of Dopamine In Sex Addiction

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that coordinates information transfer within the brain of human beings. It is mostly associated with information that is mostly related to pleasure of rewards to the body.  Dopamine can therefore be said to be the brain neurotransmitter that passes information from one neuron on the brain to another. The effects of dopamine in the brain mainly depends on where or which part of the brain it is released from, there the intended receiving neurons are located within the brain and the types of the receiving neurons and the receptors to which the dopamine is bonded to within the brain.

It, dopamine, is a neurotransmitter that is mostly associated with the brain or body motivation, attention, lust, addiction and even desire. When a body in in dire need for something or a substance, normally viewed as reward by the brain, it has been found that it is usually the neurotransmitter at work. Naturally, the human brain regards pleasure of any kind the same way, that is, it the same response to different forms of desires provided they bring pleasure. Its basic distinguished signature response to pleasure is the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbems part of the brain. Some of the rewards the brain considers to bring it pleasure include; monetary reward, drugs, sexual activity, and satisfaction of eating.

Dopamine And Sex Addiction

Whether, the above named pleasurable activities remain a normal daily routine or they become addiction do depend on some factors too. You see a normal life routine would has a normal response to these rewards. However, some of life’s activities such as substance abuse, sex, or even gambling would have a different effects to the brain all together. This can be referred to as short circuiting the brain. The speed with which any of these activities leads to dopamine released to the brain, the intensity of its release and the reliability of its released has been said to be responsible for whether one becomes an addict or not. Let us examine how dopamine do function on the brain of a sex addict. Addiction to something can be said to be the state at which a person has a craving for one thing, in which they have no control over, and continue to have themselves involved in irrespective of the consequences however dire.

Experiencing a sexual activity, desire or pleasure causes a powerful surge of dopamine release on the brain. This is a normal occurrence within the brain in response to and pleasurable encounter. However repeated encounter with far much greater intensity can and do lead to sexual addiction. Dopamine released in the brain interact with others neurotransmitters such as the glutamate and other in order to cause some influences to the brain and the body. Together, these neurotransmitters, dopamine and glutamate, interact and take over the reward sensing brain system. This is the part of the brain system that is hugely associated with motivation and memory and is also the part that associated sex with reward and pleasure for the brain.

Repeated sexual activities causes the nerves cells of the parts of the brain that is responsible for the for the planning and execution of tasks to communicate in a way that is starts by liking the sex, then wanting the sex, then finally craving sex in such a way that the brain is fixed on wanting it so badly that it loses control of the body’s will. This too much sexual craving drives the brain to have a strong desire for sexual pleasure. However, with time, the brain cells adapt to this sexual craving which results into the desire for the sex becoming less pleasurable that was first imagined.

Dopamine and Sex Addiction

Too much sexual activities leads to the brain being flooded by the neurotransmitter, dopamine to an extend that the brain finds it quite difficult to with stand the surge. When the brain achieves this state, the sex addict has a problem at their hands. This will want to solve this new feeling of displeasure by having more and more sex. Instead of getting the desired pleasure, this increased in sexual activity will lead to more production of dopamine to the brain up to the limit where its release is greatly reduced. This reduction on the dopamine release or elimination of dopamine receptors leads to less impact on the brain reward center. This is the stage where the sex no longer provides the pleasure it is associated with hence the brain requires more sexual activity to achieve the same high pleasure state.

At this stage, the person is compelled to have more sexual activities. The pleasure of sex wind down, though, the memory of the desired pleasure remains, hence the persistence of the need for sex. This ultimately, results into sex addiction.

The Contribution Of Dopamine In Sex Addiction

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

  • Recent Posts

  • Blog Categories