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Sexual Addiction

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Submitted By sybil03
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Sexual Addiction
First M. Last
Colorado Christian University
Sexual Addiction As Christians, we are not perfect, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8, New International Version). We were born into a world of corruption and were given freewill upon our birth. God gives us the opportunities to “…confess our sins” so that He may “…purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is why our Catholic brothers and sisters go to confession; Methodist, Baptist, Protestants, and other Christian denominations go to the alter to pray and ask for forgiveness. Through our Christian walk we will face obstacles and temptations. We will not always make the correct choices and we will fall short of God’s glory by becoming obsessed or addicted to something along the way. By giving into a temptation, doesn’t make you any less of a Christian, it makes you human. The temptations of food, drugs, alcohol, fame, sex, or anything else that can be easily indulged in or over indulged can easily turn into an addiction even for the spiritually strong individual. One addiction that is becoming more popular is the addiction to sex. According to an article on psychcentral.com, sexual addiction is defined as “a progressive intimacy disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts.” (Grohol, 2010) The 2010 American Psychiatric Association (APA) criteria draft of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), applies this diagnosis to individuals who are 18 years of age, demonstrated “recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, sexual urges, and sexual behavior” (Grohol, 2010) for at least six months, and at minimum of 4 out of the 5 other identifying criteria. The Mayo Clinic estimates that three to six percent of American adults are affected by sexual addiction. (Landau, 2008)
During a November 2005

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