Sex Addiction- Or Cinvenient Excuse?

When David Duchovny, formerly from the X-Files, and presently starring in the Showtime show, Californication, reportedly said he suffered from sex addiction, it appeared somewhat funny. After all, Duchovny stars in a show who's basis is the pornographic industry. It appeared that he might have felt the need to publicize his addiction for some reason or another. However, now we are told that Tiger Woods is reportedly at a sex addiction clinic that uses a 12 Steps program similar to that used for alcoholism.

When Woods' reported trysts began to surface publicly, soon after the mysterious car accident/ golf club incident last Thanksgiving, many "sages" and "pundits" freely gave their advice and suggestions as to what Woods should do. I said to my wife that he should do the Eliot Spitzer/ Mark Sanford thing, and say that he had a problem and couldn't help himself. However, unlike Spitzer and Sanford, Woods had always been very tightly "handled," and his personal life was closely protected. Almost immediately, I said, 'Watch, he's going to go Duchovny."

Is sex addiction a real disease? Probably yes, but does that excuse the actions? It is reported that one of the conditions of the clinic that Woods is at, is that the person sign a form stating that he or she will not have sex with anyone else or self- satisfy sexually during the six week treatment period. Is it me, or does it seem ironic and funny that someone who has broken their "signed" marriage vow (and in Woods case, reportedly with many different partners), that this signed document will have any more meaning?

Frankly, I believe it is none of anyone else's business what Tiger Woods or any other celebrity does in their private lives. Unfortunately, Americans like to create heroes, and what that person turns out to be human, with all the frailties and failures that others have, we say we are disappointed? But, why should we be disappointed? Why did we make this person a hero, when all the person does is excel at their vocation?

Before he was caught and it was publicized, did Mr. Woods have any regrets about his trysts? Since the reports were that he was still sex-texting (or is that sexting?) the night of the accident (?), then his regret is more likely fear of loss (wife, kids, lots of money) than true regret. Yet, Mr. Woods, and everyone else in the public eye should be left alone by the media, to try to resolve his personal problems and issues. All I know is that when I was much younger, someone who had as many partners as reportedly Tiger did, was not called a sex addict. Years ago, when Wilt Chamberlain wrote of his many trysts, it was not called sex addiction, simply amazing.

There are many different degrees of disease. There are many different issues that one can use psychological help with. At least, in Tiger Woods' reported sex addiction trysts, nobody was hurt except Mr. Woods and his family! Since that is the case, the media should simply let him work it out with his family!

  

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