Sex Addiction Explained with 1 PowerPoint Slide
I do a lot of work with men who are working through sexual addiction and porn addiction. I decided to create one PowerPoint slide to help at least explain it intellectually.
Here is the step-by-step explanation of the slide starting with the box on the left.
Individual
- The individual is born and life is relatively pain-free.
Negative Core Beliefs/Shame
- An individual has painful experiences (generally in childhood)
- Trauma: sexual, physical, emotional, neglect (for men usually no father present emotionally)
- Gender Shame: feels inadequate or not good enough as a man
- Shame: feels bad, unworthy, and fundamentally unlovable
- Trauma: sexual, physical, emotional, neglect (for men usually no father present emotionally)
Healthy Intimacy
- Once the negative core beliefs and shame take root then healthy intimacy becomes terrifying.
- The experience of healthy intimacy brings up in men the feelings of powerlessness
- Why? – because the men feel inadequate and to be in a healthy intimacy requires being vulnerable which means they could be exposed for being ‘inadequate’
- The experience of healthy intimacy brings up in men the feelings of powerlessness
‘Acting Out’
- Acting out sexually (porn, escorts, anonymous sex, compulsive masturbation) becomes a safer option for men
- Why? – becomes it numbs the pain of feeling bad about themselves & provides them with a fleeting experience of power.
Treatment for Sex Addiction
Treatment must be focused on dealing with the negative core beliefs and shame that a man is carrying. Working elsewhere may be helpful temporarily but will change a little longer term.
Sex & Porn Addiction Recovery Resources for men in Toronto, Ontario (GTA).
- Sex & Porn Addiction Recovery Guide (Toronto)