Comments on: The Sex Addiction Myth?

By: L.E. Becker

L.E. Becker — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:42:08 +0000

Hello? What about criminal paraphilics? Those who are masturbating in high double digit numbers a day? Those who have uncontrollable sexual urges at the sight of their fetish or even just a small piece of revealed skin? Ma’am, you have ignorantly skimmed the surface of atypical/deviant sexual behavior. FOX. Please, delete this high school newspaper article, now.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:44:08 +0000

Ha….. I know responding to such a website, that is nonetheless worthless to the overall journalistic and social community, proves a step above or perhaps below futile, however as I coincidentally stumbled upon your site as I’m sure 99% of you internet viewing public does, I was compelled to read your article. I first laughed at the title of the article coupled by the sensual looking picture of the woman in biting her glasses (a classic and stereotypical sexual pose), then the ignorant premise that sexual addictions (which subsequently has been diagnosed as a significant issue in individuals lives and social conflicts for over 50 years) is nothing more that a “crock”. Obviously this deserves no real rebuttal, hard and fast/scientific studies far out way piety yellow journalism that has made the American media the laughingstock of the journalistic world; however I am just compelled (may that’s due to my addictive personality) to just highlight the yet continuing and ridiculous editorials that are allowed to be posted by Fox, which continues to prove itself nothing more that the joke of true network reporting that everyone else view’s them as. So hats off to you reporter (I neglected to actually read your name, as it was of no importance really) on your 1 out of 100,002,003 article that shows up under google searches that are only view by individuals that will never read your article, I suggest returning to the community collage that you received your associates of liberal arts from.

Sincerely yours,
Compulsive Sex/Black Tar Heroine addict.

By: Steve LPC

Steve LPC — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:52:42 +0000

Dr. Fulbright,
As a fellow professional I appreciate your point of view, but it may do you some good to go back to the basics of addiction to understand why sexual addiction not only exist, but is prevalent in today’s sexual charged society. The question is, does a person who believe they are suffering from sexual addiction fit this one main criteria as stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR)

“Does the sexual issue cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning?”

Please read below for a better definition of addiction and dependency

Psychological dependency is a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression, anorexia, etc). Addiction can in theory be derived from any rewarding behavior, and is believed to be strongly associated with the dopaminergic system of the brain’s reward system (as in the case of cocaine and amphetamines). Some claim that it is a habitual means to avoid undesired activity, but typically it is only so to a clinical level in individuals who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions (psychological addiction is defined as such), replacing normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained (see Rat Park).

It is considered possible to be both psychologically and physically dependent at the same time. Some doctors make little distinction between the two types of addiction, since the result, substance abuse, is the same. However, the cause and characteristics of each of the two types of addiction is quite different, as is the type of treatment preferred.

Psychological dependence does not have to be limited only to substances; even activities and behavioral patterns can be considered addictions, if they become uncontrollable, e.g. gambling, Internet addiction, computer addiction, sexual addiction / pornography addiction, reading, eating, self-harm, vandalism or work addiction.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:00:14 +0000

Dr Fulbright,

I’m curious since you dismiss the possibility of this addiciton/dependence- what would your opinion be on anorexia nervosa? Bulimia? Compulsive eating? There seems to be a great deal of research to support these behaviors- otherwise required to live- into a compulsion. How can you completely dismiss the possibility of sex- again an otherwise normal behavior- into an addiction? Further, I echo Dr. B’s opinion.

By: Alexandria Caudill

Alexandria Caudill — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:22:52 +0000

I have personally work alongside recovering sex addicts at Del Amo Hospitol in Torrance, CA. I am not a sex addict myself, I was there for PTSD recovery (post traumatic stress disorder). I lived, ate and slept beside them for a month. They are normal people who just have a problem. Some people are addicted to alcohal or drugs, and others are addicted to child pornography, masterbation and “sexually acting-out”. Sex Addiction is real. Their problems are real so don’t invalidate them by saying it’s “hogwash” or is just some myth.

Alexandria

By: Brian Case

Brian Case — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:35:55 +0000

To clarify a few things: SA stands for sexaholics anonymous where as sex addicts anonymous = SAA. I am not aware of the National Association of Sexual Addiction Problems, but am a member of SASH, the society for the advancement of sexual health, formerly known as the National Council for Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity. SASH is the main national organization for professionals working in the area of sexually addictive and/or compulsive behaviors. Yvonne K. Fullbright makes some passionate, and in my opinion valid points in her article. Perhaps written mostly for entertainment, her points appear to lack more than a few minutes of research in which she was able to find things to support her beliefs, misinterpretting the majority of what she wrote about or quoted/referenced. I believe that if she was willing to do a little more research she would be able to make her valid points without sounding so extreme as to say that there is not a considerable number of people who use sex in ways similar to how an alcoholic uses alcohol (or whatever addiction you choose to compare it to) to the detriment of themselves and/or their loved ones. I would love to have a 30 minute discussion with her sometime!

Dr. Brian Case
Psychological Counseling Services, Ltd
Certified Sex Addiction Therapist
Licensed Marriage and family therapist

By: Brian Case

Brian Case — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:20:50 +0000

I appreciate the passion with which the author makes her points-some of them being very valid in my opinion. However, her understanding of the criterion used to determine if somebody has a problem in this area is apparently limited and I believe if she was able to listen to the hundreds of experiences i have heard about over the past 12 years of counseling individuals struggling with sexual addiction/compulsivity or “acting out” sexually rather than from what THEY have determined to be their own sense of healthy sexuality-and the debris trail that is associated with such behaviors, I believe she would have a more balanced position, and that her final statement about their being a “handful” of such situations would be altered somewhat.

By: Caryn W.

Caryn W. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:43:09 +0000

Obviously this person has not been touched by the problem. My family was broken apart by the addiction of my husband. He left our kids alone so that he could meet with prostitutes or with women he met on casual encounters. He excused himself from family outings so that he could stay at home and masterbate while watching porn on the computer. He disregarded fatherly responsibilities so that he could be on the computer. He put my life and health at risk over and over. There is plenty of research to support the idea of the addiction. If it puts a persons health at risk, if it is an obsession that is put before family and responsibilities then I would classify it as an addiction. Men (or women) who are addicted actually have differences in their brain caused by looking at porn repeatedly. The images remain in the brain. It takes about 5 years of hard work to overcome the problem. I think there is a difference between healthy sex and that which has consumed a person in an unhealthy manner. In essence, the writer is a crock or an addict!!

By: annoyed

annoyed — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:31:33 +0000

Thank goodness someone finally has bothered to understand the word addiction and its constant misuse by the current “don’t blame me- I am an addict of _____” population. As a drug and alcohol counselor, I get rather annoyed with the constant misuse of the addiction label. Good for you!!
What’s sad though is the abuse you have received in the previous comments left. It demonstrates that the don’t blame me culture is going no where fast!

By: Joanne Bunda

Joanne Bunda — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:45:08 +0000

I am not sure what book or movement you are referring to but I do know that until you are married to a or live with a “sex addict” you have no idea what you are talking about. You understand little about this disorder and how it progresses and spirals out of control.
There are more than a “handful of cases”. The addiction is so strong that they deny the “true
dilemna” and don’t want to be “properly assessed”.
No one in my case “trivialized” the sexual behavior. It destroyed a marriage, a family, a career
and finances. Even after hitting bottom and an arrest they will not change their behavior .

You are the one trivializing the disorder.