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Treatment of Sexual Addiction
The treatment of sexual addiction and other
addictive disorders involves three steps. The first or Level One change is the removal of
the defensive and addictive behavior. But the process doesn’t end with sobriety.
Next, the dysfunctional patterns in the recovering person’s relationship with self
and others must change. These include control, secrecy, isolation, emotional
distancing, poor self-care, and distorted cognitions. And finally, the early,
shaming experiences must be uncovered and released as much as possible. Emotional,
relational, intellectual, and spiritual development are the goals.
These goals are best achieved through the combination of psychotherapy, active
involvement in a 12 step recovery group appropriate to the addicts needs, and other direct
work including reading relevant material, attending workshops, and so forth. The support
of others, including other recovering addicts, is enormously valuable and useful.
Depending on the severity of the addiction, medication and a period of appropriate
inpatient treatment may also be valuable.
              
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