Realistic Expectations for Sex Addiction Recovery

Thanks for listening to Unfiltered: Real Talk About Sex and Love, with Ashley and Heather.

In this episode, we answer the following questions:

- Since in recovery, I see some changes in my husband, but I still experience defensiveness, blame-shifting, and a lack of empathy. I’m struggling to know if I’m expecting too much. Can true recovery happen without accountability, emotional safety, and genuine empathy?

- I see my husband making meaningful recovery changes, but I’m concerned he still views sex—his “biological need”—as a solution to his addiction. How do we understand healthy sexuality, intimacy, and responsibility without placing his recovery on me?

- Just as I was beginning to heal, I discovered my husband has had sexual fantasies involving my sisters and close friends. This level of betrayal feels deeper and seems different from masturbating to strangers. Is this common in addiction, and how do I recover from such a personal betrayal?

If you'd like your questions answered on Unfiltered, send them to us at unfiltered@puredesire.org.