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

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’

‘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)