While some people are immediately repulsed at the idea they might be a sex addict, for others it is freeing because the term finally explains why they continue to return to destructive, compulsive, sometimes dangerous behaviors in spite of sincere promises to stop. 

What's in a Name?
Sex addiction can go by many names including:

Behaviors by Addiction Level
Compulsive sexual behavior is commonly broken down into three levels.  Some persons who meet the criteria for diagnosis of sex addiction have behaviors that are confined to one level.  While sex addiction is generally progressive, their behaviors may have begun at that level and never progressed beyond that level.  Still others find that their acting out behaviors started out as level one behaviors and then escalated to level two or level three behaviors.

What is Acting Out?