"Internet Porn, The Big Lie"

"A little won't hurt you". Wrong! In the recent light of Tiger Woods and the ever growing research and glance into the world of sex addiction and more specifically Internet porn addiction, I can say without equivocation, on-line porn is one of the most damaging mediums in existence to men and their families.

A recent article in the Psychotherapy Networker by Wendy Maltz, a leader in the field, states that the government should consider creating a user warning, much like cigarettes, for the user of pornographic material. And many warnings there would be. It is estimated that 25% of men have viewed pornography in the past month according to Buzell, 2005. Additionally those using Internet porn utilize their time on line 77% of the time to look at pornographic images. This addiction essentially enters daily activity and quickly overtakes its victims, monopolizing their lives in a short amount of time.

The past argument in the psychological and humanistic communities was pornography could be a tool for partner satisfaction, an instrument for self exploration, an alternative to more risky behaviour. Well, this is no more true than snake oil containing morphine curing your illness, or using cocaine to cure your morphine addiction. Simply put, Internet porn is a dangerous toxic substance that spares no one from the eventual relational, personal, and financial demise that is associated with its easily entangling web. What starts out as moments of bliss, quickly turns into the search for greater and greater visual stimulation and further loss of time, money, and eventually those who matter most. And unfortunately for would be users, there is a never ending supply.

I have read frequently of upstanding individuals being found with child porn much to the shame and shock of those who knew the users. I believe that many a man, and one's that possibly had no intention or predisposition for pedophilia, found themselves diving into a deeper and darker hole of Internet addiction until even the most reviled and once frowned upon images have been seared into the now open craving mind. That which was once pure and pristine becomes corrupted and tainted with the ever intoxicating pull towards the never satisfying never ending realms of forbidden satisfaction.

Reading Out of the Shadows by Patrick Carnes immediately illuminates the cycle and eventual decline of those that become dependant on what once seemed to be a boyish pleasure. With clinical and professional certainty, I express to young and old alike, forgo the illusion. Certain boundaries were not meant to be crossed, and what may seem to be a moment of frivolous personal pleasure, quickly erupts into the unquenchable fire of sex addiction. Just this once, and possibly once more after that, keep Pandora's box closed as well as that adult Internet browser.

Should you need any further help feel free to visit me at http://www.matthewbruhin.com/