Pornography Addiction

Question

Can you be a sex addict if you don’t have sex? I go to strip clubs every night and I get lap dances but I never take any of the girls home even though I could. I don’t think I have a problem because I never take any of the girls out and it is very possible to do this. But I am a bit worried because sometimes I decide not to go a club some night and then I find it really hard to stop myself from going. The only reason I ever don’t want to go is because sometimes I have money problems from my strip club visits every night. Actually I owe a lot of money around but I can’t pay anyone back because I am always spending more than I am making in the clubs. So is it possible to be addicted to going to strip clubs?

Dr. Shirley Schaye · Accepted Answer

I don't know if you are willing to go for treatment or at least address this problem. The fact that you are bringing your question here is a positive sign. I want to say that it is difficult to break any addiction and pornography is like a drug. There is treatment for this and may involve taking some medication. It has been found that treating porn addiction is similar to treating OCD--- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I am going to give you information on this as well as a quiz that you could take that you can self score and provide a reliable indication of what level of addiction you have.

http://psychcentral.com/sexquiz.htm

I will also provide treatment protocol.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/treatment-for-sexual-addiction/

I want to say that it is difficult to break any addiction, and pornography, as I have said is like a drug and it is difficult to break any addiction . You could go to a mental health counselor who works with addictions, but you might feel more comfortable starting off with a book on the subject. This book has been very helpful to others. If you find that the book is not helpful then you should definitely consider therapy.

The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography by Wendy Maltz and Larry Maltz.

It is important that you realize that you have a problem. You should use the book to follow the methods described there.You must faithfully practice what it says in this book.

About the Expert