There have been many scientific advances on addictive behaviors and how the brain works. It is believed that the brain slowly molds drug behaviors and addictions through brain circuitry, genes, and how environmental factors affect them. Alcohol especially seems to have a strong effect on the brain, which may in turn develop into an addiction and can even be passed through hereditary genes. NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow claims that “Drug addiction is a brain disease”. He further states that while drug and alcohol may originally be taken voluntarily, it very quickly spins out of control and the user becomes obsessed with having the substance. This behavior in turn becomes like an addiction which some says is a brain disease.
A campaign is currently in process of attempting to change the view that drug or sex addiction is not a moral failing, and is instead a braise disease. This will radically change both medical treatment and law practices concerning addictions. If successful, defendants who suffer from addictive behaviors will be able to seek medical help more easily than if their current condition was attributed only to their own failings. In 2007, the then Senator Joe Biden of Delaware (Now Vice-President) was working on a new bill entitled the “Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act of 2007”. It states that addictions should be considered a brain disease “because drugs change the brain’s structure and manner in which it functions. These brain variations can be long lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.” The brain of a sex or porn addict reacts very much the same way as that of a drug addict. MRIs have shown evident that changes in the brain occur due to desire, but this is only lightly touching on the effects of addiction as a brain disease. But even if there is still scientific research needing to be done before the full scope of these facts can be presented, it is clear that addictions function within the brain much as a disease would.
Stigma of Sex Addiction
Unfortunately, our society views most addicts and especially sex addicts as merely having a moral weakness. There is an immense amount of judgment that surrounds how people look at those who are addicted to sex, pornography or masturbation. It needs to be recognized that these judgments and attitudes can make it more difficult for a sex addict to seek help. Labeling addictions as a disease will radically change such beliefs. For more information on addiction to pornography, and treatment approaches to sex addiction, compulsive masturbation, etc. please visit http://rochnahazra.com and take the Sex Addiction Self-Test.
About Rochna:
Rochna Hazra is trained in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech. She includes the emotional, psychological, spiritual and family aspects of a person in her work. Rochna has been trained by Dr. Pat Carnes, a pioneer in the field of Sex Addiction.
Rochna is also a Certified Advanced Relapse Prevention Specialist and trained in Sex Addiction and Mindfulness-based Therapy and Relapse Prevention.
Originally from India, she combines the Eastern traditions of mindfulness, non-judgment and a holistic approach to healing with the Western approach of realism and solution-focused action.
Click here to learn more about Sex Addiction treatment and my practice in Leesburg, Virginia
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