I’m ready to settle down but my addiction is holding me back
DEAR DEIDRE: Now that I’m ready to settle down with a woman, I need to kick my porn addiction.
I can’t watch it for hours every day, like I do now.
I’m 28 and have been watching porn since I was 15. All my mates did too, so it seemed normal.
But after a while, I realised most of them only viewed it occasionally as a laugh.
I view it nearly every day, sometimes for hours. When others watch films or go on social media, I surf porn sites.
It hasn’t stopped me having relationships but I have hidden it from girlfriends.
I would love to meet a woman and get serious, with a view to marriage.
But no decent woman would put up with my viewing habit, and I don’t want to start a relationship with lies.
I’ve tried to stop but get drawn back. Please help.
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DEIDRE SAYS: It’s brave of you to admit you have a problem and want to stop.
You’re wise to get help now, before getting involved with someone.
Watching porn excessively is known to affect sex lives and relationships.
Online porn is designed to be addictive, as my support pack, Pornography Worry?, explains.
For tailored porn-addiction counselling see thelaurelcentre.co.uk (01926 339 594).
And see pivotal.recovery.org for an affordable, online programme designed to help you quit porn.