ABSTRACT
All addictions serve the function of controlling emotion. For example, some recreational drug users take drugs to create a positive emotion of euphoria, while others use their drug of choice to anesthetise against negative feelings. Or of course, many do both. The same is true of sex addiction. Hence engaging in cyber sex or having multiple affairs may create a positive emotion of feeling wanted and affirmed, while losing yourself for hours in pornography might drown feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem. In order to overcome any addiction permanently, these deeper emotional needs must be identified and, if possible, resolved. It’s important to remember that negative emotions are a part of life. We will all experience loneliness, boredom, frustration and a whole host of other difficult emotions at some stage in our lives. The key to permanent addiction recovery is to develop healthy strategies to manage these emotions rather than turning to a toxic behaviour that frequently creates the very emotions that the person is striving to avoid.
