Synopses & Reviews
A moment comes for every addict when the consequences are so great or the pain is so bad that the addicts life becomes out of control because of his or her behavior. Some are news making moments, such as the public censure when a congressman, minister, general, or professional athlete is cited for unacceptable sexual behavior. For most people those moments are followed by resolves to never do it again”, but somehow after the promise is made, they often find themselves in the exact same location doing something they vowed to never do again. That is addiction.
And for some, this addiction is more difficult to diagnose than in others. Such is the case for gay men. For some gay men fully committed to open sexual choices and experiences, modifying their sexual behavior and restricting their sexual freedoms is like going back in time and surrendering to homophobic attitudes often found in conservative culture. It just doesnt feel right. After all, the urban gay male culture surrounding him fully supports his sexual exploits as long as the sex is safe. And since gay male sex addicts may not discuss their sexual behavior even with good friends, nobody challenges them on their late-night exploits in unsafe places, their arrest record or brushes with the law, or potential health risks because of their behavior.
The truth is gay male sex addicts are not compulsively sexual because of their sexual orientation, but rather as a consequence of their individual psychological issues and biological predisposition toward addiction. This is exactly the same set of risk factors presented by straight male sex addicts.
Unfortunately, for the gay (sex) addict, his increasingly destructive patterns of behavior take place against a cultural background of dramatically greater sexual and social freedoms than those enjoyed by his heterosexual peers. The single urban gay man who has problems with sex, alcohol, or drugs is in some ways a prisoner of his own freedoms, having fewer cultural opportunities for self-examination and less cultural support for behavior change than does an average heterosexual male.
Finally, there is a resource that can help gay men determine if they are indeed a sex addict and whether or not they are willing to explore behavior change because of their sexual behavior.
Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, is director of sexual disorders services for Elements Behavioral Health and founding director of The Sexual Recovery Institute, an outpatient sexual addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, California. His media appearances include ESPN, The Discovery Channel, the Today show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Anderson Cooper 360°, and Dateline NBC.
Review
Robert Weiss, with insight and clarity, affirms a healing spiritual message that reflects knowledge, empathy and optimism for the gay sex addict. He celebrates the healing powers of treatment and sustained recovery. He understands the inclusiveness of spirituality that enables him to be a prophetic teacher and therapist.
Reverend Leo Booth, Master of Theology
Author, Say Yes to Your Sexual Healing and The Happy Heretic
Cruise Control is the "go to" book for gay men struggling with out of control sexual behaviors. Now complete with a sober sexuality and dating plan, it guides you in not just how to stop compulsive behaviors but along a gentle path through healthier sexual behaviors.
Joe Kort, PhD, author, 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Improve Their Lives
Finally a book for gay men that confronts sex addiction in an open and non-judgmental way. All the new technologies available today have changed the "old ways" gay men cruised for sex. In the process it has initiated a new breed of sex addicts. Rob Weiss tackles these powerful sexual temptations one by one and provides practical solutions for life long recovery. Cruise Control will be life changing to gay men struggling with their sexual behavior. I highly recommend it.
Claudia Black Ph.D., author, Deceived
and Intimate Treason
Synopsis
Discover the important distinction between being a gay sex addict and a gay man exploring his sexual freedom.
Synopsis
Sex is always part of Eds day, whether hes masturbating during his morning shower, cruising the mall during lunch, or engaging in his post-workout gym ritual. He often spends whole weekends either searching for sex partners or having sex. In his rigidly compartmentalized daily sexual activities, Ed reveals a part of himself that his friends and coworkers most likely wouldnt recognize.
About 10 percent of gay men are sex addicts. For gay men like Ed who may have a problem with anonymous online hook-ups, porn, sex clubs, and prostitutes, the first step toward personal growth is to gain as much knowledge as possible about sexual addiction. Cruise Control will help readers determine whether or not they are sex addicts and how to reclaim their sexual health. This second edition is revised and expanded to include the impact of social media and mobile apps like Grindr (which uses GPS technology for instant hookups) on the epidemic” of sex addiction in gay males.
Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, is director of sexual disorders services for Elements Behavioral Health and founding director of The Sexual Recovery Institute, an outpatient sexual addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, California. His media appearances include ESPN, The Discovery Channel, the Today show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Anderson Cooper 360°, and Dateline NBC.
About the Author
Rob is the foremost expert on sexual addiction in the United States.”
-Dr. Drew, Producer of Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew
Robert Weiss, LCSW, is a sexual addiction and recovery expert. With nearly 3,700 followers on Twitter, he's the "go to guy" for the media on matters relating to sex addiction. He keeps an active blog at: www.robertweissmsw.com and is the founding Director of The Sexual Recovery Institute (SRI), Los Angeles and Director of Sexual Disorders Services for Elements Behavioral Health, which includes The Ranch in Nunnelly, TN, Promises Treatment Centers, and SRI. He is a UCLA MSW graduate and trainee of Dr. Patrick Carnes. He is a contributing author of Mending A Shattered Heart: A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts (2011) and co-author (with Dr. Jennifer Schneider) of both Untangling the Web: Sex, Porn and Fantasy Addiction in the Internet Age (2006) and Cybersex Exposed: Simple Fantasy to Obsession (2001). He is a recent media expert to CNN, ESPN, Dr. Drew and The Today Show among many others.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Patrick Carnes
Introduction (with technological updates)
How Do I Know I am A Sex Addict?
Sex Addiction: Taking A Closer Look
How Did I Get to Be A Sex Addict?
The Impact on Partnerships and Marriages
Crystal, Sex and Other Addictions
Hook ups and Technology
Making Changes and Finding Help
For Partners and Spouses
Understanding Love Addiction
Beyond Sex and Love Addiction: Taking Healthy Next Steps