How Can Christians Prevent Sex Addiction

1. HowCanChristiansPreventSexAddiction? • Christiansdeal with exposure to sexual content daily. It seems like it’s everywhere, and it can feel overwhelming when you recognize how much sexuality and sexual objectification permeatessociety. • It may feel like temptation is everywhere. With all this exposure, how can Christians prevent sex addiction? • Unfortunately,there’snocure-allforcompulsivesexualbehavior.Payingattentiontotriggers and avoiding various situations where you’re exposed to sexual stimuli helps, but it may not preventthe behavior or compulsion fromoccurring. • Understanding SexAddiction • Before assuming there’s a way to prevent sexual addiction, it helps to understand its potential underlying causes and symptoms. Addressing it and avoiding triggers are only possible once youknow the signs. • Sex addiction is a type of compulsive sexual behavior. It consists of pornography and masturbationaddictions too. • Symptomsofcompulsivesexualbehaviorinclude: • Sexualactivitiesseemmoreimportantto yourwell-beingthanotheractivities

2. Puttingyoursexualurgesbeforeotherresponsibilitiesandduties • Feelinglikeyoucan’tresistsexualtemptations • Recklessengagementinsexualbehaviors • Inabilitytoformormaintainhealthyrelationships • Tryingandfailingtostoptheadversebehavior • Usingsextoescapenegativefeelings • Havingmultiple affairs, sexualpartners,orone-nightstands • Feelingdetachedandunsatisfiedbysexualactivities • Isolatingtofulfillsexualurges • The origins of sexual addiction can be challenging to pinpoint because they are often deeply rootedin unresolved trauma.To fully understand why someone experiences this behavior, you have to know what they’ve been through. The trauma they experienced could even have occurredin childhood. • Regardlessofthetypeoftraumaticexperienceorwhenithappened,itwilllikelyhaveresulted in extreme stress or other negative emotions that continue today.Attempting to cope with these negative emotions results in using sexual behavior to feel better. Once a person does that enoughtimes, an addiction forms, and theycan't stop. • HowCanChristiansPreventSexAddiction? • Now that you understand that sex addiction is likely the result of a deeper mental health concern, it’s clear why preventing sex addiction is challenging. If addiction stems from unresolved trauma, then it will occur unless people recognize and treat trauma. And, just like anyoneelse, Christians aren’t immune to traumatic experiences or difficulty coping with them. • "Christians can't prevent sex addiction because Christians are human beings and prone to sin just like everyone else," said T.C. Ryan, author of “Ashamed No More: A Pastor's Journey ThroughSexAddiction” and pastoral consultant at Boulder Recovery. • "But, through a better understanding of addiction and coming at it from a place of grace, the Church can becomehealthier, create buffersfor addiction,and better helpthose inneed," he continued. • Waystobuffersexaddictioninclude: • Focus on your relationship with God and avoid doing things that are out of line with your faith • Determineandfollowyourownstandardsofsexualpurity • Seek accountability by setting rules like not being alone with members of the opposite sex • Manageurgeswithhealthycopinglikejournalingorexercise

3. Setboundariesinrelationships • Sticktohealthyroutines • Participateinasupportivecommunitylikechurchpeergroups • Askfor helpif youfeel tempted todo somethingoutside ofyour beliefs • It’s possible to do all of the things above and still find that you have an addiction. But avoiding any compulsive sexual behaviors right from the beginning will keep you from justifying these behaviorswhile an addiction forms. • PreparingforTemptingSituations • To prevent compulsive sexual behavior,it’s essentialto know what you can doto prepare for temptations that might trigger you to behave outside of your beliefs or relapse if you’re healing fromsex addiction. • Challengingsituationsyoumayfaceinclude: • TraumaticEvents. You can't necessarily avoid trauma, but you can develop strong support, healthier habits, and coping mechanisms to deal with unforeseen events when orif they arise. • SocialSituations. Avoid situations with people who encourage sexual promiscuity, disregard your personal beliefs, or promote activities, like drinking or drugs, that diminish yourability to regulate your boundaries. • Relational Conflicts. Relationships have challenges. Try to deal with those challenges asa couple instead of letting stress build that may result in negative behavior. • Traveling.When travel disrupts routines, it's easier tomake excuses for things you may notnormally do. Consider travelingwith your spouse orsignificant other. • Visual Environments. Certain restaurants, bars, and other settings may be full of sexuallyexplicit content.Avoiding areaslike this can helpreduce sexual urges. • PeriodsofIsolation. Toomuchtimealonecangenerateadverseemotionsand increasethe likelihood of justifying stress relief or emotional escape via sexual behavior. • Surround yourself with loved ones who share your beliefs and care about your well-being. • Seasons of High Stress. Ongoing periods of stress aren’t always avoidable. Instead of seeking an escape, it's important to develop and lean on healthy coping mechanisms for stressrelief. • Preventing SexAddiction • Preventing sex addiction is challenging. People often justify compulsive sexual behavior and don’t realize it’s developed into an addiction before it’s too late. The best way to prevent sex addiction is to never participate in any potentially damaging sexual activity, like watching pornographyor even engaging inflirtation outside your relationship.

4. If you’re concerned about sexual addiction, Boulder Recovery is here to help. If you have questionsor need help recovering, contactus. Source:https://beginagaininstitute.com/christian/how-can-christians-prevent-sex-addiction/