Love & Sex Addiction
What's love got to do with it? A lot when it relates to a woman suffering with an addiction to a significant other. Part of the addiction recovery process is first identifying why the obsession is occurring with another human being, and then helping the woman understand that it has little or nothing to do with that other person. Love and/or sex addictions, as with any other addiction, are utilized in an effort to make her feel better because on some level she does not feel complete in and of herself.
Some characteristics of the love-sex addict are as follows:
- Has other addictive or compulsive behaviors
- Questions values and life all the time
- Has a frantic personality
- Denies problems
- Confuses wants as needs
- Replaces ended relationships immediately
- Is unable to trust in relationships
- Has an inner rage over lack of nurturing in childhood
- Battles with depression
- Tolerates high-risk behavior
Love addiction also tends to involve women more than men.
Lack of nurturing or attention during childhood, unrecognized early needs, isolation or detachment from family, hidden pain, early abandonment, fears of rejection, pain, and lack of love or hope have been identified in resulting love/sex addictions.
A love or sex addict has a fear of change. They will attach themselves to another person as to obtain that person’s identity for themselves. This woman will usually have no internal reverencing system and try's to identify only through the person of her focus. Having a very low self-esteem and lacking self-identity, this woman chooses a mate or friend they would like to become.
As with all addictions, the first step in the recovery process is treatment. Balboa Horizons has extensive experience working with women suffering with love/sex addictions, and can facilitate the appropriate course of action where healing can occur. If you, a friend or family member is suffering from love or sex addiction, please contact us today for immediate assistance.
