The phenomenology of behavioral addictions, including sex addiction, is identical to drug and alcohol addiction, characterized by repetition, increased potency/quantity needed, and eventual marshalling of all resources for the activity.

“what we see with behavioral addictions including sex addiction is that the phenomenology is identical to drug and alcohol addiction people start out for fun or to solve a problem if it works for them they repeat that behavior they go back again and again over time it tends to work less well they need more potent forms or larger quantities to get the same effect and then at some point in severe cases they're marshalling all of their available resources in order to do that activity or consume that drug”