Shaunti Feldhahn

Online Forums
Subject: Please help...don't know what to do...
Prev Next
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author Messages
JociUser is Offline

Posts:1

11/20/2009 1:27 PM  

My boyfriend just told me the other day he struggles with watching porn every day. I was extremely compassionate about it because I understand the struggle but also explained I do not agree with it or think it is healthy. He also said that he doesn’t think it’s healthy and it’s bad on relationships but that he is working on other things and this is struggle now. I don’t think he is trying to change. I really don’t know what to say or do though. I feel like I showed him a lot of love, but me just sitting here not doing anything I feel is kind of supporting his habit. I am Christian and he was raised in fairly Christian home but with a more liberal view on sex. I am waiting for marriage- that wasn’t a value for himself or his family but he completely respects me and doesn’t even try to go there. Because that is a difference of ours sometimes I feel like I’m asking him to be different for me but he has stated it shouldn’t be a “need” and it is his choice to be with me. But anyway, it’s like he’s using porn to fill that need or something and I feel somewhat responsible even though that is a lie. I do know though that even if he was getting sex…that habit most likely still will be there because I think he was exposed to porn as a kid.

 

Please help! I don’t know what to do or say…I can’t just shun him, that’s not love at all but I don’t know if I can just keep things the same and let him deal in his own time. I do know that he is always challenging himself to grow to be a healthy person but he doesn’t seek God just challenges himself through others and conversations- so I don’t know if he would even ask God for help in this area which I believe is the only way to get help.

JoeMSUser is Offline

Posts:41

12/02/2009 11:49 AM  
Joci, you are right to address this before marriage. It can be a very serious issue. I belong to several men's sites that provide accountability and support to guys.

"even if he was getting sex…that habit most likely still will be there because I think he was exposed to porn as a kid. "

Dr. Judith Reisman has an excellent and startling paper on this topic. It is rather long but it does cover the issue of the exposure of kids to porn. There is also a great section on the biochemical factors involved around pp 19-24. It will help you to explain to him why you don't want to proceed towards marriage with him until he is more stable in this area.
"Psychopharmacology of Pictorial Pornography" by Dr. Judith Reisman
http://www.drjudithreisman.com/white_papers.html

This is an excerpt.
""Lust, that is sexual arousal, toward a real or media image, when experienced in the body (in street terms, brain candy) as a drug high, poses significant danger, especially for those with an already delicate psyche. For, such chemical flooding of the brain would too often override ones cognitive thought and interfere with rational decisions to protect themselves and others." p. 23

Joci, the "others" he should be protecting includes you!

Dr. Laaser's book, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction is a good resource as well. There is a Christian perspective here along with the psychology.

There are good podcasts on the science of sex addiction at the following site.
http://www.internetsafetypodcast.com/?p=25

Untreated ADHD is thought to be a factor for some sex addicts. I speak with some personal experience here and know others who testify that treatment helped them considerably.

These are two sites he could go to for support.
everymansbattle.ning.com and http://www.everymansbattle.com/
The Every Man's Series of books is very good but I think they are best for practicing Christians. You might benefit from their book for women who are married to or dating a sex addict, "Every Heart Restored."

Best wishes. God bless you.


You are not authorized to post a reply.
Forums > Adult Online Forums > Advice From Fellow Readers > Please help...don't know what to do...



ActiveForums 3.7