The Hidden Link Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sex Addiction
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
Written by John Comerford, Author/Motivational Speaker
John Comerford is the author of Tarzan Loves Jane and Battle Armour (25 Tools for Men's Mental Health). John is also one of the authors of the number one Amazon best-selling book series, "Start Over."
Childhood sexual abuse leaves deep psychological scars that ripple into adulthood, often shaping the way survivors relate to intimacy, trust, and their own bodies. Among the lasting impacts, one area receiving growing attention is the strong correlation between early sexual trauma and compulsive sexual behaviours in adulthood, commonly referred to as sex addiction. Understanding this connection is vital, not only for mental health professionals but for survivors seeking to reclaim agency and begin the process of healing. This understanding enlightens us about the complex interplay of trauma and addiction, empowering us to provide better support and care.
Childhood trauma and its lasting impact
When a child experiences sexual abuse, normal developmental processes are profoundly disrupted. Safe boundaries are violated, security is lost, and a child may internalise shame, self-blame, or confusion about sexuality that lingers well into adulthood. These unresolved emotions can manifest as hypersexuality, dissociation, or a persistent discomfort with physical intimacy, relationships, or even one’s own body image.
Research consistently shows that survivors of childhood sexual abuse are significantly more likely to develop maladaptive coping mechanisms, including substance abuse and compulsive sexual behaviours. This isn’t about “desire” in the typical sense. Instead, it’s an attempt to use sexual activity to self-soothe, regain validation, or numb overwhelming emotions born from past trauma.
A systematic review of 21 studies found that most reported a significant association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB), reinforcing the idea that these experiences in childhood often echo through adult sexual expression and relationships.
Understanding sex addiction
Sex addiction, also called compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, is characterised by the persistent pursuit of sexual activity, even when it leads to negative consequences. While “sex addiction” remains debated in medical circles, the reality is that many individuals experience compulsive sexual urges just as others do with substances such as alcohol or drugs.
For survivors of abuse, sexual behaviour can become both a numbing mechanism and a form of reenacting unresolved trauma.
If a person’s earliest experiences with sexuality were rooted in exploitation or violation, the brain may come to link arousal with danger, shame, or a desperate need for control. This forms a cycle, where sexual compulsion is driven by the same pain it seeks to relieve, creating entrenched behavioural patterns.
Why is it common?
Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain this relationship. Neurologically, early trauma is thought to affect the development of brain regions involved in impulse control, emotion regulation, and connection to other areas central to healthy sexual expression. Psychological theories, such as the trauma-genic dynamics model, assert that childhood sexual abuse can create distorted “sexual scripts”, internal guidelines about sex, relationships, and self-worth, resulting in risky or compulsive behaviours later on.
Why are abuse survivors vulnerable
Multiple psychological and neurobiological factors make survivors of childhood sexual abuse especially vulnerable to developing sex addiction:
Dysregulated stress response: Trauma changes the nervous system, increasing sensitivity to stress and a tendency to seek quick, dopamine-driven relief.
Attachment wounds: Abused children may struggle with building secure, trusting relationships and may turn to sexual activity as a substitute for genuine emotional intimacy.
Reenactment: Survivors might unconsciously repeat aspects of their trauma, trying to gain mastery or meaning through compulsive experiences.
Shame cycles: Deep-seated shame and secrecy intensify compulsive behaviour, trapping survivors in cycles that reinforce self-blame and distress.
Notably, studies show that sex addiction rarely occurs in isolation. Emotional and physical abuse often co-occur with sexual abuse, and together, these forms of trauma multiply the risk of developing compulsive behaviours. One significant study found that among men in treatment for sex addiction, over two-thirds reported a history of childhood sexual abuse, with similarly high rates for emotional abuse.
Real-life impact: Beyond the individual
The effects of childhood sexual abuse stretch far beyond an individual’s inner world. Survivors may face challenges in all areas of life, relationships, employment, social engagement, and even their physical health. A child’s subjective experience of abuse can have a stronger link to later mental health outcomes than the objective facts of the event, highlighting how personal meaning and unresolved trauma shape individual pathways.
Sex addiction itself is sometimes linked with higher rates of substance misuse, risk-taking, criminal behaviours, and ongoing victimisation. This pattern underscores the urgent need for intervention that looks at the whole picture, not just the behaviour in isolation.
Pathways to healing
While the link between childhood sexual abuse and sex addiction is painfully honest, it does not condemn anyone to a lifelong struggle. Recovery is possible, and it begins with trauma-informed, compassionate care tailored to the complex interplay of past abuse and present-day behaviours.
Therapy: Trauma-focused therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), somatic experiencing, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) help survivors process memories and restore nervous system balance.
Integrated treatment: Best practices involve addressing both trauma and compulsive behaviours together. This holistic approach reassures survivors that their struggles are being understood and treated comprehensively, empowering them to gradually understand the origins of their struggles and break unhealthy cycles.
Support groups: Communities such as Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) offer validation, safety, and peer accountability, reducing isolation and shame.
Reframing identity: Central to healing is the recognition that compulsive sexual behaviour is not a moral failure but a survival response to trauma, a truth that dissolves shame and fosters self-compassion.
Moving from survival to wholeness
The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and sex addiction highlights the endlessly complex ways trauma shapes human behaviour. Survivors often carry silent burdens, wrestling not just with the legacy of abuse but with shame around their coping mechanisms. By breaking down the stigmas associated with both sexual trauma and addiction, society can create the space survivors need not only to survive, but to thrive.
Healing starts by understanding that what was once a necessary survival strategy does not have to define the rest of life. With the right tools, safe environments, and support, survivors can move beyond cycles of compulsion, restoring their sense of agency, self-worth, and the possibility of healthy, connected relationships.
Read more from John Comerford
John Comerford, Author/Motivational Speaker
John Comerford is a leading advocate for men’s mental health and trauma recovery. A survivor of childhood sexual assault, he endured four decades of silence before, after a suicide attempt, beginning the hard work of confronting his past and rebuilding his life. He shares his story in “Tarzan Loves Jane,” a dark romantic comedy based on his experience, and created “Battle Armour: 25 Tools for Men’s Mental Health” to equip other men with practical support. Today he speaks, writes, and leads with one message: speak up, his mission is that no man suffers in silence.
