Ocean Recovery Centre announces the introduction of our bespoke rehabilitation service for clients suffering from love and/or sex addiction via our sex addiction rehab programme.

This programme typically runs between fourteen and twenty-eight days. The precise amount of time your rehabilitation programme requires is determined during the initial pre-admission assessment.

Please ring an admissions counsellor for more information or use our online contact form.

Our sex and love rehabilitation programme require a commitment of time on behalf of the client. This is because clients are required to live within the rehabilitation centre for the entire duration of their treatment.

But our state-of-the-art rehab centre, located in Blackpool, Lancashire has incredible views of Blackpool beach and the promenade.

Our extensively refurbished building off beautiful modern communal areas, all with the home comforts you expect. We also have 13 relaxing bedrooms with a dedicated staff to maintain them.

Contact Us

94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS, Blackpool, FY2 9NS

Landline: 01253 847 553

Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com

Start your Recovery - Call us now

What is Sex Addiction?

‘Sex addiction’ first hit news headlines during the late eighties and early nineties. Since this time a lot of scientific research has been conducted in this area of addiction.

Especially, as the digital age has created a large shift in how we form relationships, with the rising popularity of dating apps, and the easy access to explicit content on the internet.

Sex addiction is officially known as an ‘intimacy disorder’. The key symptom of this disorder is an inability to maintain a normal intimate relationship with others.

Further, this disorder commonly masks other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and low self-worth. Many sex addicts are also addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

When it comes to sex addiction, there exists a clear gender bias. Research suggests roughly four percent of women and around seven percent of men suffer from the illness at any one point in time.

 

What is the Difference Between Sex and Love Addiction?

Although they are seen and treated in a similar way, there is a difference between sex and love addiction.

Sex addiction is a hyper fixation on sexual activities, finding sexual partners or seeking out explicit material.

Whereas love addiction, also known as romance or relationship addiction, is the need for co-dependency and tends to have one person as the basis of the addiction.

Love addicts will fixate on one specific person and the euphoria they create. They will also experience withdrawal symptoms when the focus of their affection is not present.

What are the Symptoms of Sex Addiction?

Those suffering from sex addiction cannot prevent themselves from seeking sex with another human being. Most sex addicts gain the addiction at an early age.

Their addiction prevents them from settling down into a healthy long-term loving relationship. It’s often not until the sex addict reaches their late thirties or early forties until they realise, they have a problem.

Above all, sex addiction is characterised by a wish to have sex with strangers, often when it is inappropriate to do so. Sex addiction often isolates the sufferer from others in their social and professional life.

Since the impulse to seek sex is uncontrollable, the sufferer does not learn from his or her mistakes. In fact, a sex addiction is a variety of Impulse Control Disorder (ICD). Other ICDs include gambling addiction and gaming addiction.

Below we list some of the typical symptoms of sex addiction:Sex Addiction

  • Insomnia
  • Prostitution
  • Paying for sex
  • Anger if sexual advances are rejected
  • Manipulating one’s partner
  • Persistent, obsessive urges for sexual contact to an overwhelming degree.
  • Knowingly engaging in harmful sexual behaviour
  • Engaging in sexual behaviour because you have to, rather than you want to for pleasure.
  • Cheating on your partner or having many sexual partners.
  • Excessive masturbation.
  • Partaking in extreme sexual activities.
  • Only having sex for the physical release rather than an emotional connection.
  • Sex is dominating all aspects of your life, to the detriment of all other activities.

There are also a number of withdrawal symptoms sufferers may experience; which can be compared to the intrusive thoughts associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

But all the intrusive thoughts are centred around sexual activities or a specific person in case of romance/relationship addiction.

How Rehab Can Help

Rehab employs an aggressive regime of counselling and therapy sessions. These sessions aim to treat the underlying cause of sex addiction. All addictions, be they behavioural or substance, have a root issue that needs addressing before real change can be made.

Rehab begins with a psychiatric examination. Patients then begin their therapy as soon as rehab commences. Rehab employs both group and individual therapy sessions.

Here sex addicts learn the ‘triggers’ of their addiction so that the risk of relapse is reduced once rehabilitation is complete.

During rehab, clients experience a range of different therapy techniques. This includes cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy and a range of ancient holistic therapies. Patients also engage in ‘12 step’ work employed by Sex Addicts Anonymous.

Above all, therapy seeks to treat underlying mental problems that sex addicts suffer from. These typically include anxiety, depression and feelings of low self-worth. And throughout your entire stay and beyond you will be treated with respect and understanding.

As we aim to be welcoming and professional, without judgment as we want anybody that visits us to no longer feels alone, unsupported or trapped.

What Happens After Rehab?

Once you have completed treatment you aren’t just sent home and left to fend for yourself. Before you leave Ocean Recovery you will develop a relapse prevention plan to continue the work you will have done with our staff.

We will also help you find a Sex Addicts Anonymous group in your local area so you will still receive support and you are able to continue the ’12 step’ approach to recovery.

Call Ocean Recovery today

If you believe you are struggling with sex or love addiction call Ocean Recovery today to find out more.

Or if you believe someone close to you may be struggling call us as we have family or friend intervention options. You can also complete the enquiry form and a member of the team will respond shortly.

John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: March 15, 2023

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.

Dr Alexander Lapa - Clinical Reviewer at Ocean Recovery

    Dr Alexander Lapa (Psychiatrist) - Clinical Reviewer - Last reviewed:

    MBBS, PG Dip Clin Ed, OA Dip CBT, OA Dip Psychology, SCOPE Certified

    Dr Lapa graduated in Medicine in 2000 and since this time has accrued much experience working in the widest range of psychiatric settings with differing illness presentations and backgrounds in inpatient, community and secure settings. This has been aligned to continuation of professional development at postgraduate level in clinical research which has been very closely related to the everyday clinical practice conducted by this practitioner as a NHS and Private Psychiatrist.
    He is fully indemnified by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) and MIAB Expert Insurance for Psychiatric and Private Medical practice. He is fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK with a licence to practice.

    Dr Lapa is approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act (1983)

    Member of Independent Doctors Federation (IDF), British Association for Psychopharmacology (BMA) and The Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)

    Dr Lapa’s extensive experience has also concentrated on the following areas of clinical practice:
    – Assessment, Diagnosis and Pharmacological Treatment for Adults with ADHD.
    – Drug and Alcohol Dependency and maintaining abstinence and continued recovery
    – Intravenous and Intramuscular Vitamin and Mineral Infusion Therapy
    – Dietary and Weight Management and thorough care from assessment to treatment to end goals and maintenance
    – Aesthetic Practice and Procedures

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