posted April 02, 2010 10:16 AM         

Yes, I agree that addictions can screw up people's lives. Sex is not like a drug. It does not alter your body chemistry nor does it impair you to make bad choices. When drugs or alcohol are mixed with sex, then there is impairment and poor choices, but I cannot believe that an ADDICTION to sex is possible.

You can't control your impulses when it comes to sex, then don't make committment to another person, then you're not an ADDICT, you're experimental and it's okay.

Trust me when I say I have been a d-bag in this department myself, but I OWNED UP TO IT and am choosing to live my life differently. Do I still get little pangs like "hmm, wonder what a shag with that one would be like" ? Yes. Do I act on these pangs? NO. Is this anything to be all bolstery and proud of? Nah, not really. But I can't stand crap like the Tiger Woods deal all like "oh, I have a problem, I'm a sex addict, blah blah". No. You're an opportunist and a man with money and power. You never should have gotten married if you can't keep it in your pants.

posted April 02, 2010 10:23 AM         

I believe that there could be a chemical imbalance or should I say chemical difference that can lead somebody to be addicted to sex.
Dopamine differences can lead to sexual addictions. This is said to be the case for the DRD4 gene. http://blisstree.com/feel/d4d4-gene-and-sex-addiction/

I am strong believer in both science and metaphysical

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Raymond

Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement

posted April 02, 2010 11:15 AM         

s ADHD An Advantage For Nomadic Tribesmen?

ScienceDaily (June 10, 2008) — A propensity for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be beneficial to a group of Kenyan nomads, according to new research. Scientists have shown that an ADHD-associated version of the gene DRD4 is associated with better health in nomadic tribesmen, and yet may cause malnourishment in their settled cousins.
A study led by Dan Eisenberg, an anthropology graduate student from Northwestern University in the US, analyzed the correlates of body mass index (BMI) and height with two genetic polymorphisms in dopamine receptor genes, in particular the 48 base pair (bp) repeat polymorphism in the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene.

The DRD4 gene codes for a receptor for dopamine, one of the chemical messengers used in the brain. According to Eisenberg "this gene is likely to be involved in impulsivity, reward anticipation and addiction". One version of the DRD4 gene, the '7R allele', is believed to be associated with food craving as well as ADHD. By studying adult men of the Ariaal of Kenya, some of whom still live as nomads while others have recently settled, the research team investigated whether this association would have the same implications in different environments.

While those with the DRD4/7R allele were better nourished in the nomadic population, they were less well-nourished in the settled population. Although the effects of different versions of dopamine genes have already been studied in industrialized countries, very little research has been carried out in non-industrial, subsistence environments like the areas where the Ariaal live, despite the fact that such environments may be more similar to the environments where much of human genetic evolution took place.

Eisenberg explains, "The DRD4/7R allele has been linked to greater food and drug cravings, novelty-seeking, and ADHD symptoms. It is possible that in the nomadic setting, a boy with this allele might be able to more effectively defend livestock against raiders or locate food and water sources, but that the same tendencies might not be as beneficial in settled pursuits such as focusing in school, farming or selling goods".

These findings suggest that behavior differences previously associated with the DRD4 gene, such as ADHD, are more or less effective depending on the environment. Research into how this might occur in Ariaal children is planned in the near future. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609195604.htm

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2002-06/your-caveman-gramps-had-ants-his-pants

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Raymond

Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement

A Different Mind Is Not A Deficient Mind.

posted April 02, 2010 11:45 AM         

i think anything, not just drug, but behavior, that you seem to have no control over and makes a mess of your life, could be classified as an addiction...i mean they actually have sex addiction recovery centers, so someone who has education in these things, has concluded that not only is it possible, it is viable. i would have to think they would know better than the rest of us who don't have that education about thsese matters.

posted April 02, 2010 01:38 PM         

i mean compulsive gamblers, the same thing.

posted April 02, 2010 01:45 PM         

I just believe we put these flimsy labels on things so easily in this country and then prescribe blanket therapies or pills to fix them when really we should be looking within to fix ourselves before they become "addictions".

It comes down to the way we raise our children, the way we interact with the world, and what we are contributing to the world around us. You want to stick a kid in front of a tv because you can't be bothered to spend time with them, obviously the kid will grow up with a skewed by tv view of things. You want to feed a kid McDonalds or other non-nutrient enriched food because preparing meals is too time consuming or it's "cheaper", the kid is going to have a weight problem, and most likely other health issues because of it.

I would not call these things "addictions". They are unfortunate side effects of society and can be fixed IF WE WANT TO FIX IT.

I am not opposed to counselling, but to me, in certain cases, psychiatry can be just another form of somebody making money off another person's inability to face their own problems. We just have a tendency to "pass the buck" in western medicine. May be another reason why insurance is so expensive?

It's just hard to buy into a thought process that stems from years of grisly means to produce this "science".

posted April 03, 2010 02:04 AM         

What began changing my mind is the odd effects some psyche meds had. For example, one med caused people to spontaneously develop a gambling habit and blew through what they owned. Others became compulsive cleaners. Of course the more dramatic cases are pretty well known (like the mom who started new psyche meds and then drowned her kids one by one to send them to Heaven when she'd never done anything like that before). This made me think that such behaviors do have a cause in the brain and that as such some people really have a neurological problem rather than poor impulse control.

posted April 05, 2010 06:40 AM         

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.. think i'll refrain from commenting ..
can feel the sarcasm simmering today

posted April 05, 2010 03:37 PM         

quote:

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There are tremendous pressures on medicalising behaviour which is no more than troublesome. It's not the same as drug addiction because it's not a hijacking of the circuits by a chemical, it is what the circuits were set up for.

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The article eppresses this as though it's not actually an addiction to sex but a compulsive behavior outright, which I could understand.

But I also think this could become a compulsion to anything, like gambling or dieting. If you are a compulsive person, you will have to work hard to control your compulsions.

posted April 05, 2010 10:42 PM         

Patrick Carnes PhD, wrote a book way back in '84; and has a wiki page with this theory:

quote:

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Theories
Carnes identified the source of the addictions in the addict's belief system. He stated that a fundamental momentum for the addiction is provided by "certain core beliefs" in the addict's thinking that are wrong or incorrect: "Generally, addicts do not perceive themselves as worthwhile persons. Nor do they believe that other people would care for them or meet their needs if everything was known about them, including the addiction. Finally, they believe that sex is their most important need. Sex is what makes isolation bearable. If you do not trust people, one thing that is true about sex (and alcohol, food, gambling, and risk) is that it always does what it promises, for the moment."[4]

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quote:

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Studies and qualifications
Carnes received a Ph.D. in counselor education and organizational development from the University of Minnesota in 1980. He was awarded the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award of the formerly known as NCSA/C Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH). Actually each year, SASH bestows a Carnes Award to deserving researchers and clinicians who have made outstanding contributions to the field of sexual medicine.[3]

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If the DSM-iv recognized Sexual Addiction- which it doesn't, it would cast a different light. There would be empirical data, which there isn't.

I feel that these DR's with the clinics, and the books, and the celebrity clientele are gaming the system.

when people(who are sexual) have mental disorders they invariably have sexual problems as well…sexual compulsiveness is a manifestation of OCD, I feel those who are using this false and misleading term might do it for personal gain.

ghanima I do not think any of what you wrote was 'rant like', and not just because I agree with you

I do not doubt that for some people having a name to put on a behavior helps. But addiction is not a part of it, -disorder- may be if the medical community recognized it, but it looks like they haven't.

http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html

posted April 06, 2010 04:04 PM         

~ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/norfolk/8605205.stm ~
" .. A convicted sex offender who admitted running a paedophile ring via mobile phones blamed winning the lottery for his actions, a court heard.
His solicitor, Michael Clare, said: "He lost control of his life when he won £50,000 on the lottery." .. .. "

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posted April 06, 2010 10:23 PM         

quote:

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It can be if you cannot function regularly without it and there are some people with this gential disorder which makes them "uncomfortable".=S

I cannot remember the name of it but my friend was just recently diagnosed with it.

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