Co-sex Addiction or Co-dependency

It is important, therefore, to recognize that not only does the addict have a disease and developed an irrational way of living and being, but the co-addict has as well. Each person will need treatment and help in seeking healing for their broken hearts and erasing or ameliorating the dysfunctional messages they learned during childhood and adolescence that predisposed them to their respective diseases and the unfortunate consequences.

The addict is responsible for their disease and recovery efforts. However, the addict taking charge of their life WILL NOT disrupt the co-addict’s beliefs and learned behavior of pleasing and controlling. The co-addicts belief system was developed long before the sexual addict came on the scene, although the consequences of the co-addicts beliefs may have intensified in the relationship. Therefore, the “baggage” stays unless both the sexual addict and co-addict get help. Even leaving the relationship will not erase the co-addict’s needs to deal with their issues. Time and again, research has indicated that even when a co-addict leaves a relationship, they almost always pick someone else similar in characteristics to the last partner. Without help, this is the way the co-addict lives their life.