Could Your Sexual Addiction Be Rooted In Trauma?
Do you ever feel haunted by your past? Maybe you were neglected or abused during childhood, or someone in your household was battling addiction. On the other hand, you might have been deeply affected by a vehicle accident, natural disaster, combat experience, or other threatening situation.
Have you been experiencing depression, anxiety, or mood swings? You might suffer from hypervigilance, angry outbursts, or panic attacks, especially when you’re triggered by something from the past. These symptoms and other sensitivities may be affecting everything from your relationships to your ability to carry out everyday tasks.
In addition to your psychological discomfort, are you also experiencing physical trauma symptoms? Chest pains, a racing heart, or shortness of breath might occur in times of stress. Your eating and sleeping habits may also seem skewed. Additionally, persistent anxiety or nightmares might be preventing you from getting a good night’s rest.
Do you find yourself turning to sexual experiences to lift your mood? Do you wonder if you might be addicted to sex? You may find yourself compulsively masturbating, turning to sexual fantasy, or seeking out sexual encounters to the point that it interferes with your professional or personal life. Even if your actions go against your moral beliefs or your partner’s wishes, you may feel unable to stop. If so, you may have what is known as Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD).
Struggling with trauma and CSBD at the same time might feel like more than you can handle. With the right treatment, though, you can reduce the symptoms of trauma, including unwanted sexual behaviors.
Compulsive Sexual Behaviors And Trauma Are Strongly Linked
If you’re struggling with Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), there’s a good chance that you’re also suffering from trauma. Research has repeatedly demonstrated a link between trauma and CSBD.
One study found that nearly one in five military veterans—who often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—displayed signs of sexual addiction. Because PTSD isn’t unique to veterans, the survivors of assaults, vehicle accidents, natural disasters, and other traumatizing experiences are likewise at risk for CSBD. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), including abuse and neglect, are also associated with compulsive sexual behaviors. So for many people, trauma treatment is a necessary component of addressing CSBD.
Sexual addiction and other types of dependencies are the typical result of abnormal experiences. When an opportunity for you to distract yourself from painful memories presented itself at some point, it makes sense that you would have taken advantage of it. Unfortunately, temporary coping mechanisms often become long-term addictions.
Rising above entrenched behaviors won’t be as easy as falling into them, but with determination and the help of a knowledgeable therapist, healing is possible. You can overcome trauma and start to reverse its negative effects, including any addictions you may be plagued with.
Somatic Trauma Therapy Can Dig Out Addiction By The Root
Your treatment will involve several steps. I’ll start by teaching you healthy coping strategies you can use to quickly gain control over compulsive sexual behaviors. You will also learn new skills that will help you become more emotionally resilient.
Once you’re ready to begin trauma therapy, I’ll explain some of my techniques including Brainspotting, Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). These evidence-based modalities help clients attune to their nervous system (somatic-based) with the goal of nervous system regulation. Research dictates that ‘talk therapy’ isn’t enough to treat underlying trauma-related issues. Somatic-based therapeutic modalities recognize the fact that trauma can leave more than just physical scars; it can also impact the nervous system, affecting your psychological health.
Somatic-based trauma treatment is centered on the idea that emotions correspond with bodily sensations. For example, the survivor of a natural disaster might feel a tightness in their chest when recalling the event. Many people with PTSD and childhood trauma don’t even notice the sensations in their own bodies, so part of our work together will be to increase your bodily awareness.
I will encourage you to notice any physical sensations that arise during trauma therapy, such as tension in your stomach or tightness in your throat. In time, you’ll learn to track these sensations on your own, without being prompted. This heightened awareness of your physiology will be a window into your emotions, giving you an opportunity to address strong feelings in healthy ways before they escalate beyond your ability to tolerate them.
The human brain has a tendency to dwell on the negative, so another element of our work will be to shift your attention to pleasant or neutral thoughts and sensations. For example, if you notice that you’re clenching your jaw during therapy, I might ask you whether there are any places in your body that feel more relaxed. Focusing on those parts sends your body a message that you are safe, regulating your nervous system and leveling out your emotional state.
Somatic trauma therapy doesn’t require you to verbalize any uncomfortable details about your past. Traumatic memories can be extremely distressing, so my goal will be to help you process them a little at a time. Bit by bit, I will direct your attention to the sensations associated with negative feelings. Should you become overwhelmed, I will invite you to shift your thoughts toward something calming, like the memory of a beloved pet or favorite place. Your nervous system doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality, so this technique can “trick” your body into what is known as homeostasis.
Somatic trauma therapy heals trauma at the cellular level. As we process your trauma, you may experience physiological releases such as muscle tremors, burping, yawning, flatulence, or tingling in your body. While such sensations may come as a surprise, they are actually very common in people who are physically processing trauma.
As your treatment progresses, you may notice your trauma symptoms and compulsive tendencies naturally fading away. Even when you do experience intense emotions, you’ll be more likely to turn to the emotional management skills learned in therapy than the compulsive sexual behaviors of the past.
The Trauma Resiliency Model is relatively new, but its predecessor and inspiration, a technique called Somatic Experiencing, is supported by extensive empirical research. In one study, 90% of participants suffering from PTSD reported a partial or full recovery thanks to this somatic treatment. In another study of adults with childhood trauma, participants reported feeling significantly more relaxed and serene.
As you're contemplating how trauma therapy could help you overcome compulsive sexual behaviors, you may have some questions. . .
Will this really work?
I have seen firsthand how effective this approach can be. One client who was struggling with multiple addictions and unable to care for themselves was able to overcome their dependencies and become much more independent thanks to the trauma treatment process.
Is it really necessary to address trauma in order to stop being addicted to sex?
Self-control and healthy coping strategies can help you overcome unwanted sexual behaviors for a while. However, if you only address your current symptoms, you may still be vulnerable to future relapses. By addressing the underlying cause of your addiction (past trauma), you can increase your chances of long-term success.
I’m not sure I actually have trauma.
You might not view your upbringing as having been particularly traumatic. Nevertheless, you likely developed trauma if you were neglected, abused, bullied, abandoned, or made to feel unimportant during childhood or adolescence. It is also worth noting that two people can interpret the same experience differently. While one person might recover quickly from being bitten by a dog, another person might develop PTSD as a result. Even something as minor as accidentally slicing your hand with a kitchen knife can trigger trauma in some people.
Experience The Power Of Trauma Recovery For Banishing Sex Addiction
If you’re ready to overcome your addiction and reduce your trauma symptoms, contact me for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. You can also visit the other pages on my website to learn about my multi-pronged approach to treatment.