This used to come up every now and then when Love Goddess was around. Is it possible to be a "sex addict"? I go back and forth on this. I do NOT believe it to be an addiction in the same way one has a chemical addiction, but I do think it can lead to compulsive behaviors that certainly imitate those addictions. Thoughts?

dopamines into the brain, there is some chemical relationship to it; though emotional ties could be as strong or stronger.

The usual test for behavior to be considered addictive is that you continue to partake of it even when it begins to cause major problems in your life such as insufficient money to pay things like your rent or other financail obligations, or you spend so much time on it that you forsake your loved ones, etc.

There are 12 steps organizations to help people overcome sexual addiction, the most common is Sexaholics Annomynious.

If you need to see them, by all means do so.

This is supposed to be fun, not tragic.

in the last 3 weeks,  I had free days, and I literally master bated aprox 8 hrs straight for 3 days  each lol

 
Then Sunday, did it again for 4.5 hrs  

 
Then this morning  
For another 5 hrs

 
lo

'Sex Addiction' is a misleading term.  You're not a sex addict for wanting to fuck your beautiful ATF/SB every day.  That's a normal sex drive.  The problem is sex trade economics.  You're  paying $300-$400 per fuck.  So you need to suppress your libido & think of  P4P as a luxury, not a daily need.   Otherwise you're looking at financial ruin.  --z

Any of us might cringe at the thought of what we might have been able to add to retirement savings. Fortunately, I have not tapped into mine and do not intend to. Mr. Fisher, you continue to be the nicest guy on TER, but I did not post this due to a fear that I myself have a problem.  I just thought it was an interesting topic for discussion. I have had a few discussions about it with a friend who insists that a person can be a sex addict.

Here's what I think: if having an addiction means that the brain and body go through severe withdrawal when the person is deprived of their drug, then no, sex is not an addiction. If a guys throws his back out and cannot partake in sex for an extended time, sure he misses it, but he's not writhing on the floor like a person going through withdrawal from heroin, alcohol, or other drugs.  

I do agree that the hobby can lead guys to engage in sex in a compulsive way, even when they are not feeling well or not really in the mood. You make an appointment because it is "time," and see someone you don't really want to see just because you are in the habit of doing it. Afterwards, you realize you did not enjoy it. If you keep up that pattern, then that is compulsive behavior that can get out of control.

If we're going to talk about  'Sex addiction', then we need to define our terms.  I'm not sure how to do that.  

 Consider young newlyweds on their honeymoon:  they're fucking every day, maybe twice a day.   Would anyone here describe them as 'sex addicts'?  No.   They're exhibiting a normal & healthy sex drive.  

  So, given the newlywed example above, 'sex addiction' has nothing to do with frequency.  True?

 Typically the term 'sex addiction' is used within the context of P4P.   A monger with a normal libido who  pays for sex every time can go broke.  I don't think that's 'addiction'.  His sex drive is the same as our newlyweds.  The difference is the monger is in the P4P world.  The economic reality of the sex trade is brutal.  Either you curb your libido (which is perfectly normal) or face financial ruin.   --z

differ from those of say, opiates and cocaine in terms of effect on the body.

Sex addiction is more akin to gambling addiction in that way.

While the effects on the body are minimal at best, the damage to the individual's life can be traumatic.

That doesn't seem like compulsion though, it seems more like habit.  It's easy to make anything a habit if you do it regularly, and I guess P4P is one of those things.  I don't do regular bookings because I want the experience to stay unique and fun, not to turn into something I just do because I can.

What would be addiction would be if you suddenly had a craving, and threw all caution to the wind to book the first backpage girl you could reach - even if you knew better.

There are probably some real sex addicts, but I think there are very few of them.

I don't happen to believe in "sex addiciton". I think that what is considered sex addiciton is actually a symptom of another problem, say fear of abandonment or low self-esteem that results in compulsive sexual behaviors. I haven'thad much opportunity to study what is considered sex addiction (give me a couple of months ) but I ran across this article this morning that discusses some of the other issues that may exist in those considered sex addicts.

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/sex-addiction/2013/05/sex-addicts-are-codependents-too/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

K

Just like drugs, work, shopping, eating, etc....and some might prefer to call it "habit forming".

Nobody will go through "sex withdrawal" but many people continue casual and promiscuous sex because sex gives your body an endorphin and dopamine response. This makes you happy and satisfied. Couple that with the feeling of "acceptance" or "being wanted" by another human and you have a recipe for feelings you don't want to be without. You can call it addiction I suppose but, no, in my opinion there is no addiction to sex itself.

I only started seeing providers a few months ago and really do worry about sex addiction.. I walk on the edge of being over extended and yearn for an extra paycheck.. and yet I continue to see someone about every 3-4 days.. Right now I am working hard to reduce quantity with quality with a very few carefully selected providers that I find extraordinary..

I think this is the key... Have any of you looked at the Sexaholics Anon. reading material?  IMHO it's complete BS.  Anyone with a healthy sex drive would answer "yes" to the majority of the questions.

Or maybe I'm the only one here who enjoys having sex more than a few times a week, or thinks about sex frequently throughout the day?

In my brief psych stint (which obviously makes me an expert I always read/heard doctors say "if it is something that is affecting your day to day life in a negative way and stops you from conducting YOUR normal life, it is LIKELY an addiction".