Clinically, sexual addiction is classified as either an invasive and persistent desire of sexual behaviour or simply the frequent undertakings of sexual behaviour to a much greater extent than norm or for extended periods. Preoccupation with either thought or action of sexual behaviour aimed at fulfilling emotional, societal, or personal desires when thought or action otherwise is necessary is the primary characteristic of a sexual addiction. When sex, the thought or behaviour thereof, overrides commonplace life it can become problematic. Consequentially, social, marital, emotional, personal, legal, physical and financial damages can ensue. Diagnosis is key to proper sexual addiction treatment. Historically, sexual addiction has at times been categorized incorrectly: from behavioural problems too broadly, to bi-polarity, OCD, anxiety or stress-induced disorders, to simply not diagnosing the probably root cause of the thoughts or behaviour. Supplemental treatment includes a behavioural intervention, provisional direction and providing resources to aid the addicted in their quest to overcome sexual behaviour. This entails identifying the core behaviours and thoughts that prevail and remain atop the mind of the patient. Identifying those specific behaviours and thoughts to eliminate, comes through psychiatric evaluation, questioning and intensive observation. Behavioural prevention and thought-process changes come through working to eliminate the triggers that spur sexual addiction. Treatment centres, therapists or counsellors provide tools to manages stresses (i.e. the root causes), to navigate the waters of marital or relationship issues, work or life-related stresses and proper avenues to re-direct the stresses. Often this treatment comes in the form of a step-program, similar to the 12-step program offered in alcoholic interventions. These sex addiction treatment programs are aimed not only toward immediate mitigation of sexual behaviour, but also toward future preventative maintenance of the root causes of this behaviour. It is an on-going process of recovery for the sexually addicted. These programs set barriers, clearly define what constitute malicious patterns of self- or relationship- or life-destructive behaviour, and work hard to reduce the probability of relapse in sexual behaviour.

Original Source of Sex Addiction Treatment – Treating the Oversexed