As the disease progresses, increasing amounts of time will be spent thinking about and obtaining sex. This means there will be less time for work, social life, family, professional responsibilities, or any other obligations. Ignoring these activities is evidence that energy is being drained somewhere else. A concerned person should demand to know what is going on. Family members have a right to know because they are the victims.

If work is ignored, there will be loss of jobs and income. Friendships or other social relationships will be lost. Unethical conduct can result In the loss of professional licenses or the ability to practice the profession. Finally, if illegal behavior is involved, a sex addict may be arrested and could go to jail. Many sex addicts try to explain away arrests, such as for soliciting prostitution, as isolated events that won't happen again. Don't be fooled - these arrests are rarely, if ever, isolated. More than likely they are a part of a long-standing pattern.