I just returned from 5 days of extremely intensive training for certification as a sex addiction therapist. It's actually the first of 4 trainings I will have to complete to be fully certified. Right now I'm a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Candidate through the International Institute of Trauma and Addictions Professionals.
They say the reading we complete is equivalent to that of a PhD program. I believe it. It was like trying to drink water from a fire hose. Lots of information!
There's a lot of stigma and shame tied to any addiction, let alone sex addiction. I learned a lot about the changes in neurochemistry and neuroplasticity of the brain when that addictive switch gets "turned on" (pun intended).
Trauma and Attachment
I also learned a lot about trauma and attachment disorders because that's really much of the psychosocial conditioning that sets one up for neurological changes around arousal. These changes in the brain lead to uncontrolled compulsivity which may result in an intimacy disorder. Put simply, those who meet diagnostic criteria for sex addiction struggle in being emotionally, psychologically, or spiritually intimate with another human being.
As I find them, I'll be adding resources to this blog under the category "Recovery."
You might also notice it's been a while since I've blogged. I thought this topic a great way to kick off my re-entry into my very own blogosphere. A lot has been happening in my life this last year, and I'll do a better job in 2015 of keeping readers and those interested posted via this site.
What if you think you have a problem?
If you think you might have an issue with sex addiction, you can complete a simple survey by completeing this Sex Addiction Screening Test. The 20 short questions will only take a few minutes.
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