The Long-Lived Impacts of Sexual Addiction: Examples of Unwanted Gifts That Keep Giving

Abstract

The consequences of sexual addiction (hereafter SA) and compulsive sexual behavior (hereafter CSB) are manifold and can be challenging to qualify and quantify accurately. Individuals suffering from SA/CSB and their intimate partners typically encounter a host of devastating ramifications. The purpose of this comment piece is to highlight selected ongoing and often life-altering impacts, many of which will haunt affected relationships for long periods of time following discovery and disclosure. It is common knowledge that SA/CSB is almost always underpinned by pornography consumption. Given that the majority of pornography is now accessed on mobile devices suggests that modern technology plays a significant role in contributing to, sustaining, and escalating SA/CSBs. Our comment also presents an unsolicited letter from a self-identified sex addict, which laments the real-life consequences of SA/CSB.