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Any type of addiction can take over your life and keep you from reaching goals. There are many reasons that people become addicted; genetics, childhood experiences, and medical problems all play a part in addictive situations. Whatever the reason, it can be heartbreaking to watch someone you care about suffer through addiction. Unlike an addiction to a drug or alcohol, porn addiction compels individuals to partake in the viewing of pornographic material. This may be in the form of photographs, internet sites, or videos. When an individual starts to slip further away from a normal life, those close to them begin to feel the pain, as well. Here are a few of the things you, as a friend of a person with an addiction to porn, may notice.
Observations
Early in the experience, you may not notice the issue. You may simply think that your friend is using pornographic materials to relax after a long day, or as an entertainment option. I noticed, later, that the excessive porn items and use were well-hidden. An addict often realizes they have a problem, at some point. Otherwise, they would not try to hide the behavior. I watched my friend become less social over time. There were times when he refused to go out and do favorite things with me. This was so he could feed the addiction. Many excuses were made during this time. I felt like I was losing my friend.
Mixed Feelings
Friends and family suffer when there is an addiction, as well. Many feelings surface as the addiction worsens. I felt that my friend no longer found me important. I later learned he could not see past his own worries. He was completely trapped. This resulted in some resentment and anger. It is hard to be patient when you are hurting from a perceived rejection. I still cared about my friend and wanted to reach out, but I had no idea what to do. Even when I tried to listen and be available for him, I felt helpless. The addiction was stronger than both of us.
What I’ve Learned
It is important to realize that the addiction is separate from your friend. You may feel angry and hateful that bad things are happening to your relationship. This is not something that your friend wants. They want things to be better, as well. Even when someone wants to overcome addiction, it is not that simple. There are many obstacles that can keep this from happening. I learned to look at addiction as a medical illness. You would not be mad at a friend for having cancer or expect it to go away easily. Addiction can be long-term and difficult to fight, as well. It can help to find supportive resources like pornaddiction.com.
Addiction recovery takes a lot of dedication and support. It can be difficult on loved ones, as well as the addict. Many times, relationships end over these problems. It can be a rewarding experience, however, to see someone through to the other side. The journey of fighting addiction is a hard one, but possible.
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This content is sponsored by M. Rafiq.
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Photo credit: Pixabay