Facing the truth
As a woman sex addict, you may find yourself acting out sexually and feeling totally out of control and hopeless. There are many different ways this disease manifests itself in the lives of women. There are also just as many reasons why it begins at all.

You may have:

Had many sexual partners Had unwanted pregnancies Contracted sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) Engaged in anonymous sex Viewed pornography online Visited online chat rooms to find sex partners Engaged in phone sex

Moving beyond the shame
When women have issues with sexual addiction, the shame is often tremendous because these issues are sometimes incorrectly seen as only affecting men. With double standards in play, men, at times, are afforded more acceptance when they seek treatment.

It may feel like there is nothing you can do to dig yourself out of this disease. That's not true. The most important thing to know is: there is help available and there is hope in recovery.

Where to start

Utilize this web site and its professional resources. Visit our online bookstore. Read the information papers. Find a group or meeting to attend in your area. See the testimonials below. And remember: there is hope.

Testing for sexual addiction Dr. Patrick Carnes was one of first professionals to work with sexually addicted people and he designed the Sex Addiction Screening Test (SAST) to help figure out who has sexual addiction problems and who doesn't. To help you understand sexual addiction and determine if the problem may exist in your life or the life of a loved one, we have included some tests.

Cyber Sex Addiction Checklist Gay Men Sexual Addiction Screening Test Heterosexual Male Sexual Addiction Screening Test Women's Sexual Addiction Screening Test

Testimonials
"I've seen men and women - some of whom have struggled with compulsive sexual behavior for decades. With a commitment to change and the right help. recovery is possible!" - Helen R. Friedman, Ph.D., St. Louis, Missouri

"A dozen years ago when I finally admitted I needed help for my out-of-control sexual behavior, I was overwhelmed with shame. I thought I was the worst woman I knew. I felt totally alone - that surely no other decent woman did what I had done. I'd been a sex addict since my early teens, and I didn't know how to live any other way.

The day I admitted I was powerless over my addiction I took the first step toward freedom. In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined where the road of recovery would take me. There is tremendous hope in recovery." .- Marnie C. Ferree, M.A., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and grateful recovering sex addict