What is Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction, as defined by IITAP (International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals), is any sexually-related compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one’s work environment. Like an alcoholic unable to stop drinking, sexual addicts are unable to stop their self-destructive sexual behavior.
If you are experiencing a compulsive behavior that hinders your normal day-to-day living and negatively impacts your family, friends, and loved ones then you may have an addiction. We encourage you to take IITAP’s anonymous self-assessment to find out if you should investigate deeper.
What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female drinks at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.
If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.
If you are unsure about your drinking, please take the free Alcohol Screening Test below.
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