World Events
Topic: Pope Says Sex Is Like A Drug

#	Author	Message
31	Kar2oonMan Mon 5/12/2008 10:11a	I would define addiction as anything that starts taking an undue control over your life and has a negative impact on it. Someone who is extremely promiscuous, and isn't getting any enjoyment out of it, or that's the only way they get any attention from people -- to me, that isn't a drive or a compulsion, but an addiction. Like booze or drugs, it offers some temporary way to have a person not deal with whatever the real problem is. It's similar to overeating, or compulsive shopping, or any number of things that are normal every day activities for people that some people get carried away with. I think someone can be "addicted" to shopping. If they are just buying stuff and hoarding it, it is a sign of mental illness, depression, low self esteem, etc. Buying stuff makes them feel in control, even though they are anything but. Similarly, if people are totally obsessed with sex, that isn't the same as someone who finds it a pleasurable, enjoyable activity. If someone is having sex because it's the only way they feel they can attract someone (the 2:00 a.m. in the bar scenario) then that would start drifiting into addiction.
32	dshyates Mon 5/12/2008 10:26a	Technically an addiction is something that you suffer physical withdraw symptoms if denied. You cannot become addicted to food (with the exception of caffine), sex, gambling, or shopping. I have yet to go into DTs from needing a good romp.
33	dshyates Mon 5/12/2008 10:27a	Back in the day before everything was an illness and addiction it was "Habituation".
34	Kar2oonMan Mon 5/12/2008 11:21a	Whether you call it addiction or compulsion, the effects are pretty much the same. One develops at least a psychological need for these things as a way of not dealing with deeper issues, and it produces a negative impact on their lives. And since these activities also produce a certain adrenaline or psychological "high", I beleive that calling them addictions is an appropriate term. Yes, there are differences between developing an addiction to a narcotic or alcohol as opposed to food or shopping, but there are also many similarities.
35	Kar2oonMan Mon 5/12/2008 11:23a	Technically an addiction is something that you suffer physical withdraw symptoms if denied.<< Humans will suffer physical withdrawal symptoms if denied any number of essential things: food, water, air.
36	EighthDwarf Mon 5/12/2008 3:23p	My vote: not an addiction. The sex drive is in instinct instilled in all of us to keep the human species alive and the gene pool diverse. When people like it they wanna do it more often. But you can stop at anytime if you choose.
37	Kar2oonMan Mon 5/12/2008 3:28p	>>But you can stop at anytime if you choose.<< Yes. I had an uncle who was an alcoholic. He said he could stop anytime he chose as well. He just never chose to, I guess.
38	mele Mon 5/12/2008 4:29p	From webmd: Sexual Addiction The term "sexual addiction" is used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships. Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their behavior and blaming others for problems. They generally deny they have a problem and make excuses for their actions. Sexual addiction also is associated with risk-taking. A person with a sex addiction engages in various forms of sexual activity, despite the potential for negative and/or dangerous consequences. In addition to damaging the addict's relationships and interfering with his or her work and social life, a sexual addiction also puts the person at risk for emotional and physical injury. For some people, the sex addiction progresses to involve illegal activities, such as exhibitionism (exposing oneself in public), making obscene phone calls, or molestation. However, it should be noted that sex addicts do not necessarily become sex offenders. Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include: Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation) Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs) Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands Consistent use of pornography Unsafe sex Phone or computer sex (cybersex) Prostitution or use of prostitutes Exhibitionism Obsessive dating through personal ads Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking Sexual harassment Molestation/rape Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sexual activity and forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners. In addition, the problem of sex addiction often leads to feelings of guilt and shame. A sex addict also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional). How Is Sexual Addiction Treated? Most sex addicts live in denial of their addiction, and treating an addiction is dependent on the person accepting and admitting that he or she has a problem. In many cases, it takes a significant event -- such as the loss of a job, the break-up of a marriage, an arrest, or health crisis -- to force the addict to admit to his or her problem. Treatment of sexual addiction focuses on controlling the addictive behavior and helping the person develop a healthy sexuality. Treatment includes education about healthy sexuality, individual counseling, and marital and/or family therapy. Support groups and 12 step recovery programs for people with sexual addictions (like Sex Addicts Anonymous) also are available. In some cases, medications used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder may be used to curb the compulsive nature of the sex addiction. These medications include Prozac and Anafranil. ______________ Denying that there are people with real sexual addiction is along the same line as denying that depression is real. Naturally, some people just like sex more than others = people who are depressed just need to snap out of it with a hobby, just feeling sorry for themselves. I'm more inclined to believe the medical community's view about this being an addiction/dysfunction.
39	X-san Mon 5/12/2008 6:25p	***Support groups and 12 step recovery programs for people with sexual addictions (like Sex Addicts Anonymous) also are available.*** Wonderful. Substitute one bad habit for another. It amazes me this still exists in the medical lexicon. Just goes to show how powerful a cult AA really is. ***Whether you call it addiction or compulsion, the effects are pretty much the same.*** I agree with this. The rest is just parsing words. Sure, you can point to the physical withdrawal aspect, but there are drugs out there which people become overly dependent on that have little or no physical dependency aspect to them (marijuana, hashish and LSD to name a few). Basically what it comes down to is, if you're engaged in something that you do too much of, smoking shopping drugs sex eating working and so on, and it has a harmful effect on your life, you have a problem.
40	X-san Mon 5/12/2008 6:27p	***Yes. I had an uncle who was an alcoholic. He said he could stop anytime he chose as well. He just never chose to, I guess.*** He could have. Anyone can. It's sad he never discovered the proper tools for dealing with such bad habits (assuming he actually *wanted* to stop drinking, that's the big question mark in these cases is it not?). There's an amazing program out there called "Rational Recovery" that goes into great detail on how to get over this kind of stuff.

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:	1-10	11-20	21-30	31-40	41-50
	51-56

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Laughing Place Podcast
This week on the LPP - Disney World discounts, Mickey's Christmas Party, Disneyland holiday changes, the Disney / Verizon announcement and Reader Mail plus the crew give their favorite Magic Kingdom attractions, Brent's Corner, Stump the Crew and everyone's favorite - the Captain's Challenge.

What's on
The Latest
The Lion King to perform as part of 2008 Royal Variety Performance and BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night
Walt Disney Imagineering Earns Four Thea Awards
Travel Industry Honors Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo
The Walt Disney Company Grants $1.5 Million to Reforest Fire-Ravaged Areas in Southern California
Disneyland Resort Horticulture Honored for Excellence in Landscaping
International Superstar Yanni Signs to Disney Pearl Series
Microsoft Research and Disney-Pixar's WALL-E Explore the Real Universe
Disney Interactive Studios Embarks on a “Fully Awesome” Adventure with Disney’s Bolt
Disney Store Black Friday Specials Begin at Midnight at More Than 100 Stores Nationwide
Enchanting and Magical Disney Fairies & Tinker Bell Pretend Play Products Now Available at Retail

Click here for The Latest