After having been accused by my W of being a sex addict and being required to see a sex therapist, I was intrigued by something he said to me. It was similar to LP's statement.
He asked me if I was using sex (porn, cyber chatting) to avoid pain or if the hopelessness of my SSM had caused me to look for sexual outlets. He assured me that neither was healthy, but the difference was huge in diagnosing sexual addiction. The first was classic addiction, but the second wasn't, although if left unchecked could become addiction, too.
The fact that I had gone for years without seeking outlets indicated to him that I was not a sex addict, although my (then) present behavior was similar to one who was. BTW, I cut off those behaviors cold turkey and have continued until today. (Unless you count this BB as "sex addict behavior".)
The sexual addiction therapy created yet another reason for the problem to be ME for a while longer. It sounds like Mr.JJ is accusing similarly.
