Sexual Addiction: Treatable Disease - author's name withheld

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Sexual Addiction: Treatable Disease
Author's Name Withheld on Request

In a recent article on CHAKRA, the author explains the difficulty of following the four regulative principles, especially no illicit sex. Since Krishna Consciousness principles set out by Srila Prabhupada emphasize "no illicit sex" as one of the "pillars" of the Movement, Srila Prabhupada's view was that sex should only be employed for the propagation of Krishna Conscious children. The author of the recent CHAKRA article argues it is very difficult to follow this principle. While it is not my purpose to address that article directly, I wish to address the topic of sexual addiction as a treatable disease and to help you find tools for self-assessment and support groups.

Now days there is an abundance of easily accessible pornography sites on the Internet along with a whole culture of suggestive TV commercials, magazines at Supermarket checkout stands encouraging how to have better orgasms, etc. Problems with illicit sex can certainly be within marriage, but they don't stop there, obviously. Masturbation, visiting "peep shows," paying prostitutes, having affairs, sexual child abuse, are all things that have plagued certain members of ISKCON for years.

There are two kinds of addictions known as substance addiction and behavioral addiction. Substance addiction includes addiction to alcohol and drugs. Behavioral addiction includes addiction to behavioral patterns, such as gambling, over-eating and sex. Therefore there is Alcoholics Anonymous, Drug Abuse Anonymous, Over-eating Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and Sexaholics Anonymous.

Modern psychiatry is just now starting to recognize certain sexual behavior as a treatable addictive cycle, and a number of web sites specifically deal with the problem.

The Sexaholics Anonymous website lists a check list to discover if you are a sex addict. Here it is:

A Useful Tool for Self-Assessment

Answer these twelve questions to assess whether you may have a problem with sexual addiction.

Do you keep secrets about your sexual or romantic activities from those important to you? Do you lead a double life?
Have your needs driven you to have sex in places or situations or with people you would not normally choose?
Do you find yourself looking for sexually arousing articles or scenes in newspapers, magazines, or other media?
Do you find that romantic or sexual fantasies interfere with your relationships or are preventing you from facing problems?
Do you frequently want to get away from a sex partner after having sex? Do you frequently feel remorse, shame, or guilt after a sexual encounter?
Do you feel shame about your body or your sexuality, such that you avoid touching your body or engaging in sexual relationships? Do you fear that you have no sexual feelings, that you are asexual?
Does each new relationship continue to have the same destructive patterns which prompted you to leave the last relationship?
Is it taking more variety and frequency of sexual and romantic activities than previously to bring the same levels of excitement and relief?
Have you ever been arrested or are you in danger of being arrested because of your practices of voyeurism, exhibitionism, prostitution, sex with minors, indecent phone calls, etc.?
Does your pursuit of sex or romantic relationships interfere with your spiritual beliefs or development?
Do your sexual activities include the risk, threat, or reality of disease, pregnancy, coercion, or violence?
Has your sexual or romantic behavior ever left you feeling hopeless, alienated from others, or suicidal?

At the end of the list, it says: "If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, we would encourage you to seek out additional literature as a resource or to attend an Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting to further assess your needs."

Dr. Doug's Heart to Heart Counseling for sex addicts can be found at http://sexaddict.com and is a great resource for sex addicts. On his web site you can also find helpful links to other sites, such as:

The Plain Brown Rapper Newsletter at http://www.sexaa.org/pbr.htm is also a great source of reading material.

These web sites and related resources have helped more than one Hare Krishna devotee having problem with illicit sex in the past. They are also useful for counseling someone who is having problems following the "fourth regulative principle."

© CHAKRA 25-January-2001

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