The power of sexual love is unequaled in human experience. Sex is not addiction; addiction is not sex. But these two experiences can come together and result in sexual addiction or compulsivity. This article defines sex addiction, summarizes the history and research that supports the idea of sex addiction, identifies 20 characteristics of sex addiction, discusses patterns and treatment issues, and summarizes how transactional analysis has been used in therapy with individuals with sexual addiction. The article includes case examples to clarify how sex addiction affects individuals and their partners.
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