Original Air Date:
Monday, November 23, 2009
Guests:
Oprah welcomed Dr. Drew Pinsky and three guests - Amber, Phil and Jennie - to share about their experience in sex addiction rehab.
Show Summary:
Oprah has addressed a number of addictions on her show from alcohol to shopping, food and drug abuse. But for this episode, Oprah welcomed addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky to take viewers inside the VH1 reality show Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and meet three of the people who participated in the program - Amber, Phil, and Jennie. While Dr. Drew shared information on what sex addiction is and the challenges in treating and recovering from the addiction, the guests on the show shared the processes they are going through to be healthy and reconnect with themselves first so that they can find intimacy with others.
Special Highlights:
This episode featured the following highlights:
- Sex addiction is an intimacy disorder where the addict gets a high from their behavior, but typically feels remorse afterwards.
- Sex addiction is the most hidden, shameful and misunderstood of all addictions according to Dr. Drew and therefore those suffering do so in silence.
- Amber, Phil and Jennie participated in the VH1 show Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew where they entered a facility for three weeks and were forbidden from touching themselves or others, having sex, or viewing pornography.
- Each of the guests shared how they broke down and broke through in treatment.
More Highlights:
- 90% of sex addicts have experienced trauma in their childhood. Dr. Drew spends much of the time helping the residents find their deep feelings and detachments from intimacy and life.
- Jennie has quit her job in adult films to let go of her persona and become her true self. Phil lived the rock star lifestyle but has taken what he learned into his life. Amber, who struggles with love addiction, is still finding her way to recovery.
- Dr. Drew explained that often what causes pain in childhood becomes an attraction in adulthood.
- Jonathan and Elaine, married 14 years, showed that marriage can survive sex addiction.
What to Take Away from the Show:
Throughout the show, so many important points were made regarding love and intimacy. Dr. Drew stressed that humans need intimacy and deserve to have it in its truest form, even if that starts with non-sexual healthy relationships and working through a 12 step program for addicts. Oprah pointed out that she learned long ago that love doesn't hurt and that love should show the most respect, not degrade, cause pain, or humiliation. When speaking on how to turn the addiction around and learn to connect, Oprah shared with the guests that she feels it is impossible to survive addiction-free without a spiritual connection.
