I am addicted to sex or porn

If you struggle with sex or porn addiction, there is help and hope. Healthy sex requires these five basic conditions be met:

  • Consent
  • Equality
  • Respect
  • Trust
  • Safety

If you have not been arrested but want to stop cruising the internet, the street, or porn sites looking for sex, there are many helpful resources in Edmonton. 

Certified Sex Therapists

Insight Psychological
Cory Hrushka or Jason Jones
Sliding fee services for non-insured individuals

North Edmonton 780.478.2580
South Edmonton 780.461.1717
1.888.311.3501

Cathy Mayhew, Recovery Counselling Services
780.434.4837

Christina Bell, Centre for Healthy Recovery
780.239.3344

Thorpe Recovery Centre
Blackfoot, AB
780.875.8890

Recovery Group for Partners of Sex Addicts
This is the companion group to Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) whether their partners attend the SAA meetings or not. All partners of sex addicts will be welcome at this group. It is at St. Andrews Church hall in Edmonton, AB.
Contact: cosaedmonton@gmail.com

Online and Community Resources

“Making promises to ourselves does not work. Telling the truth does.”    -Patrick Carnes

5 Points of Consent Video

Helpful books by Patrick Carnes:

  • Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction
  • Don’t Call it Love: Helping the Sexual Addict
  • Facing the Shadow: Starting Sexual and Relationship Recovery
  • In the Shadow of the Net: Breaking Free of Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior

The effects of internet porn use:
www.yourbrainonporn.com
www.virtual-addiction.com/on-line-pornography-test/

Sex Help Website

Sex Addicts Anonymous (Edmonton, AB) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction.

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from sexual compulsion.

AddictionCenter.com

https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/sex-addiction/

What Is Sex Addiction?

“Sex releases endorphins and pleasure chemicals like dopamine in the brain, similar to some types of drugs. This can make the process of looking for and having sex a strain for people with sex addiction. Rather than them enjoying what sex they have, they are instantly compelled to look for their next “fix.” What makes this addiction so hard to treat is that, unlike using Opioids or Meth, sex is necessary for life. We, as humans, have a biological imperative to have sex and continue our progeny. So sex isn’t just something that many people can forsake, especially if they wish to have children and relationships in the traditional sense.

Sex releases endorphins and pleasure chemicals like dopamine in the brain, similar to some types of drugs. This can make the process of looking for and having sex a strain for people with sex addiction. Rather than them enjoying what sex they have, they are instantly compelled to look for their next “fix.” What makes this addiction so hard to treat is that, unlike using Opioids or Meth, sex is necessary for life. We, as humans, have a biological imperative to have sex and continue our progeny. So sex isn’t just something that many people can forsake, especially if they wish to have children and relationships in the traditional sense.

Symptoms Of Sex Addiction

People suffering from sex addiction will struggle to control their impulses. Similar to how someone addicted to Heroin may be willing to go to great lengths to feed their addiction, people addicted to sex will do whatever it takes to fill their need. They may lie to people, cheat on their significant other, or even pay for sex. Symptoms that someone might be suffering from sex addiction include:

  • Engaging in sex with multiple partners
  • Craving sex to the point that it interferes with other engagements
  • Continuously engaging in excessive sexual activities despite wanting to stop
  • Unsuccessful attempts to cut down on sexual activity
  • Spending time in activities related to or that could lead to sex
  • Neglecting other obligations in the pursuit of sex
  • Continuing to engage in sexual behavior despite detriments to relationships
  • Needing to escalate sexual activity to achieve the desired effect
  • Feeling withdrawals or negative feelings when unable to engage in sexual behaviour.”

Quoted from the Addiction Centre website

Other helpful articles:

https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/cross-addictions/
http://www.rehabcenter.net/treat-pornography-addiction/