Sex Addiction is an Intimacy Disorder

Sex addiction falls within a spectrum of severe intimacy disorders, which include relationship addictions—codependency, romance addiction, love addiction/love avoidance, and trauma bonding. Sex and relationship addictions are characterized by dependence on sexual or emotional intensity as the “drug” of choice. Sex addicts stimulate sexual arousal and emotional intensity to become euphoric or “numb-out,” much like substance addicts use cocaine or alcohol. Excessive use of mood-altering behaviors, rather than mood-altering substances, are a sex addict’s path of escape from life stress and overwhelming emotions of loneliness, anger, fear, and shame.