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Sexual Addiction

Ted Witzig Jr.

Sexual activity, like alcohol, drugs, and gambling, increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter in the brain’s reward system. Dopamine creates pleasurable feelings. However, the brain’s reward system also makes us vulnerable to addiction. People are not addicted to sex. As with all addictions, people become addicted to the brain chemicals released during the substance use or activity (in this case, sex), not the substance or activity itself.

Read more at MentalHelp.net

Understanding Sexual Addiction: 

Understanding Addiction
This series of articles provides an overview of addiction from a Christian perspective.  It helps readers to understand what addiction is, the responsibilities of the addict to seek help, and the ways that family members, friends, and churches can help.  Relevant for those dealing with alcoholism, gambling addiction, nicotine addiction, drug abuse (prescription or illegal), sexual addiction, etc. [ACCFS]

This booklet discusses the factors that lead men into pornography use and shares a pathway to freedom. [ODB Ministries]

This resource shows 5 proven ways pornography warps your mind and 5 biblical ways to renew it. [Covenant Eyes] 

For Related Information from ACCFS

Dealing with Sexual Temptation.

Support for Spouses of Sexual Addiction.

Technology including filtering and monitoring tools.

Spiritual Guidance for Overcoming Addiction 

A Christ-Centered Twelve Step Program of Addiction Recovery
12-Step Programs are often a standard part of recovery from addictions. This document shows how each of the 12 steps fit right in line with biblical truth. The biblical concepts of humility, repentance, confession, restitution, etc. are highlighted as the pathway to overcoming addictions of all types. [ACCFS] 

The 12 Steps of AA have helped millions of people overcome addiction and grow in their relationships. But the 12 Steps aren’t just for addicts. They’re a powerful framework for spiritual formation and can be used by anyone. If you’re a human, if you’re a sinner, if you’ve ever found that willpower alone isn’t working… the 12 Steps are for you. It works if you work it.  Print, podcast, and video resources are available. [John Ortberg/Become New]

Overcoming Temptation
A study by Elder Bro. Lynn Stieglitz on how to wage a successful battle with our spiritual enemy, using faith and the armor of God.  The author describes how the “shield of faith” can extinguish “fiery darts” and explains why God helps us to endure some temptations and directs us to flee from others.

When We Just Can’t Stop: Overcoming Addiction
Battling to conquer addiction is one of the most difficult challenges in life. However, you will find help and encouragement in the pages of this booklet as the authors examine the destructive cycle and what it takes to stop it. Discover how you can be satisfied and complete in God, as you surrender to Him the broken pieces of your life—only He can put them back together again. [ODB Ministries]

Pornography and sexual addiction can feel like an inescapable darkness. But there is hope! God’s guidance through a healing journey can lead you to a place of renewal. This six-part video series called “Discovering God’s Freedom From Pornography,” features Nick and Michelle Stumbo of Pure Desire Ministries.

Apostolic Christian Way of Purity 

The Apostolic Christian Way of Purity (ACWP) The ACWP course is designed for men and women, who attend the Apostolic Christian Church, and are struggling with pornography and sexual impurity. Designed to be done daily, the 30 lessons serve as a guide showing a path out of sexual sin and are most effective when used with a mentor. If a participant does not have a mentor, ACCFS will gladly make a mentor arrangement.

Tools for Addiction Recovery 

Recovery from addictions, unacceptable behaviors, and broken relationships is hard work. While there are many types of recovery paths and programs, there are three fundamental attributes common to almost all of them: Accountability, Honesty, and Humility. [ACCFS]

This document lists emotional and physical states that you may feel when you get the urge to act on unhealthy, sinful, and/or addictive impulses (e.g., desire to drink, binge or purge, allowing impure sexual fantasy to run, etc.). By becoming aware of these triggers, you can begin to use healthy, Christ-honoring coping skills to deal with them more effectively. [ACCFS] 

Presentations 

Striving for Sexual Purity

Overcoming Sexual Temptation & Pornography

Author: Stephen Arterburn
This 235-page book gives practical suggestions for men dealing with sexual temptation. It is appropriate for individuals who need encouragement and suggestions in maintaining and/or regaining Biblical standards of sexual purity in their thinking and behavior.

 

This 224-page book walks men through the process of rebuilding their integrity and earning their wives’ trust back.

 

This 227-page book focuses on the temptations young single Christian men face and offers workable, biblical strategies for achieving sexual purity. The book addresses how to train your eyes and your mind, how to clean up your thought life, and how to develop a realistic battle plan for remaining pure in today’s culture.

 

Author: Shannon Ethridge
This 187-page book explains that sexual temptation is not just a man’s battle. The author explores female sexuality and helps discern common myths that can keep women in a difficult place.

 

Author: Shannon Ethridge
This 222-page book explores the temptations young woman face and provides scriptural directions on how to work with and through those temptations.

 

Overcoming Sexual Addiction

Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction   amazon.com
Author: Mark Laaser
This 240-page revised and updated book (previously titled Faithful and True) helps individuals understand the cycle of sexual addiction and the various stages that struggling individuals go through as they go deeper into sexual sin. The book provides a clear roadmap for recovery and healing.

 

Author: Mark Laaser
This helpful workbook provides a practical, step-by-step program to overcoming sexual addiction.

 

 

Help for Family Members

Authors: Jeff & Debra Jay
This 360-page book discusses how to approach a loved one to help them seek treatment for addiction or other life-dominating condition.

 

 

Grants for Addiction Treatment 

This is a non-profit organization providing financial assistance for professional Christian therapy to individuals and families enslaved by addiction.

  1. The facility must provide Christ-centered counseling and must provide professional counseling which can be evidenced by licensed counselors with a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling, preferably including marriage and family therapy.
  2. The facility must have appropriate patient/counselor ratios (to be determined by the board of directors.)
  3. The facility must also incorporate a minimum 90-day residential program (the board will consider shorter programs for issues other than substance abuse on the case-by-case basis.)
  4. Finally, the facility should, when appropriate, incorporate family therapy to provide the family with the necessary skills to support the individual seeking treatment. We will consider helping with any type of addiction.

 

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