To begin, a concrete definition of sexual addiction is near impossible to pin down. In fact, many psychologists and sexologists don’t even see sexual addiction as a separate diagnostic classification. This is because the disorder is rarely diagnosed and is very similar to current compulsive disorders such as eating or gambling disorders. This view is mirrored in the decision to not include sexual addiction in any of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual versions which are the most popular and accepted methods for classifying psychological disorders (Crooks and Baur, 2011). Professionals still acknowledge that some individuals may be participating in some type of excessive sexual activity (Crooks and Baur, 2011). Sexologist Eli Coleman would…show more content… The compulsive pursuit of sexual activity is likely to have devastating consequences on the individual’s life as well as the lives of their family. The partners of sex addicts often describe feeling abandoned, devalued, ignored, and even betrayed resulting from their partner’s constant pursuit of sex (Brody, 2000; Cooper, 2002). This adds to the normal stressors of a relationship and may push the partners to the breaking point. Sex addicts are also likely to neglect other family members such as siblings, parents, or even kids and cause those relationships to suffer as well. Similarly, spending and enormous amount of time pursuing or partaking in sexual behaviors can also lead to a problem at the workplace. The compulsions often get in the way of job responsibilities or relationships with coworkers and increase the likelihood of termination. (Philaretou, 2005). As a result of these deteriorating relationships, a person with sexual addiction is likely to experience social isolation, loneliness, and depression. These effects on their own are painful and cause many problems, so when they’re coupled with all the other negative effects of the disorder, it can possible bring on other psychological disorders or even worsen the addiction (Fleming & Rickwood, 2004; Jancin, 2005;Subrahmanyam & Greenfield,…show more content… This chase of sexual activity can lead the individual to engage in increasingly dangerous behavior. Sexual addicts will undoubtedly engage in sex with strangers that they arrange meetings with; such as people they have met online that they may not know very well. They are also likely to engage in unprotected sex which puts them at a big risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases like HIV which can cause permanent and irreversible harm (Levin, 1999). They may also have other health complications if they do not keep up their genital hygiene. Having sex with strangers can also put the individual in an unsafe environment where they may not be familiar with the area or somewhere help is unavailable. They put themselves at risk of being kidnapped, raped, assaulted, or even murdered. There are many self-reported cases of addicts who were met by more strangers that beat them and caused them serious injuries (Levin, 1999). By the same token, a sex addict’s unsafe decisions can lead them to be in legal trouble. Jerome Levin has treated patients who have often took part in sexual activity outdoors at crowded parks in broad daylight (1999). Legal trouble can also come in the form of vengeance; where the spouse can gain custody of the children because the addict is easily proven an unfit
