You’ve probably heard about sexting, but if you’re not sure what it is, now is the time to learn. This dangerous behavior is defined as sending sexually suggestive texts or photos by cellular phone and is proven to lead to increased and risky sexual behavior. In fact, students who sext are 6 times more likely to become sexually active, leading to a rise in teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Along with sexting, teens are subjected to internet pornography and other influences, all causing an alarming rise in sexual activity and sex addiction in teens.
Is My Teen a Sex Addict?
Knowing whether or not your teen struggles with sexual addiction can be hard. For one, they likely hide a lot of their sexual behaviors. Also, knowing what is normal and what is a sign of sexual addiction can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. If you suspect that your teen has a problem, we encourage you to speak with one of our Christian counselors to learn more. Meanwhile, here are some things to watch for.
Common signs of sexual addiction include:
- Compulsive behavior – that your teen feels unable to stop despite negative consequences such as health risks, sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, poor academic performance, and harmed relationships.
- Obsession – with thoughts and behaviors that are sexual in nature, often placing these things ahead of other things in life.
- Anger or irritability – with discussions surrounding healthy sexual behaviors and precautions for things like sexting, talking with people online, pornography, or sexually active relationships.
