Love and sex addiction are both behavioural and intimacy disorders. They share many similar characteristics involving obsession and compulsion but differ in their associated behaviours. The causes and factors that contribute to this kind of behavioural addiction are often complex and difficult to overcome.
Thankfully, we have the know-how, professionalism, and experience to successfully treat love and sex addiction, regardless of how the addiction presents in an individual, within our purpose-built private rehab in rural Cheshire.
Both sex and love addiction are complex behavioural disorders that often only respond to professional treatment. For love and sex addiction treatment to be successful, the issues underpinning their addiction must be treated comprehensively. At Delamere, we offer a number of evidence-based, cutting-edge therapies that are designed to challenge, change, heal, and enable growth. Our sex and love addiction treatment programme involves more traditional therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and group therapies.
These challenge and change the beliefs and mindset that accompany these disorders. We also offer more holistic approaches such as mindfulness and meditation, somatic healing, and equine therapy.
The causes and conditions of love and sex addiction can be diverse and the disorder will affect each individual differently. This means that for treatment to be effective and lasting, it must treat all aspects of the individual. In addition to healing the issues underpinning sex and love addiction, at Delamere, guests will also be shown how to address their behaviours, form healthy relationships, and avoid addiction relapse once they have left treatment with us.
“Delamere’s approach to addiction is built from a place of compassion and understanding, there’s no judgement, there’s no ridicule, there’s no feelings of shame. Coming in here really just helped me look at myself and progress forward and move past some of the stuff I maybe hadn’t been able to let go from my past.” – Jimmy, Former Delamere Guest
Love and sex addiction are probably among the most misunderstood and overlooked addictions. Just because this kind of addiction doesn’t involve a substance as such, does not mean it cannot wreak all manner of havoc throughout a person’s life, especially in their personal relationships with themselves and with others. The common element that both love and sex addiction share is a distinct lack of control around behaviour.
The overriding symptom of sex addiction is the lack of ability to control sexual urges and desires. If you find you are losing control over your sexual activities, breaking your own moral codes of conduct, and alienating those who really care about you, then you should seek professional sex addiction treatment within a sex addiction rehab.
Someone with a love addiction is addicted to the feeling they get from being in love and will make impulsive and often dangerous decisions in order to find a person who can induce a constant release of love chemicals in their brain.
Here are some other common sexual addiction symptoms to look out for:
Some common signs of a love addiction include:
“Our belief is that with the right help, anyone can permanently break the active cycle of addiction and undergo a profound personal transformation.”
An inpatient stay at Delamere is a deliberately intensive 4-phase sex & love rehab programme, one which we have crafted over time and has helped many participants recover. Our emphasis is on holistic care to treat addiction and associated issues. This means that we treat the whole person rather than just the symptoms they present with. We believe that successful treatment runs far deeper than simply stopping the addictive substance or behaviour.
Our approach at Delamere comprises 4 core phases: Stop, Start, Grow, & Bloom. Everything we offer at Delamere aims at effective and lasting outcomes in addiction treatment:
This phase addresses any physical aspects of your addiction. Our medical team is on hand 24/7.
During ‘Start’ we help identify the psychological underpinnings of your dependency as you participate in a variety of addiction treatment therapies.
Our ‘Grow’ phase is the process of integrating the Delamere learning experience into life after treatment.
Our ‘Bloom’ phase offers intensive support on a weekly basis for the first three months of recovery once guests return home.
Given the shame and stigma around sex as a whole in society, it is understandable that there is even more difficulty talking openly about a sex or love addiction. From our experience, when planning to talk to a loved one or someone you care for regarding their behaviour towards sex, it is best to come from a place of concern rather than judgement. Know that you are not alone when it comes to helping a loved one seek love and sex addiction treatment and here at Delamere, we want to help support you in whatever way we can.
If you or a loved one have a problem with sex or love addiction, or you would like more information about our family support services and intervention services, please call us on 0330 111 2015 for confidential expert advice and to see how we can help.
Sex addiction, also known as Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD) is a compulsive engagement in sexual activity. Sex addiction, a recognised mental health disorder, can present in many forms. Sex is a basic part of our nature and a human instinct but in sex addiction, it is taken to the extreme and overpowers everything of worth in the person’s life. It can manifest in masturbation, sex with strangers (hookups), pornography, Chemsex, obsessive fetishes, extreme types of sex, and multiple partners.
Regardless of the activity or behaviour that is linked to sex addiction, the identifying characteristic is the individual’s distinct lack of control around their engagement levels and behaviour. Sex addiction is a progressive disorder and as such can become all-consuming. The risk-taking can reach life-threatening levels and the guilt, shame, and remorse that accompanies sex addiction can destroy an individual’s mental wellbeing.
If you or a loved one have a problem with sex addiction, please call us on 0330 111 2015 for a free, confidential consultation with our friendly, trained admissions staff.
A love addiction always involves another person, even if the person is not in a relationship with the individual with the love addiction (fantasy). Pleasurable organic chemical compounds including dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, and serotonin play a crucial role in an individual developing feelings of trust and pleasure within the brain’s reward centre. Love becomes a problem when an individual becomes infatuated and obsessed with the subconscious release of these chemicals induced through dysfunctional yet rewarding behaviours associated with love.
Someone with a love addiction is addicted to the feeling they get from being in love. Their core objective will be to find a perfect person who can solve all of their problems and take care of them without exception.
Love addicts have many unhealthy behaviours that contribute to the manifestation of their addiction and keep them trapped in the addictive cycle. They will make impulsive and dangerous decisions, often throwing caution to the wind, just to win over and secure the love of the person in whom their infatuation and fantasy lie. In a person who suffers from love addiction, their obsessive behaviour, infatuation and preoccupation will eventually infiltrate all other areas of their life, causing all manner of destruction and pain.
If you or a loved one have a problem with love addiction, please call us on 0330 111 2015 for a free, confidential consultation with our friendly, trained admissions staff.
Start your recovery journey by contacting us today.
Learn more about our approach to love & sex addiction rehab. Visit Love & Sex Addiction Rehab
Learn more about our approach to pornography addiction. Visit Pornography Addiction
