Dealing With Pornography Addictions

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I am sharing post today that is different from topics I usually cover. It is a sensitive subject, but something I feel very strongly about. It is something I am working hard to protect my family from. Pornography addictions have become a huge problem all around the world today. My husband is a therapist and works daily with people trying to deal with issues related to pornography. Some of the statistics are staggering. Pornography is highly addictive and has been said to be an addiction like cocaine. I want to share with you ways to keep it from your home, and ways to recover if it is already affecting your family.

Why are Pornography Addictions So Harmful?

• Men who view pornography regularly have a decreased sensitivity toward women and girls.
• It gives you a decreased sensitivity and increased tolerance of sexually graphic material.
• Those who view it are exposed to incorrect information about human sexuality and develop unhealthy views about sex.
• Those who view it have an increased risk of becoming aggressive or violent in sexual practices or abusive to others.
• The will likely experience difficulties in intimate relationships.
• They are more likely to be involved in sexual behavior that is risky, unhealthy, or illegal.
• It creates a decrease in trust in your boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.
• It causes an increased risk of becoming sexually dissatisfied with your spouse.
• It causes an increased risk of cheating on your spouse.
• It causes an increased risk of separation or divorce.

Source 

Pornography Use Statistics:

66% of Internet-using 18- to 34-year-old men look at online pornography at least once a month. Over 40% of women are involved in online pornographic, cyber behavior.  40 Million Americans regularly visit pornographic sites.  35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography. Pornography is used by 87% of college males and 31% of females.  90% of 8- to 16-year-olds have viewed pornography online.  The average age for first exposure to pornography for boys is between 11-12 years old.  25% or 68 million of all search engine requests daily are pornography related.  According to National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, 2010, 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home.  Pornography use increases the marital infidelity rate by more than 300%.    55% of divorce cases involve one party having an “obsessive interest” in pornographic websites.  Source

How to Keep Pornography Out of Your Home:

It is getting harder and harder with newer technology to keep these things out of the hands of kids.  The pornography addictions are starting at a younger age than ever and pornography is more accessible than ever. Decide as a family what your standards are in your home and teach them to your children.  Keep computers, phones, iPads and other electronic devices in a public place in your home. Lock the devices with password protection. If you have older kids, have them turn their phone in to you at night. Put internet filters on your internet to block unwanted material on all electronics. You can even install programs to track where people are going on the internet if needed.  Most importantly, teach your children to watch out for harmful images or videos that may come up. They need to understand what pornography is and how to avoid it. We have been open with our children in understanding what is not appropriate. We also try to have regular discussions about appropriate behavior, and appropriate media.

Stop it before it starts!

Recovering from Pornography Addictions:

If you or someone in your family is already dealing with a pornography addiction, it is a good thing to seek out help.  Because pornography use often causes much shame and guilt in the user, many people are reluctant to seek out help.  Others believe that it is a problem they can deal with on their own.  My husband, who specializes in this area, says that very few people can overcome this on their own.  They need the help of loved ones and professionals trained to deal with these addictions.  There are many professionals and support groups willing to help through this kind of addiction. There are also a lot of free resources to use. Many spouses are suffering through marriages that are falling apart from pornography issues. I know people first hand who have struggled with these issues. It is not easily overcome, but can be done with help.

I was contacted by a company called Addo Recovery who offers free online services for those who have gone through the betrayal of a family member with a pornography addiction or sexual addiction. My husband is sometimes skeptical of the programs that are out there to help people suffering through this addiction.  When he saw I was doing a post about Addo Recovery, he was very pleased.  He has firsthand knowledge of this program and says that it is a wonderful resource, particularly for spouses of those who struggle with porn/sex addiction.  In his experience, it is really difficult for spouses to get support.  They are reluctant to talk to family, friends, or people they go to church with because, by talking about their betrayal and pain, they are “outing” their spouse’s addiction.

Addo Recovery offers free online services to help people through the trauma caused by these hurts. This trauma is suffered by 70% of women who discover a pornography addiction or sexual infidelity in marriage. This trauma, called Betrayal Trauma, is similar to PTSD symptoms and includes things like depression, anxiety, anger, fear, and weight issues, self-confidence issues, among other things.  If people go without help, 43% of them are still suffering after 2 years.  Most women suffer in silence because they feel shame and do not know how to discuss it with others. This is a completely normal response and something that more people experience than you realize. Most people do not realize that it is not their fault that their loved one has acted in this way. There are so many people who can help!

Addo Recovery offers a free six-week program to help with this betrayal trauma. They have worked with thousands of women in over 10 countries. The women who complete the program report their healing to have improved by 76%.

If this is an issue in your home, know also that you can turn to Christ for support and healing.

This is a sponsored post in behalf of Addo Recovery. I am being compensated for my time in writing this post, but all opinions are my own.