Under no circumstances are sex addicts absolved of responsibility for the problems their choices have caused.
Sometimes people who get caught engaging in an embarrassing, objectionable, or even illegal sexual behavior try to use “sex addiction” as a catch-all excuse, hoping to avoid or at least to minimize the judgment and/or punishment they experience. Sometimes these individuals really are sexually addicted, but just as often they are not. Either way, a diagnosis of sexual addiction never justifies bad behavior. Rather than providing an excuse, a diagnosis of sexual addiction provides an obligation to recognize the issue and to behave differently in the future. In fact, part of healing from sexual addiction is admitting what we’ve done, accepting any consequences, and making amends as best we can.
Just for Today
Think about addiction as an excuse to make amends, rather than a reason to act out.