New in Murcia, Spain is the group Sexaholics Anonymous, which provides telephone support to those who have this problem

Can sex be an addiction? In fact, it is. To protect people who are hooked to this in Murcia, an association was born with purpose to help and which has set up a phone line, where one can call if they think they need help.

Juan (he prefers not to say his last name and not be identified) is, for now, the only member of Sexaholics Anonymous association, which just landed in Murcia and was born, as its name suggests, to provide help to people who have a unhealthy relationship with sex, to the point that it has become an addiction, as with alcohol, drugs or gambling.

For now, those interested in learning more about them can find information on the web www.sexolicosanonimos.org or write to email sexolicosanonimosmurcia@gmail.com.

Precisely in order to learn to know one another, those responsible for the association yesterday organized a conference entitled “Pornography And Sex Addicts.” As for its conduct, it is based on the Twelve Steps used in Alcoholics Anonymous, though, as Juan says accurately, without religious bias, because for every belief you may have the person seeking help is respected.

It emphasizes that the addict must discuss the problem with someone you trust, rather than withdraw into himself and hide. “The main thing here is to have an exclusive help of someone,” adds Juan. In this regard, it is having a ‘sponsor,’ which is how you call people who help a person or talk on the telephone in a personal manner. “I have been here for two years in Murcia and many people come to me for help and to teach them how to start,” Juan explains.

In his opinion, “sex destroys you if do not control it. This is a mental illness.” “Pornography is the worst drug,” he denounces.

There are no data that tell how many people are addicted to sex, but “you can say that 30 or 40% of the population suffers,” says the group coordinator in Murcia, from where “calls come from many people asking for help to overcome this addiction,” he says. Also it is true that there are people who cross the red line and do not seek help because they think they do not need help.