Cross-addictions

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Addictions typically do not occur alone, but are often a complex myriad of rituals and behaviors.

• cross-addictions
• multiple addictions
• concurrent addictions
• co-occurring disorders

The idea that alcoholism and sexually compulsive behavior interact to some degree is not new.

The relationship between substance abuse and dependency and sexual behavior has been clearly established. The exact nature of that relationship, however, is still subject to debate.

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It is generally accepted that people with one addiction are more at risk to develop another. Some sex addicts also find they have a problem with alcohol or drugs. This does not, however, mean that if you have a sex addiction you are guaranteed to become addicted to other things.

Some sex addicts never experience any other addiction because no other substance or activity gives them the same feeling as the sexual acting out.

Dual (multiple) addictions examples:

Do I drink because I’m depressed or am I depressed because I drink?

Some people resort to self-medicating through drugs but the condition they are medicating goes undiagnosed. This is common with people suffering from mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders and OCD as well as some personality disorders.

Sometimes the reverse is the case. A person may be treated with medication for a mental health condition, when the condition is actually a symptom of alcohol dependence.

• Alcohol and drugs. Drugs alter libido, enhancing it early in drug addiction and inhibiting it later. There is a pattern in cocaine addiction of selling sexual favors for cocaine. As the cost of drug addiction increases, the drug addict usually can't afford the drug from ordinary job income, and must resort to (either/or) stealing, drug dealing or prostitution to support their habit. Many drugs cause blackouts or amnesia during the drug using experience, and if sex is coupled with that drug using experience then the details of the sexual experience may not be remembered.
• Food addiction. Sexual anorexia is a frequent accompaniment of overeating and anorexia nervosa.
• Shopping and shoplifting addiction. These often serve the dress ritual of the sex addict.
• Gambling. The lifestyle of the gambler often includes hypersexuality, where both compulsions feed the false sense of self esteem of the addict.
• Religious addiction. Compulsive religiosity sometimes accompanies sexual addiction as the sex addict is seeking religion to lessen guilt and shame
• Co-dependency - "the loss of self" (to others).
  Co-dependency often precedes other addictions and reappears as the addict gets into early recovery. Control of others is the co-dependent's "drug."

Overlaps and commonalities among chemical and non-chemical (behavioral) addictions.

Addictive sexual disorders often coexist with chemical dependency and are a frequently unrecognized cause of chemical dependency relapse.

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When concurrent addictions are present and one addiction is being treated, there is a tendency for the addict in early recovery to intensify the untreated addiction (switching addictions).

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Last update: Saturday, December 01, 2007.  Feedback - send an email to: