Ken Donaldson Podcast: Sex, Addiction, and the Missing Peace
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In this first episode of Sex, Addiction, and the Missing Peace, host Ken Donaldson discusses sex, addiction, and sexual addiction. Specifically how the recent horrific Atlanta murders may have changed everything about how people think about sex addiction.
For the first time in history, “sexual addiction” is soaring on the Internet. The accused murderer of these heinous crimes has been labeled as having a history of sexual addiction. This, reportedly, has been revealed by both police reports and interviews with his friends and family. Sexual addiction, which hardly ever catches any press, has been now thrust into the headlines.
And now, sex addiction is being paired up with murder.
Sexual addiction does NOT equal murder, but unfortunately, some people will now think of it that way.
Ken Donaldson is a licensed mental health counselor, board-certified addiction counselor, and clinical sexologist. And he’s currently in a Ph.D. program in clinical sexology, working on his dissertation on sexual addiction.
Sexual addiction has long been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and, sadly, misdiagnosed. There are many arguments in the mental health and addiction communities on the proper labeling and classification of sexual addiction. As a result, sexual addiction is not even recognized as an official diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association. Additionally, the World Health Organization prefers to label it as “Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder.”
Why?
Ken explains that these two words, “sex” and “addiction,” are both emotionally charged words. And they come with little or no education or instruction. And when they are side-by-side in “unholy linguistic matrimony,” there’s bound to be emotional reactions in every direction.
If the professionals and the researchers can’t agree on what to call sexual addiction, much less how to classify it, how will we ever figure out how to treat it?
Sexual addiction has been referred to as erotomania, Don Juanism, sexual impulsivity, hypersexuality, hyperphilia, Nymphomania, and about 15 more various labels.
It’s been classified as an impulse disorder, a compulsive disorder, a sexual dysfunction, but worse yet, all these different classifications and labels have only muddied the already dirty water that unfortunately, and undeservedly, goes with sexual addiction.
Ken, in this rather impromptu podcast (his first), suggests that we’d all benefit to have more conversation, education, and direction about, sex, addiction, and sexual addiction.
Additionally, notice the subtitle of this podcast: As Intimacy Increases, You’ll Find the Missing Pieces…What does intimacy have to do with this?
Everything!
Intimacy is the core of all healthy relationships. It’s the openness, honesty, and willingness to be vulnerable with another person. It’s what connects us, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and in every other way.
Intimacy is anti-addiction.
Ken started this podcast so he could share with his listeners, and any and all other interested parties, what he’s discovered as he’s working through his research on sexual addiction.
But his bottom line message is this: If we can’t or don’t talk about sex, addiction, sexual addiction, and intimacy; and we don’t provide valid and reliable education, then we will continue to be misinformed. Furthermore, as a profession, we’ll continue to misdiagnose and mistreat these people. And finally, as a culture, we will continue to allow our ignorance (meaning our lack of knowledge), and our arrogance (“I already know that”), to lead the way is misguide into further misunderstandings.
Addiction, any addiction, is not easy for anyone, whether it’s the person who’s struggling with it or the friends and family of that person. Let’s not make it any more difficult than it already is.
Your questions, comments, and feedback are welcomed.