From: http://kfor.com/2013/08/05/porn-addiction-serious-problem-in-oklahoma
Joining Linda Cavanaugh in the KFOR studios is Joshua Nichols, a licensed marriage and family therapist with additional studies in the area of sex addiction therapy.
Sexual addiction is real and dwells among us like a wolf in sheep’s clothing looking for its next victim to sink its teeth into. Once it has a hold of you, it hijacks your brain having you participate in things you never imagined participating in; or doing things you didn’t know you were capable of doing. Like a virus looking for a host, there is no end game for sex addiction. It simply desires to spread to as many individuals and families as possible, leaving a wake of destruction too wide to accurately measure. It does not discriminate between male or female, young or old, religious or secular. It simply does NOT care!
Sex addiction is a powerful force that gets its strength in darkness. It thrives off secrets, lies, and manipulation. It has infected our closest friends, relatives, co-workers, and even religious leaders; yet, in many cases, we are not even aware of the disease that dwells within. The first step in battling sex addiction is to expose it to the light.
Many of you might be wondering, “Well, how do I know if I am truly a sex addict?” Dr. Patrick Carnes is a sex addiction expert and founder of the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals. He and his team have come up with a series of six questions you can ask and answer for yourself to help you determine if a sexual addiction might be present. They are as follows:
The sexual relationship is a beautiful part of our existence. Although all of us are created as sexual beings, not everyone experiences the joy and fulfillment that comes with having a healthy sexual relationship. Sometimes this is by choice, but other times this is due to destructive patterns of sexual behavior. Sometimes sex and sexual activity are used to cope with the trials, tribulations, and pressures of everyday life.