Sex addiction is a term that describes any sexual behaviour that feels ‘out of control’. It’s not the behaviour itself that defines it as an addiction, but rather the dependency on it to numb out negative emotions and difficult experiences. As with all addictions, most people with sex addiction will have tried to stop or limit their behaviour on many occasions – but despite continuing harmful consequences to self and others, they can’t reliably STOP.
Do take a look at this talk by Paula Hall. She explains that sex addiction affects young and old, rich and poor, male and female and shares what we can do about it, even if we don't suffer from it ourselves.