If you are seeking sex addiction recovery, your symptoms can feel overwhelming. How do you channel that energy and desire in a way that keeps you on-track? Sex addiction recovery will never be easy, but it is always possible. Here are a few brass-tacks ways to satisfy your symptoms and stay on the road to recovery.

Get a Healthy Dopamine Hit.

Ultimately, what your body is craving is a powerful hit of dopamine. And since you are refusing to get it via porn or another unhealthy sexual behavior, you need to feed the beast another way. Some other avenues to a dopamine hit are:

• Exercise
• Eating something sugary or packed with carbohydrates
• Good, hard laughter
• Something that gets your adrenaline pumping: riding a roller coaster, surfing, snowboarding, riding a motorcycle, etc.

While some coping mechanisms may not be the healthiest in the long run, when you’re in survival mode, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to make it to your next step.

Increase Your Tyrosine Levels.

Of the chemicals that make up dopamine, tyrosine is the most important. It is the building block of dopamine. So it’s important (and easy) to make sure you get enough of this protein. Try eating more:

• Almonds
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Beef
• Chicken
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Eggs
• Green Tea
• Watermelon
• Yogurt

“Tyrosine is one of the 22 key amino acids that are used for building proteins around the body. In addition to this, however, it also raises the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, namely dopamine and norepinephrine. These are famous for being ‘feel good’ chemicals that can help boost mood and elevate concentration.” -Stephan Gardner

Get a Streak Going.

Use a calendar or wall chart to boldly mark every day that you are successful in meeting your sex addiction recovery goals. Seeing your daily achievements visually is incredibly satisfying and motivating. It also helps to create a positive dopamine response in the brain over time.

Take Up a Different Kind of Sweaty Habit.

Vigorous exercise is one of the best ways to burn off excess energy, reduce anxiety, and create a flood of feel-good chemicals in your brain. Pounding it out on the pavement is a healthy way to channel powerful sexual urges when you have no other outlet. Run, lift weights, cycle, take up a team sport, or join one of those insufferable CrossFit gyms if you have to.

Sex Addiction Symptoms Won’t Go Away On Their Own.

Even with the best habits, sex addictionS symptoms will never go away completely on their own. You need help to recover, and you shouldn’t go at this alone. Reach out for help today.