Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program
Co-occurring disorders play a major role in porn and sex addiction as they are often linked to compulsive behaviors. At Desert Solace, we recognize the connection between mental health conditions and their impact on recovery. Our approach focuses on treating the root causes of porn addiction for long-term healing for men and their families.
What are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders can be defined as individuals who have both an addiction and one or more mental health disorders simultaneously. In many cases, porn and sex addiction can be accompanied by other mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
These disorders can intensify porn addiction, making recovery more difficult without an integrated approach. That’s why choosing a program that treats both the addiction and its underlying mental health conditions is critical for long-term healing and relapse prevention.
Dual Diagnosis vs Co-Occurring Disorders
Many people use dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders interchangeably, but they are distinct medical terms. Dual diagnosis refers to the treatment of two or more conditions, whether they are physical or mental.
Co-occurring disorders focus on addiction in combination with one or more mental health conditions. When researching treatment options for porn and sex addiction, you are more likely to see the term co-occurring disorders, but dual diagnosis when researching substance abuse.
The Link Between Co-Occurring Disorders and Porn Addiction
While men may primarily struggle with porn and sex addiction, these behaviors don’t develop in a silo. Mental health disorders and substance abuse often trigger porn and sex use as a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings and stressors in the environment.
In fact, a report from the Journal of Behavioral Addictions shows that 96% of compulsive sexual behavior cases are triggered by mood. As men continue to utilize porn and sex as a way to escape, it fuels the damaging cycle of addiction. The longer this cycle continues, the more severe the porn addiction can get.
Depending on the mental health condition, there may also be brain structural challenges at play. Coupled with the brain changes seen in porn and sex addiction, professional treatment from a therapist experienced in both sex addiction and co-occurring disorders is necessary for true brain pattern changes.
Start Your Sex and Porn Addiction Recovery Journey Today
Please do not suffer in silence. There is hope and a bright future ahead. If you are struggling with a porn or sex addiction and a co-occurring disorder, please contact us. Our dual diagnosis program can bring you hope and freedom from these complex disorders.
Please contact us for a confidential consultation at (435) 817-1351 or e-mail us directly at info@desertsolace.com
Causes of Sex Addiction and Contributing Factors
Porn and sex addiction can co-occur with any mental health condition, but there is a core group of disorders that are commonly linked.
ADHD
25% of men have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Risky behaviors and impulsivity are common symptoms that can manifest into hypersexuality and reduced sexual satisfaction in men with porn addiction. Without proper treatment, this can lead to infidelity and sexual dysfunction.
Anxiety
Anxiety can cause mental distress and physical symptoms such as a racing heart. Men may turn to porn and sex to reduce anxiety through sexual release. However, the guilt and shame often associated with these behaviors can actually increase anxiety levels. This can result in a never-ending cycle of anxiety until proper coping strategies are in place.
Autism
Addiction is common amongst men with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), due to symptoms of repetitive behaviors and impaired social skills. 30% of men with high-functioning autism experience hypersexuality. Men with autism turn to sex and porn to cope with the pressures of social and communication difficulties. When ADHD co-occurs with ASD, the fixation on sex and porn can intensify.
Bipolar Disorder
Up to 88% of individuals with Bipolar I Disorder experience periods of hypersexuality and sex addiction due to bipolar mania symptoms. This impulsivity can increase the likelihood of sexually transmitted diseases and infidelity. While heightened sexual activity in men can be temporary, without the proper medication and therapy, compulsive sexual behaviors will continue to occur.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can create emotional regulation and impulsivity challenges in men. Although substance abuse is most common alongside BPD, porn and sex addiction can also co-occur. While this link is still being researched, the emotional symptoms of BPD can cause intimacy issues and risky sexual activity, such as unprotected sex.
Depression
Dopamine plays a significant role in co-occurring porn addiction and depression. When men continuously engage in sexual behaviors, they build a tolerance to the stimuli. This results in depression-related symptoms like fatigue, sadness, and numbness.
These feelings can impact romantic relationships due to satisfaction issues for both partners and feelings of insecurity for the non-addicted partner.
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves intrusive thoughts, visuals, and sensations that cause significant mental and emotional distress. 5% of men with OCD struggle with compulsive sexual behaviors as porn use becomes a compulsion to manage the discomfort of intrusive thoughts. Without cognitive behavioral therapy to treat the condition, OCD symptoms will worsen, making it difficult to recover from porn addiction.
Substance Use
For many individuals, substance abuse and porn addiction go hand-in-hand. Men may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to numb their underlying mental health issues and engage in risky sexual behaviors while under the influence. Almost 42% of men with porn addiction also struggle with alcohol abuse and psychotropic drug use. Depending on the severity of alcohol abuse, men should be treated for AUD before healing from porn addiction.
Trauma
One area where sex addiction and mental illness frequently intersect is in the role of trauma. A study conducted at the University of Georgia found that 25% of men with a history of past trauma or abuse, often from childhood, have co-occurring sex addiction.
This trauma can impact their mental health and lead to compulsive sexual behaviors as a coping mechanism. Therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can reduce trauma-related symptoms.
Video Game Addiction
Internet gaming addiction is becoming more common than ever, particularly among men. With the sexually graphic nature of many popular video games, this stimulus can lead to compulsive porn use and risky sexual behavior. Due to the addictive nature of video games, it’s crucial to treat both video game and porn addiction simultaneously.
Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment at Desert Solace
Throughout all of these connections between mental health and sex addiction, one thing remains clear: proper treatment is essential for long-term recovery. A comprehensive treatment program can provide men with the tools and resources necessary to achieve lasting recovery and improved mental health.
As part of Desert Solace’s residential treatment program, co-occurring disorders are assessed during the intake process. This allows our team to understand the mental health disorders that may be affecting your porn or sex addiction. Once the assessments are complete, our Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) will develop an integrated treatment plan for your co-occurring disorders and porn addiction.
Weekly individual therapy sessions will primarily focus on porn and sex addiction, but there will be sessions dedicated to the co-occurring disorders to ensure the root causes of the addiction are addressed. Group check-ins and activities provide an additional opportunity to explore coping strategies and get support from others with similar mental health issues.
Heal from Porn Addiction and Co-Occurring Disorders
At Desert Solace, we understand the connection between porn addiction and co-occurring disorders, and offer inpatient treatment in Utah to help men overcome these compulsive behaviors for long-term recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with porn addiction and mental health disorders, fill out our confidential online form or call us at 435-817-1351 to learn more.
