How sex addiction harms a relationship.

When one partner in a marriage or relationship is a sexual addict, both partners suffer as a result. The extent to which each partner is impacted by the sexual compulsivity or addiction varies, depending on the type of addiction, how long it has been present, whether it has progressed to more blatant and potentially serious behavior, whether or not there are children in the family, if there are multiple addictions, and other factors. If the partner has a sexual addiction, it is already enough to seriously disrupt the partnership or family unit. Without treatment, the sexual addict will only get worse. So, too, will the relationship.

Some individuals reading this may wonder if what’s going on in their relationship warrants treatment or therapy. The sexual addict certainly needs treatment. But the partner who is not addicted most likely needs help as well. Why? Experts in treating sexual addiction counsel that the partner or codependent of the sexual addict often internalizes a tremendous amount of guilt, shame, anger and other very intense feelings. Without some counseling to understand the causes of their partner’s sexual addiction and how to cope with it, these feelings put the relationship – already under severe strain – at further jeopardy.

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