ABSTRACT
When recovering from sex addiction, having a fulfilling and stable couple relationship can be both a support and an incentive. For many people, a happy couple relationship is one of the most important things in their lives. A place where they can love and be loved. Where they can find peace, comfort and support as well as stimulation and pleasure. A place that provides a refuge from the struggles of life. Therefore it’s perhaps not surprising that the quality of the couple relationship is a key influencer of successful lifelong recovery. When a relationship is not happy, as most aren’t after the discovery of addiction, a huge strain can be put on every area of life. This is especially true when there is pain, conflict or threats of separation – all of which are commonplace after the disclosure of sex addiction. Improving couple relationships needs to be a key focus for relapse prevention, since failure to do so will continue to trigger the addict in a myriad of ways.
