When it comes to relationships, sexually addicted people can be classified into two major groups:

• Those who seek relationships to satisfy their addiction.
• Those who have a sexual addiction that conflicts with their genuine, loving relationship.

The person whose relationships are defined by sexual addiction uses people for an addictive fix. Characteristically, this type of sex addict doesn't get into long-term relationships. S/he does not represent most sexually addicted people.

The majority of sexually addicted people seek a long-term committed relationship. They are serious about commitment. But their sexual addiction creates an impersonal barrier between the relationship they want to develop and the addictive fantasy life they're obsessed with.

The partner usually doesn't discover her man is sexualy addicted until after she's committed herself to him.

The partner of a sexually addicted person experiences emotional and/or sexual neglect. Usually, the sexually addicted person doesn't even realize that his sexual addiction is creating emotional barriers between him and his partner. In some cases, he doesn't realize it until he loses the relationship.

When the partner discovers that her man is sexually addicted, she will usually suffer more than he will because she might feel that she has to compete against his sexual compulsion. She also might feel that her relationship is hopelessly lost to sexual addiction. Yet, in most cases she will stay until the bitter end trying to save her relationship.

Millions of sexually addicted people have lost good relationships and their loving families because they did not overcome their addiction. Relationships don't have to end because of sex addiction. The addiction can be overcome and the couple can build the marriage they had expected to have.

If you are not sure your sexual activity is addictive or if you want to learn how it affects your relationship, take the Sexual Addiction Interview and the interviews in The Most Personal Addiction.

If you are the partner of a sexually addicted person or you are not sure if your partner is sexually addicted, there is a special interview in The Most Personal Addiction for partners of sexually addicted people.