Information & Treatment for Sex or Fetish Addiction

What is a sex addict?

A person who compulsively thinks about, seeks out and engages in sexual activity to an unusual extent. Sex addicts often use sex as an avoidance strategy, paradoxically, to ward off closeness and intimacy by turning sex into an act devoid of emotion, depth or lasting connection. As with other forms of addiction, sex addicts can be driven to pursue increasing levels of sexual excess over time as their cravings become harder to satisfy, leading to risky behaviour and more problems with relationships, work or even the law. A sex addiction is less specific than a fetish, which is always precise, and may also be covering up anxiety connected with intimate relationships.

Fetishes and fetish addiction

A fetish is a strong reliance on a particular object, body part or aesthetic for sexual arousal and gratification. Not all sex addicts have fetishes, and not all fetishes are problematic. Your fetish, if you indeed have one, is unique to you. Even if your special predilection is common — whether it be boots, leather, rubber, feet, plush toys or any of a myriad of other possibilities — the function and meaning of the fetish object will be particular to you. Like a phobia, a fetish may have arisen over the course of a person’s development to solve a deeper problem, by fixating energy into a specific object to displace pain or satisfy unmet needs.

Your fetishistic fantasies may be a harmless and contained element of a healthy sex life. But if your fetish is edging more into the territory of compulsion and addiction, or if it’s starting to adversely affect your relationships, it might be time to seek help.

Call us on (03) 9557 9113 or use our contact form to find out how we might be able to help you — or if you are ready, you can book your appointment online. 

Where to draw the line

How do you know if your preoccupation with sex or fetishes has become an addiction? Seeking advice in a confidential counselling session can be helpful to assess the extent of the problem. However, sexually obsessive behaviour generally has observable ripple effects:

• Guilt about the addiction
• Lying or keeping secrets
• Loss of control
• Feeling depressed
• Anxiety or irritability when you can’t satisfy urges or cravings
• Urges to act irresponsibly, break the law or betray your own moral principles in order to satisfy compulsions
• Neglecting relationships, work, finances and other commitments in favour of indulging in the addiction

What are the options

In either scenario, a judgemental approach premised on an idea of ‘normal’ sexuality is only likely to lead to more shame and repression. Traditional treatment models for sex or fetish addictions regard them as “diseases,” rather than symptoms of a deeper cause. Failing to acknowledge sex or fetish addiction as the manifestation of a set of internal problems specific to the individual erases the uniqueness of the person who is experiencing them. Neglecting the underlying causes of any addiction or problematic behaviour makes it much more likely that relapse will occur.

Depth psychotherapy takes a more comprehensive approach, situating the addiction within a person’s history and aiming to create change by mapping out the purpose it served within the individual’s psyche. Analysis of the development of the compulsion — the triggers, patterns and aftermath — and counselling on diversion strategies, may help sufferers gain control of their urges so that they can work on re-establishing a safe and satisfying sex life.

The therapists at Bayside Psychotherapy have broad training and experience in treatment methods including NLP, hypnotherapy, Buddhist psychotherapy, dream interpretation, mindfulness therapy and counselling. You can choose either online or-face to-face appointments depending on what is more comfortable and convenient.