Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan>
Relationships>
Relationship Advice>
Sex addict - or just a cheater?

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Sex addict - or just a cheater?

Sex addiction, or just cheating - where do you draw the line? For celebrities like Tiger Woods and Russell Brand, is sex addiction just another label for "I couldn't keep it in my pants"? Or is sex addiction a true affliction?

According to sexologist Susan Quilliam, co-author of The New Joy of Sex, sex addiction is "like a drug addiction. It's compulsive, making silly choices and not thinking of the consequences. Once a sufferer has done it, they feel bad and guilty, and that drives them to have sex again to feel better. It's a vicious circle - unlike cheating."

Cheating, explains Quilliam, is more "thoughtful" - a cheater plans an affair, or at least considers their actions more fully than a sex addict.

Tags: