How to Re-establish Your Sexual Relationship While Dealing with Sex Addiction
Sex addiction can cause major problems in an intimate relationship.
To identify and accept sex addiction are only the first steps toward recovery. Yet, re-establishing an intimate sexual connection with your partner is often part of the process, too.
Keep in mind that both you and your sexual partner will need to be on board with re-establishing your sexual relationship.
If both of you are ready to re-establish that relationship, it needs to be done the right way. Jumping into a sexual relationship again can hinder your addiction recovery. It could even make things worse.
So, how can you have a healthy sexual relationship while dealing with sex addiction?
Understanding the Cause of Your Problematic Sexual Behavior
Many sex addicts want to have a healthy sexual relationship. But, they might have a history that involves some type of trauma. This usually includes things like different types of abuse and/or neglect.
These experiences can make it easy for an individual to feel shame and guilt. As a result, it’s difficult to show vulnerability.
Sex addicts often use the act of sex itself to temporarily get rid of emotional pain. It’s short-lived, which is why they keep wanting more.
When you start to understand the underlying cause of your sex addiction, you can seek out the best type of treatment. If you don’t get to the bottom of your addiction, it will be nearly impossible to have a healthy sexual relationship.
Developing Healthy Sexual Intimacy
When you’re re-establishing your sexual relationship while dealing with sex addiction, it’s important to know what healthy sex is. But, it’s equally important to understand what it is not.
Healthy sex needs to be consensual, honest, and safe for both people involved. It shouldn’t be based solely on physical or emotional gratification. Instead, it needs to involve some level of trust and vulnerability.
Unhealthy sex is often manipulative, dishonest, or even secretive. That’s why so many sex addicts try to hide their addiction away. Or, they find secretive ways to feel fulfilled without their partners really knowing.
Going Through Relationship Recovery
Re-establishing your sexual relationship also means dealing with other aspects of your relationship with your partner. Non-sexual behaviors should be at the forefront of your treatment and recovery.
These non-sexual behaviors often have a domino effect. As you continue to build trust in your relationship, you’ll eventually be able to show more vulnerability.
A commitment to vulnerability, in turn, leads to intimacy. Intimacy can then lead to a gratifying, healthy sexual relationship with your partner. Keep in mind, though, that intimacy can be both sexual and non-sexual.
Lasting Recovery from Sex Addiction
Sex addiction has many causes and many different symptoms. Most importantly, it’s vital to know how to treat the addiction.
Most treatment options include addressing the underlying factors that play a role in your sex addiction. These factors are usually what allows the addiction to maintain a presence in your life.
Treatment also usually includes different ways to cope with your thoughts and behaviors in a healthier way.
Individual therapy and even group therapy are used to help people deal with sexual addiction.
Marriage or couples counseling can also be beneficial to re-establish your sexual connection. But, only if you’re seeking out additional treatment for the addiction itself.
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If you’re dealing with sex addiction and it’s affected your sexual relationship, it’s time to seek professional help to heal your relationship.
Feel free to set up an appointment if you’re struggling with addiction. Together, we’ll get to the bottom of the addiction itself, and learn how to develop healthier sexual habits.
