To many men, having too much sex would be considered the opposite of a problem. But with the topic gaining media attention as celebrities like David Duchovny and Russell Brand enter treatment for sex addiction, we went in search of the true -- sometimes devastating -- stories behind the punchlines. "John" is a sex addict from the States who has cheated on his wife with over 50 women during the last 13 years.

I Was a Relationship Guy
I grew up in a Catholic household. I was very naïve. I had a high school sweetheart, then I had a college sweetheart that I married. There was no sowing of wild oats, there was no casual dating. I started cheating on my wife back in 1995.

Then I Discovered the Internet
Probably only about two or three years into it I discovered this new thing called the Internet. I started chatting with people, then we started chatting about sex, then exchanging pictures with one another, then agreeing to talk on the phone. Once the cat was out of the bag there was no putting it back in.

I post on Craigslist, Adult Friend Finder, Ashley Madison, Swinglifestyle.com. Sometimes I'll post three or four ads at one time at varying levels -- some platonic, some very explicit, some in between. At the all-time high I would say probably more than 8 hours a day was devoted to the pursuit of sex and I was meeting two or three people a week easy.

Read the rest of John's story after the jump.


The Spiral
I was fired from my job and when I look back the reason is because I really wasn't being productive because I was spending far too much time on the Internet. We had financial problems, had to sell the house and move. I would be lying if I said my addiction didn't play into that. I could have weathered the storm better if I wasn't so obsessed and spending so much time on sex sites.

Fringe Benefits Backlash
At one point I had a business and I placed an ad for a salesperson and I wanted to find someone who could help me with my business but was also attractive that I could have sex with. It was fun sexually but she was doing nothing for me in my business. Shortly after I let her go, I got a call from her saying she was pregnant. I basically had to pay her off to go away.

Getting Caught
My wife caught me around 2001 by looking at the computer logs. We were an hour away from a divorce sitting in divorce court with our lawyers negotiating with one another. One of the conditions that I had to agree to with my wife was to go to a sex addict's group therapy. We're still together, although she doesn't trust me really, nor should she.

The Prognosis
I wish I could say that I felt guilty because that would be the right thing to say but I honestly don't. I've been caught numerous times and I continue to do it. For me, this sexual addiction is more like a food addiction because people can't stop eating food. You just have to find the moderation. I feel the same way about my sexual addiction. It's foolish to think that I could ever not have it. If I chemically castrated myself it's not a feeling or urge that would ever go away. I should, but I don't have any regrets.