Addicted to Love: Recovering from Unhealthy Dependencies in Love, Romance, Relationships, and Sex

by Stephen F. Arterburn

What do these people have in common? Carol cannot free herself from the abusive relationship she has endured for ten miserable years. Ben is driven to secret sexual liaisons with one woman after another. Ginny spends every free moment of her day absorbed in romance novels. Carol, Ben, and Ginny suffer from the same problem. Psychologists call it the "disease of the '90's"-"love" addiction. Addicted to "Love" describes the many forms this addiction can take-from romance novels and relationships to spouse abuse and sexual acxting-out. Like drug addicts or alcoholics, "love" addicts get high from sex and romance, develop a tolerance for it, and need ever-greater doses to keep going. Stephen Arterburn examines why this addiction is on the rise, what it looks like, who it afflicts, and what you can do if you suspect that your spouse, friend, or family member may be suffering from it. With compassion and wisdom, Arterburn points the way to psychological and spiritual healing, to enable men and women to enjoy real and lasting intimacy.

Genres: Counselling, Personal Growth

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries—the nation's largest faith-based broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry—and is the host of the nationally syndicated New Life Live! daily radio program aired on over 180 radio stations nationwide, Sirius XM radio, and on television. Steve is also the founder of the Women of Faith conferences, attended by over 4 million women, and of HisMatchforMe.com.
Steve is a nationally known public speaker and has been featured in national media venues such as Oprah, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, CNN Live, the New York Times, USA Today, and US News & World Report.
In August 2000, Steve was inducted into the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame. A bestselling author, Steve has written more than one hundred books, including the popular Every Man's series and his most recent book, Healing Is a Choice. He is a Gold Medallion–winning author and has been nominated for numerous other writing awards.
Steve has degrees from Baylor University and the University of North Texas as well as two honorary doctorate degrees. Steve is a teaching pastor at Northview Church in suburban Indianapolis and resides with his family in Indiana.

Reviews

[James Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to having a more than a curious interest in abnormal psychology, I also have an interest in addiction recovery. This book was one I read to both those ends, as well as one I read to understand some tumult in my own life.

I read Stephen Arterburn's books with caution, because I think he sometimes gives cookie-cutter Christian-based solutions to everything; however, this is not such a beast, and it is a very good book. (I suspect Arterburn has an intrinsic understanding of the subject.) I do recommend this book, if you have a friend . . .

[Water Bender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book explains in great detail of how different addictions happen and stages of it. In very fascinating to know if you are into psychology. I didn't totally like the part of recovery which promotes that one solution to all is believing in God. Overall was a good read.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book about addictions. Helpful for ministering to others struggling with addiction and relationships.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Psychology, you will love this book. It's about human addiction to love, relationship and sex. Why it happens and what's behind all of these. Mostly happen to people who has been abused and hurt in their childhood, who search for a way out of their suffering.

Love, relationship and sex addiction also close related to other forms of addiction such as to alchohol, drugs and pornography that if not treated will lead to far more destructions and acts of violence. Paedhopile and Serial Killers are often begins their journey from past abused in their life combined with small addiction that eventually grew bigger and uncontrolable. But the case is not only for people with dis-functional family background. For instance, some come from good background, raised well in their family, but they started the cycle of pornographic and violence addiction just because they open the door in their mind by started to see soft porn in the magazines, then it grew bigger and bigger.

There are lots of case study, real life story and shocking truth that make this book is not boring. I could not put this book down until I finish reading it.

[Alex Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me it was hard to finish but I know it would help folks.. it's more for folks who hop from relationship to another or are addicted to sex I think. Some of the lists of healthy vs unhealthy behaviours are obvious but I think folks in dysfunction would benefit from taking an inventory of their actions, etc... the lists and stories would be helpful for a counselor to guide folks with.