By Joe Turner Sex addiction is an incredibly deteriorating illness that, in many cases, stems from traumatic incidents that happened during the years of development. Sexual abuse, particularly when the victims are men, often goes unreported due to social stigmas, preconceived gender roles, and stereotypes about sexual abusers and victims. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often cope with their trauma in one of two ways. They either withdraw from any kind of future sexual activity, deliberately avoiding any sexual, intimate or flirtatious interactions, or they seek out promiscuous sexual acti ..read more

By Anna McKenzie We know that we need sleep, but we often experience obstacles to getting the appropriate amount of rest. We may deprioritize sleep in favor of work or commitments; we may have periods where sleep is hard to come by, such as when we’re sick or in the thick of parenting. But other times, mental distress is the culprit for our restlessness.  When we lose sleep due to anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, we can actually exacerbate our symptoms. Since mental health issues play a role in perpetuating addiction, it’s critical to discover ways to reduce or eliminat ..read more

By Bobby Shriver Most psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals agree that addiction is a complex disorder caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. It can also vary in intensity; the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) defines addiction as a spectrum disorder that can be categorized as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” Many other mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, can be described in much the same way. Because there can be so much variation in the causes and severity of a disorder, treatment fa ..read more

By Anna McKenzie It’s not just you: People across the country are feeling pretty lonely. A post-pandemic report from The Cigna Group reveals that 58% of US adults are considered lonely. But how does loneliness affect mental health? According to the group’s data, lonely people tend to have a greater struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression than their less lonely counterparts. So what are some healthy ways to deal with loneliness and overcome mental health challenges? How Does Loneliness Affect Mental Health? While men and women seem to be equally as lonely, according to th ..read more

By Marie Woods, LMFT, CSAT Former Primary Therapist, Gentle Path at The Meadows Years ago, the subscriber list to a popular Canadian dating site that promoted marital affairs got leaked. The names and personal information of millions of people having affairs through The Ashley Madison Agency was made public. As headlines covered news of the hack, one of the first thoughts that crossed my mind was, What about the partners of the subscribers? Being betrayed by a spouse is bad enough, but to find out in this way and have your personal identity potentially made public as well — on top of the betra ..read more

By: Anna McKenzie Anxiety has a complicated relationship with sex addiction (or hypersexuality). Compulsive sexual behaviors may be a way for some to alleviate anxiety, but they may also create more anxiety. Additionally, anxiety can create intimacy issues as well as erectile dysfunction in men. So what should you know about anxiety and sex addiction? Can resolving one help resolve the other? Is There an Anxiety Disorder and Sex Addiction Connection? Researchers have conducted a number of studies where anxiety disorders and sex addiction can be associated, but no definitive causal link has bee ..read more

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder Marked by intense outbursts of anger, impulsiveness, periods of depression and anxiety, and deep-seated fear of abandonment, borderline personality disorder (BPD) can distort how you perceive yourself and the people around you. Individuals with BPD tend to see life and other people through a filter of binary, black and white, or good and bad thinking that can damage your relationships and cause you to suddenly distance yourself from loved ones. It feels like going through life with third-degree burns; everything is hot and painful to touch. Recog ..read more

By Bobby Shriver Society today is becoming more familiar with the reality of relationship trauma. With its increasing exposure on TV, podcasts, blogs, and other media, more people are understanding the impact of trauma in relationships. They are also gathering the courage to speak up about it and learning how to heal. But as this awareness has grown more ubiquitous, one aspect is still often overlooked: relationship trauma for men.  When it comes to trauma in relationships, men can be just as affected as women. When it comes to trauma in relationships, men can be just as affected as wom ..read more

By Melissa Riddle Chalos It may seem culturally counterintuitive, but physically, emotionally — in every way that counts, really — drinking and sex make really dysfunctional bedfellows. Alcohol promises more freedom than it can deliver, and when these alcohol-fueled situations lead to sexual activity, inhibition becomes impulsive and even risky. Alcohol promises more freedom than it can deliver, and when these alcohol-fueled situations lead to sexual activity, inhibition becomes impulsive and even risky. It’s not rocket science that drinking can lead to some poor choices, but there is scienc ..read more

By Stephanie O’Brian, Ed. S., LPC We live in a world infused with sex. It is nearly impossible to turn on the television and not be inundated with sexual images. Yet despite things of sexual nature permeating so many facets of society, there are still areas which are so vastly unclear when it comes to all things sexual. Our culture is more informed and educated about sex than any other in human history, but are we empowered with all the knowledge we really need to know? Understanding Sex Addiction What is a sex addict? Is that even real? What is a sex offender? Are sex addiction and sexual off ..read more