Sex, Love, and Poly-Behavioral Addiction

Proposal for a New Diagnosis and Theory for Patients with Multiple Searches
By James Slobodzien, Psy.D., CSAC

Experts in the field of addictions are presently purporting that 3 to 6 percent of the world's population (193 until 386 million people) are currently being affected by a sexual dependency or compulsivity (Carnes, 2005). Sexual dependency is a diagnosable and treatable disease, which today generally regarded in much the same way that alcoholism and drug use > Addiction (chemical dependency) was seen 40 years ago. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of understandable misunderstandings about compulsive sexual acting out, created by the ignorance of the nature of sexual addiction, and supported and continued by the multi-billion dollar porn industry.

Sexual Dependency - is a global concept, a wide range of maladjusted by the situation and self-destructive behavior patterns and relationships as including:

1. Love> Addiction - a disease in which people are enmeshed again in the intense interaction, also involved, when those relationships or partners are destructive;

2. Romance Addiction - a disorder in which individuals obsessed with the intrigue and the pursuit of romance and thrive on the thrill of the hunt, but find it impossible to maintain a committed, intimate relationship with another person;

3. Sexual Anorexia - a disorder whereIndividuals are dominated and obsessed with the emotional, physical and mental task of avoiding sex, and

4. Sex Addiction - a disorder in which individuals are obsessed with sexually-related, compulsive self-destructive inappropriate behavior.

But can one really be addicted, proclaimed as the folk song 80 love? In a recent study, (Aron, A. 2005), published in the June issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology, researchers used functional MRI ClockReal-time brain activity of 17 college students (10 women, seven men), all of them were in the first weeks or months after a new love. The researchers found that love may vie for the same properties in the brain as drug addiction. "Early love, rooted as it rotates in the caudate nucleus, is all about addiction." "It's an addiction." "It certainly has Some of the key features of drug addiction - as with drugs, if you fall in love you needthis person more and more, so must after a while, you marry them. There are other things too - real dependence, personality changes, withdrawal symptoms. "" And as the need for cocaine or heroin, love can make people crazy, sometimes dangerous things. "According to assist Aron (2005) to explain the results of cases where people are in love with people they do not even sexually attracted to, or why others can feel equally strong, sudden movement of a newbornChild or even God.

So that means that all people who are newly in love an addiction? Are all men addicted to pornography look like? Are all the women who read romance novels addictive? Are all men who have sex to avoid a sexual anorexics? No, no, no and no. How can we differentiate between addiction and healthy relationships? Like other forms of addictive diseases and lifestyle diseases, such as chemical dependency, gambling, eatingDisturbances and religious addiction --

Sexual addiction is characterized by an addictive cycle of:

1. Obsession or employment;

2. Ritualization;

3. Compulsive behaviors;

4. The loss of control and despair, and

5. Shame and guilt that perpetuates a mismatch belief system of impaired thinking and confusion.

In general, sexual addiction patterns are considered pathological problems when issues are related to sexual behavior in the focus ofLife, what feelings of shame, guilt, shame, and with symptoms of depression and anxiety, which leads to significant maladaptive social and / or occupational impairment of functioning. Addicts use no love or sex for recreation, but also for the management of anxiety and / or emotional pain.

We must remember that some people's dependence on certain life-functioning activities such as sex, just as life threatening as drug addiction and develop associally and psychologically damaging as alcoholism.

Sexual addiction has many forms with varying degrees consist of:

1. Controversial behaviors (obsessions with pornography and sex with strangers on the inclusion of a cyber-sex);

2. Unacceptable behaviors (exhibitionism, voyeurism, indecent phone calls) and

3. Basic Sex offender behaviors (rape, incest and child abuse).

Although some forms of this addiction may not be openrisky, they can be part of a pattern of distorted thinking and identity conflict escalate participate harm to themselves and others can. An example of a Sexual Disorder (NOS) or not otherwise in the DSM-IV-TR, (including 2000): concerns about a pattern repeated sexual relations with a series of lovers, who through an individual experience only as things to be used. (It should be noted that this has been using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders neverWord "addiction" to) describe one of his interference.
The defining elements of this kind of addiction are its secrecy and escalating nature, often leading to a reduced sentence and self-control (Carnes, 1994).

Brief History of Sex Addiction

In 1976, said an S-run hospital administrator Dr. Patrick Carnes, an experimental program for chemically dependent families. The theoretical constructs of the program originated in general systemsTheory, especially as he is for families and the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the many factors which stood from a family perspective was that the addictive compulsivity had many forms other than alcohol and drug abuse including overeating, gambling, shoplifting, and sexuality. Members of groups such as Overeaters Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous has already pioneered the application of the 12-steps to other addictions so the Family Renewal Center extended its programbased on the 12-steps, or sexual orientation.

In 1983, Dr. Patrick Carnes formally introduced the concept of sexual addiction, the world in a text entitled "Out of the Shadows." Since then, the field of sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behavior has dramatically evolved. Used terms such as addiction, compulsivity, hyper-sexuality, and "Don Juanism", all were to describe what in general could be considered "out of control sexual behavior."Regardless of their name, clinicians from all fields agree that a syndrome exists in which people feel that they have lost control over their sexual behavior.

According to the Society for the Promotion of sexual health (sash), a sexual addiction is a persistent and escalating pattern or patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to themselves or others. The fundamental nature of all addiction is the experience of the addict, "theHelplessness and powerlessness over a compulsive behavior, which in her life always overwhelming. The addict can get out of control. You may experience extreme emotional pain and shame. They may not repeatedly check their behavior. They may suffer one or more of the following consequences of an unmanageable lifestyle: a deterioration of some or all supportive relationships difficulties with work, financial difficulties and physical, mental and / or emotionalExhaustion which sometimes mental health problems and hospitalization. Searches tend to arise from the same background: families with co-dependency including multiple dependencies, lack of effective parenting and other forms of physical, emotional and sexual trauma in childhood.

The Society for the Promotion of Sexual Health (SASH report, 2005) that the symptoms of sexual compulsivity often accompany other addictive behaviors:

Alcohol and Drug Addiction --Alcohol and drugs alter libido, enhancing it early in the drug dependence and the inhibition of it later. It is selling a pattern in cocaine addiction sexual favors for cocaine. Since the cost of rising drug addiction, not the drug addicts in general can afford (the drug from the ordinary job income, and have to resort to either / or) to support theft, drug trafficking or prostitution, her habit. Alcohol and many drugs cause blackouts or amnesia during the drug experience, and if sexwith that drug using experience then the details of the sexual experience coupled must not be forgotten.

Food Addiction - Sexual anorexia or pathological self-denial of healthy sex is a frequent accompaniment of overeating and anorexia nervosa.

Pathological Gambling - The lifestyle of the player are often hyper-sexuality, where both compulsions feed the false sense of self-esteem of the addict.

Religious Addiction - Compulsive religiosity sometimesaccompanies sexual addiction as a sex addict seeking religion to lessen guilt and shame. The beginnings of compulsive religiosity may signal the onset of a period of sexual anorexia.

Multiple Searches

Since it is impossible to expect treatment for addiction to be beneficial when other addictions co-exist, the initial therapeutic intervention for any addiction that are for an assessment for other addictions. National surveys revealed that avery high correlation between sexual addiction and drug abuse and addiction behavior therapy. Sexual addicts, who have reported experiencing multiple addictions include sexual addiction and:

* Chemical dependency (42%)

* Eating disorder (38%)

* Compulsive work (28%)

* Compulsive spending (26%)

* Compulsive Gambling (5%)

* Poor prognosis

We have come to realize today more than any other time in history thatthe treatment of lifestyle diseases and addictions are often a difficult and frustrating task for all involved. Repeated violations rich with all dependencies, even when using the most effective treatment strategies. But why 47% of patients in private addiction treatment programs (for example) relapse within the first year of treatment after treatment (Gorski, T., 2001)? Addiction specialists have to be conditioned to accept the failure as the norm? There are manyReasons for this poor prognosis. Some would proclaim that addictions are psychosomatic-induced and maintained in a semi-balanced force field of the multidimensional positive and negative forces. Others would say that failures due simply to a lack of self-motivation and willpower. Most would agree that lifestyle behavioral addiction are serious health risks that may deserve our attention, but it may be that patients are diagnosed with multiple dependencies in the context (with asingle simple function) due to a lack of diagnostic tools and resources to solve the complexity of assessing and treating a patient is incapable with multiple addictions?

Diagnostic definition

So far, the DSM-IV-TR has not delineated a diagnosis for the complexity of multiple behavioral and substance addiction. It has the poly-substance dependence diagnosis for a person who repeatedly reserved at least three groups of substances in the same 12-monthTime, but have the criteria for this diagnosis, and no behavioral symptoms of addiction. In the psychological factors, medical condition section is (DSM-IV-TR, 2000); maladaptive health behaviors (eg, unsafe sexual practices, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and eating, etc.) can be listed on Axis I, only if they are with significant impact on the course of treating a medical or psychological condition.

Since successful treatment outcomes are based depends on a thoroughAssessment and accurate diagnosis and comprehensive individualized treatment planning, it is no wonder that repeated rehabilitation failures and low success rates are the rule rather than the exception in the addiction field, when the latest DSM-IV-TR is not even a diagnosis for multiple addictive behavioral disorders . Treatment clinics need to be a treatment planning system and referral network that is equipped thoroughly evaluated several addiction and mental disorders and to haveAssociated with the treatment needs and comprehensively provide education / awareness, prevention strategy groups, and / or specific addiction treatment services for people diagnosed with multiple addiction. Written treatment goals and objectives should be specified a detail for each of addiction and dimension of life, and the desired performance outcome or completion criteria should be explicitly noted in the behavior is based (a visible activity), and measurable.

NewProposed diagnostic

To solve the limited DSM-IV-TRS 'diagnostic capability, a multidimensional diagnosis of "Poly-behavioral addiction", support is proposed for more accurate diagnosis leads to more effective treatment planning. This diagnosis encompasses the broad category of addiction that a person discloses a combination of drug abuse, addiction and other obsessive-compulsive behavior would include addictive behaviorMarks, gambling, religion and / or sex / pornography, etc.). Behavioral addictions are just as damaging - psychologically and socially as alcohol and drug abuse. They are compared with data on other lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in their behavioral problems, their causes and their resistance to treatments. They will participate in progressive disorders, obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. They are also characterizedby a preoccupation with a continuous or periodic loss of control, and continuous irrational behavior in spite of negative consequences.

Poly-behavioral addiction would be described as a state of periodic or chronic physical, mental, emotional, cultural, sexual and / or spiritual-religious frenzy. These different types of poisoning are involved, by repeated obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions practices in pathological relationships to any mood changes produced substancePerson, organization, belief system, and / or activity. The individual has intensified an overwhelming desire, need or compulsion with the presence of a tendency to comply with this practice and to demonstrate the phenomena of tolerance, abstinence and withdrawal, which is always physical and / or psychological dependence on the impact of this pathological relationship. In addition, there is a 12 - month period in which an individual is pathologically involved with three or more behaviorsand / or drug addiction at the same time, but the criteria are not met for dependence for an addiction in particular (Slobodzien, J., 2005). In essence, Poly-behavioral addiction is the synergistically integrated chronic dependence on multiple physiologically addictive substances and behaviors (eg, the use / abuse of drugs - nicotine, alcohol and drugs, and / or acting impulsively or obsessively compulsive in terms of gambling, food binging, sex, and / or religion,etc.) simultaneously.

Conclusion

With the diversity of sexual behaviors in our world today, one should always take into account a person's ethnic, cultural, religious and social background before any clinical decisions, and it would be wise not too much pathologize in this area of sexual dependency. However, since successful treatment outcomes are dependent on a thorough assessment and accurate diagnosis, individual and comprehensive treatment planning --Poly-behavioral addiction needs to be established in order to effectively treat addiction, the complexity of multiple behavioral and substance.

Since lifestyle diseases and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, alcoholism, drug and behavioral addiction can not be cured but only managed - how should we effectively manage poly-behavioral addiction?

The Addiction Recovery Measurement System (ARMS) is proposed to use a multidimensional integrativeAssessment, treatment planning, treatment progress and treatment outcome measurement tracking system that provides a fast and accurate detection and evaluation of comprehensive individual life-functioning progress dimensions easier. The ARMS hypothesis purports that it is a multidimensional synergistically negative resistance that individual to develop to some form of treatment to a single dimension of their lives, because the effects of addiction to a persondynamically interacting multi-dimensional. Once the focus is on one dimension inadequate. Traditional addiction treatment programs are not for the multidimensional synergistically negative effects of a person who (record multiple addictions, such as nicotine, alcohol and obesity, etc.). Behavioral Addiction negative working with each other and with strategies for improving global interaction. They tend to promote the use of tobacco, alcohol andother drugs, which contribute to violence, decrease functional capacity and promote social isolation. Most treatment theories today involve assessing other dimensions to dual diagnosis or co-morbidity diagnoses, or to assess factors that may play a role in the primary function of the individual identified. Proclaimed Weapon "theory that a multidimensional treatment plan must be devised addressing the possible multiple addiction are determined for each of the lives of individualsDimensions in addition to the developing countries, specific goals and objectives for each dimension.

Partnerships and coordination between service providers is the addiction of ministries and community organizations in providing addiction treatment programs is a necessity in addressing the multi-task solution to poly-behavioral. I encourage you to support the addiction programs in America and hope that the (weapons) resources support you personally lead the war onPoly-behavioral addiction.

For more information, visit:
Poly-behavioral Addiction and Addiction Recovery Measurement System (ARMS)
By James Slobodzien, Psy.D. CSAC at:
http://www.geocities.com/drslbdzn/Behavioral_Addictions.html

National Council on Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity

PO Box 725,544

Atlanta, GA 31,139

(770) 541-9912

http://www.ncsac.org

Sexual AddictionResources

http://www.sexhelp.com

References

American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition,
Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 787 & p. 731st
American Society of Addiction Medicine's (2003), "Patient Placement Criteria for the
Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, 3rd Edition, By, 18 June 2005, from:

http://www.asam.org/
Arthur Aron,Ph.D., professor, psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, Helen
Fisher, Research Professor, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ;
Paul Sanberg, Ph.D., professor, neuroscience, and director, Center of Excellence for Aging and
Brain Repair, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, June 2005, the Journal of
Neurophysiology
Carnes, PJ (1983). Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. Minneapolis,MN: CompCare.
Carnes, PJ (1989). Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict. Minneapolis, MN: CompCare.
Carnes, PJ (1991). Do not Call It Love. Minneapolis, MN: Gentle Press Publishing.
Carnes, PJ (1997). Sexual Anorexia: Overcoming Sexual Self-hatred. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
Carnes, PJ, & Delmonico, DL (1994). Sexual Dependency Inventory. Wickenburg, AZ: The Meadows Institute.
Carnes, PJ, Delmonico, DL, & Griffin, EJ (2001). In the shadow ofNet: Breaking Free from
Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
Delmonico, DL (1997). Internet Sex Screening Test. [Online]. Available at: http://www.sexhelp.com
Delmonico, DL, Griffin, EJ, & Moriarity, J. (2001). Cybersex Unhooked: A Workbook for Breaking Free of Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior. Wickenburg, AZ: Gentle Path Press.
Gorski, T. (2001), Relapse Prevention In The Managed Care Environment. GORSKI-CENAPS Web
Publications.From 20 June 2005, from: www.tgorski.com
Lienard, J. & Vamecq, J. (2004), Presse Med, 23 October 33 (18 Suppl) :33-40.
Marlatt, GA (1985). Relapse prevention: Theoretical background and overview of the model. In GA
Marlatt & JR Gordon (Eds.), Relapse prevention (pp. 250-280). New York: Guilford Press.
Schneider, JP (1994). Sexsucht: conflict within mainstream addiction medicine, diagnosis is based on the DSV-III-R and physician case histories.Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 1 (1), 19-44.
Slobodzien, J. (2005). Poly-behavioral Addiction and Addiction Recovery Measurement System (ARMS), Booklocker.com, Inc., p. 5