Sex Addiction in Teens
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Teenage Hypersexuality: Treatment and Understanding
Teenagers who struggle with sex addiction have often been connected to traumatic childhood experiences. Neglect, abandonment, or physical or sexual abuse may cause the young adult stress in their mental health which causes them to struggle emotionally and socially well into their adulthood which will also impair their ability to form healthy personal relationships. Studies have shown that LGBTQ youth experience higher rates of substance abuse and sex addiction when compared to heterosexual teens.
Sex addiction is a disorder that begins in adolescence as sexual characteristics developed and then can extend across the lifespan. As the years go by, hypersexuality can grow into an addiction. At this point, often after 10–30 years of sexual acting out, adults might seek out treatment (or be forced into treatment) that may involve lifelong attendance at 12-step meetings or therapy, and possibly drug therapy. Getting your teen into therapy at a younger age will greatly improve their quality of life and will help them deal with and understand the struggles with sex addiction.
What is Hypersexuality?
Hypersexuality is a compulsive sexual behavior. Hypersexuality causes an intense focus on sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that can not be controlled . Hypersexuality has been linked to signs of bipolar disorder or can be its own addiction in itself. Also referred to as compulsive sexual behavior or sexual addiction, hypersexuality is described as a dysfunctional preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that are difficult to control. Although sex addiction or hypersexuality isn’t listed as a diagnosable condition research indicates that excess sexual behavior can develop, just like a chemical addiction. A person with sex addiction may have a compulsive need to be sexually stimulated which can cause problems in school, family life, and in other areas. Teens who have sex addiction will purposefully seek out other sexually active teens, porn addiction, or movies with sexual scenes, have phone sex, or send “nudes” online to get their “fix”. Unwanted pregnancies, STD’s and rape are some of the extreme consequences of sex addiction in teens.
How to Treat Sex Addiction in Adolescents
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic psychotherapy is typically recommended for a teen with hypersexuality. CBT is a form of psychological treatment that has been proven to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders. CBT helps the teen identify their sexual thoughts and behaviors and then how to replace them with good thoughts helps change the way the young adult processes their feelings and emotions without jumping to a quick decision.
When to get help
There are many different inpatient treatment centers that offer sex addiction treatment for teens and adolescents. Teenagers who have an addiction to porn or sex typically are in treatment for 30 days to help them regain control of their impulses and start healing. If your teen is showing any of these signs of sex addiction call us now. We can help you locate a treatment center for your teenager today.
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Having uncontrolled symptoms
- Experiencing problems with their health, school, or relationships
- Obsessive sexual thoughts, urges, fantasies, or behaviors
- Compulsive relations with multiple partners, including strangers
- Lying to cover behaviors
- Porn obsession, internet addiction
- Preoccupation with having sex, even when it interferes with daily life, productivity, work performance, and so on
- Inability to stop or control the behaviors
- Putting oneself or others in danger due to sexual behavior
- Feeling remorse or guilt after sex
- Experiencing other negative personal or professional consequences
Locating a treatment center that incorporates CBT into their programs can help your teen recover from sexual addiction and improve their life significantly.
For more information on CBT or to speak with a counselor about enrolling in a treatment center near you, call us today.
If you need help for an adult in your life Addiction No More is a locator service for treatment programs for adults.
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