You've done it! You have finally reached recovery in your battle with sexual addiction. You sought treatment, went through therapy, and can finally consider yourself "cured" from sexual addiction…right?
Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. As with most addictions, there is no "cure" for hypersexuality. Sexual addicts, even those who have undergone treatment, must continue to work every day to live with sexual integrity and freedom. Relapsing is a very real possibility, and steps must be taken in order to avoid it.
First, recovering sex addicts must learn healthy, effective stress management strategies. Stress is a common trigger for sexual addiction, and if you do not deal with it in a healthy way, it is possible to fall back into negative sexual habits. This leads into the next tip for avoiding relapse - avoid falling back into old lifestyle patterns. After treatment is completed, it is imperative that you change your old unhealthy lifestyle patterns into new, healthy ones. This includes avoiding places like old clubs, bars, and even places like online chat rooms and pornographic websites. Avoiding these eliminates the temptation of falling back into old patterns.
Relapse can also be avoided by sticking closely to your treatment plan. Continue to attend every therapy appointment, take medication as necessary, and follow all other aspects of your treatment plan without faltering. Incorporating new, healthy activities into your life is very helpful as well. Find something new to put your time, energy, and focus into.
If you do experience a setback it is not the end of the world. Make sure you have a plan of action and a good support network to ensure the best chance of getting back on track. Most importantly, do not give up! Recovery from sexual addiction is a journey, and it will not happen overnight. Never loose sight of your goals, and always remember why you started the journey in the first place!
Reference:
"10 Tips to Prevent Relapse After Sexual Addiction Treatment" http://www.hypersexualdisorders.com/recovery/10-tips-to-prevent-relapse-after-sexual-addiction-treatment/
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