EP263 Exploring the Depths of Sex and Love Addiction with Brianne Davis

Brianne Davis is a Hollywood actress, writer, producer, and director who is also a certified trauma-informed recovery specialist and a sex and love addict in recovery. She has been featured in shows and films such as Lucifer, Casual, True Blood, and Jarhead alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. Her article "I'm a Sex and Love Addict. Here's How I Realized I Had a Problem" has been widely read online. In the podcast, Brianne describes her experience as a sex and love addict, from her rock bottom moment of trying to stop two men from killing each other in front of her house to her current calling of helping other people.

00:04:53 Addiction to love and sex.
00:10:43 Addiction is hard to overcome.
00:16:01 Tools for healthy relationships.
00:22:10 Embrace self worth and love.
00:25:25 Heal trauma to find happiness.
00:33:07 Love yourself to serve others.
00:38:45 Break generational cycles.
00:39:00 Break free from addiction.

Addiction to love and sex

Addiction to love and sex is a serious issue that affects many people. Brianne Davis, an actress, writer, producer, and director, is a certified trauma-informed recovery specialist and a sex and love addict in recovery. She is the host of the podcast Secret Life and wrote an article for the Huffington Post titled "I'm a Sex and Love Addict. Here's How I Realized I Had a Problem" which received over a million views.

In her article, Brianne describes her rock bottom moment when she was standing in a driveway trying to stop two men from killing each other in front of her house. This was the moment when she realized that something was wrong and that she needed to make a change. As an addict, Brianne experienced many more rock bottom moments as her addiction led her to lie, cheat, manipulate, and use people for her own attention and self-worth.

So, what is a love and sex addiction?

Brianne explains that it is different from someone who just likes to have sex or partake in orgies. It is an addiction to the highs that come from sex and love. Sex addiction is the physical release and love addiction is the emotional release. People with this addiction may engage in one night stands, swiping left and right, multiple partners, falling in love easily, becoming jealous and possessive, going from person to person, and chasing the fantasy of a soulmate. They may also experience love anorexia, when it gets too intimate, they will run away.

Sex and love addiction is a serious issue that can have a deep and profound impact on people's lives. Brianne Davis's story is a testament to this and is a reminder that it is possible to overcome addiction and find healing. It is important to recognize the signs of addiction and to seek help if needed.

Heal from attachment issues

Attachment issues can be rooted in childhood experiences and can manifest in adulthood as difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships. People with attachment issues often struggle with feelings of insecurity and fear of abandonment. They may also have difficulty with intimacy and trust, leading to compulsive behaviors such as sex and love addiction.

The first step to healing from attachment issues is to become aware of the underlying issues. People need to be able to recognize the signs of attachment issues and be honest with themselves about their feelings and behaviors. Once the underlying issues are identified, it is important to seek help from a qualified therapist or counselor.

Therapy can help people to process their feelings, gain insight into their behavior, and develop healthier coping strategies. It can also help people to build self-esteem and learn how to establish and maintain healthy relationships. In addition, therapy can help people to recognize and break patterns of compulsive behavior, such as sex and love addiction.

It is also important to practice self-care and self-love. People can do this by engaging in activities that bring them joy and connecting with supportive people in their lives. It is also important to practice mindfulness and to be aware of one's thoughts and feelings.

Finally, it is important to be patient and kind to oneself. Healing from attachment issues is a process and it can take time. It is important to be gentle with oneself and to recognize that it is okay to make mistakes. With patience and perseverance, it is possible to heal from attachment issues and find peace and happiness.

Tools for healthy relationships

In today’s world, healthy relationships are essential. They provide us with support, guidance, and love. Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped with the tools they need to form and maintain healthy relationships. This can lead to a variety of issues, such as love and sex addiction, which can prevent people from forming meaningful connections.

The first step to forming healthy relationships is to acknowledge that there is an issue. This can be done by taking the S-L-A-A 40 question test, which can help identify if there is a problem. It is also important to read books such as Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex and Love Addict and Facing Love Addiction, which can provide valuable insight into the issue.

Once the issue has been identified, the next step is to take action. This can involve setting boundaries, such as avoiding flirting with people and eliminating contact with certain individuals. It can also involve avoiding certain activities, such as engaging in casual sex or constantly seeking validation from others.

In addition, it is important to seek help if needed. This can involve attending therapy sessions, joining support groups, or reading self-help books. It is also important to be open to learning new skills and techniques that can help develop healthy relationships.

Release shame, embrace worth

To release shame and embrace worth, it is important to recognize that we are worthy of love and acceptance no matter what. It is essential to recognize that we are all human and that it is okay to make mistakes. It is important to be kind to ourselves and to recognize that it is okay to have flaws. It is important to recognize that we are all valuable and deserving of love.

It is also important to recognize that we have the power to choose how we respond to our experiences. We can choose to respond with love and acceptance or with fear and judgement. We can choose to accept ourselves and our experiences or to reject them. We can choose to focus on our strengths or our weaknesses. We can choose to embrace our worth or to reject it.

It is also important to recognize that we can learn from our experiences. We can learn how to better manage our emotions and how to create healthy boundaries. We can learn how to communicate our needs and how to set healthy limits. We can also learn how to better manage our relationships and how to create more meaningful connections.

Finally, it is important to recognize that it is possible to heal from attachment issues. It is possible to heal from the past and to create a more fulfilling future. It is possible to release shame and embrace worth. It is possible to create meaningful relationships and to experience true connection and love. It is possible to create a life that is filled with joy and happiness. With patience and perseverance, it is possible to heal from attachment issues and to create a life that is filled with love and acceptance.

Heal shame from within

The process of healing from shame can be a long and difficult one, but it is possible. It begins with being honest with yourself and recognizing the patterns of behavior that have been passed down from generation to generation. It involves taking the time to look inward and asking yourself questions to identify where the shame is coming from and how it is manifesting in your life. It may involve reaching out for help from professionals, such as a therapist or a life coach, to help you work through the underlying issues. It may involve attending meetings or engaging in activities that help to build self-esteem and confidence.

Once the root cause of the shame has been identified, it is important to take steps to heal from it. This may involve engaging in activities that help to release the shame, such as journaling, meditation, or talking with a trusted friend or family member. It may also involve engaging in activities that help to build self-esteem and confidence, such as practicing self-care, engaging in physical activity, or taking part in activities that bring joy and fulfillment. It is also important to practice self-compassion, recognizing that it is okay to make mistakes and that it is possible to learn from them.

Love yourself first

Loving yourself first is key to creating meaningful relationships and experiencing true connection and love. When we don’t love ourselves, we are unable to give and receive love in a healthy way. This can lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, and disconnection. To create meaningful relationships and to experience true connection and love, we must first learn to love ourselves.

Self-love is not always easy. It can take time and effort to cultivate self-love and to heal from attachment issues. It can take time to learn to forgive yourself and to accept yourself for who you are. It can take time to learn to trust yourself and to trust the process. It can take time to learn to be kind to yourself and to practice self-care.

One way to practice self-love is to focus on the other person. When we are too self-involved, it is difficult to experience true connection and love. Instead of focusing on our own needs and wants, we can focus on the needs and wants of our partner. We can be of service to our partner and focus on their eyes and body. This can help us to get out of our own heads and to shift our focus to the other person.

Another way to practice self-love is to recognize that new relationship energy can be reinvigorated. It is possible to experience new relationship energy even with a partner we have been with for years. We can experience butterflies and excitement even with a long-term partner. This can help us to stay connected and to keep the relationship alive and vibrant.

Break the cycle of self-hate

The cycle of self-hate is a vicious one that can take a toll on our mental and emotional health. It can lead to a lack of self-esteem, depression, and even physical ailments. It can lead to a lack of motivation and a feeling of being stuck. It can lead to a lack of connection and meaningful relationships. It can lead to a feeling of worthlessness and a lack of purpose.

Breaking the cycle of self-hate is not easy, but it is possible. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, as well as self-love and self-care. It takes being willing to be of service to others, without expecting anything in return. It takes unlearning the societal norms that have been instilled in us since childhood. It takes being willing to take off the mask that we wear to hide our true selves. It takes being willing to be vulnerable and to accept ourselves for who we are.

One way to break the cycle of self-hate is to practice being of service to others. This can be done in big or small ways, such as volunteering at a local homeless shelter or helping an elderly neighbor with their groceries. Doing this can help to cultivate self-love and self-worth, and can help to create meaningful connections with others.

Another way to break the cycle of self-hate is to recognize that our worth is not attached to our physical appearance. We have been conditioned to value our looks over our worth, but this is not true. Our worth is not determined by our physical appearance, but by our actions, our intentions, and our ability to love and accept ourselves for who we are.

Break the love addiction

Breaking the love addiction can be a difficult process, but it is possible. It requires self-awareness, self-reflection, and the willingness to do the work. It requires the courage to face our fears and to confront our attachment issues. It requires the strength to let go of old patterns and to create new ones. It requires the commitment to be honest with ourselves and to be honest with our partners. It requires the dedication to heal and to grow.

The first step in breaking the love addiction is to recognize and acknowledge the problem. It is important to understand the root of the addiction and to identify the patterns that are causing it. It is also important to understand how the addiction is affecting our life and our relationships. Once we have a better understanding of the addiction, we can begin to work on breaking it.

The next step is to create healthy boundaries. It is important to set boundaries in our relationships and to be honest about our needs and wants. It is also important to be aware of our triggers and to be mindful of how we react to them. We can also create healthy boundaries by being honest with ourselves and with our partners.

The third step is to practice self-care. It is important to take care of our physical and mental health. This includes getting enough sleep, eating healthy, exercising, and engaging in activities that bring us joy. Self-care also includes self-compassion, self-love, and self-acceptance. It is important to practice self-care in order to break the love addiction and to create meaningful relationships.

Finally, it is important to seek help when needed. It is important to reach out to a therapist or a support group in order to get the help and support we need. It is also important to talk to our friends and family about our struggles and to ask for help when needed.

Breaking the love addiction can be a difficult and challenging process, but it is possible. It requires self-awareness, self-reflection, and the willingness to do the work. It also requires patience, dedication, and commitment. With the right support, it is possible to break the love addiction and to create a life that is filled with love and acceptance.