Gerry Pettyjohn has many years of experience as a professional counsellor helping people to overcome sexual addiction. Many of you reading this page might not understand sex addiction. You may be in denial or you are just looking for more information. Please read this page and complete the sex addiction screening test to gain further understanding.

What is sexual addiction?

Patrick Carnes is a pioneer in sex addiction counselling, research and recovery. He was the first person to use the term "sex addiction" in his book, “Out of the Shadows." He describes this problem as “any sexually-related, compulsive behaviour which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's work environment.”

Doug Weiss, author and clinician, says, “Sex addiction is a way some people medicate their feelings and/or cope with their stresses to the degree that their sexual behaviour becomes their major coping mechanism for stresses in their life. The individual often cannot stop this sexual behaviour for any great length of time by themselves. The sex addict spends a lot of time in the pursuit of his or her sexual behaviour/fantasy or they may have a binge of sexual behaviours.”

When you compare sexual addictions to substance addictions like alcohol or drugs, the same 7 criteria for dependence are relevant:

1. 1) There is tolerance where behaviours build over time and there is a pattern of increasing frequency and intensity of behaviours.
2. 2) When sexual behaviours are stopped, there are withdrawal symptoms which may include headaches, irritability, high anxiety and/or strong cravings.
3. 3) Sexually addicted people intend to spend just a few minutes on a sexual activity but suddenly many hours are consumed.
4. 4) There is a persistent desire to stop and multiple efforts to stop but sex addicts cannot seem to resist and they succumb to the cravings time after time.
5. 5) A huge amount of time is spent thinking about sex, engaging in sex and recovering from the effects of the behaviours.
6. 6) Social, occupational and recreational activities are negatively affected.
7. 7) There are adverse consequences such as threat of losing a marriage, a job, one’s health or one’s freedom but the sexually addictive behaviours continue.

Sex addiction appears in many forms with the most common being:

1. - Pornography viewing.
2. - Compulsive masturbation.
3. - Out-of-control lust.
4. - Multiple uncommitted casual encounters.
5. - Cybersex (sexual chat, hook-up sites, webcams, exchanging photos).
6. - Addictive cheating.
7. - Using prostitutes.

No matter what form your sexual addiction has taken, you can find help with sex addiction counselling at Living in Freedom Therapy. Certified sexual recovery therapist, Gerry Pettyjohn, has dealt with every form of sexual dependency or fetish. No matter how strange an addiction seems or how alone it makes you feel, you can count on non-judgmental support. If you have 3 or more of the above criteria, call or text Gerry at 204-292-5058 to book an appointment. He has "been there and done that" with regards to sex addiction and recovery and he is dedicated to providing you with a safe place to break free of your addiction.

If you feel the need to do more self-examination on this subject:

Click here to take the sex addiction screening test.

If you score higher than a six, call or text 204-292-5058 to book an appointment and get on the road to recovery.

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"I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself" (Exodus 19:4).