Not all users are addicted.

[Fiannan]

“Not everyone who uses pornography willfully is addicted to it,” points out Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “In fact, most young men and young women who struggle with pornography are not addicted. That is a very important distinction to make—not just for the parents, spouses, and leaders who desire to help but also for those who struggle with this problem.”

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/08/eigh ... y?lang=eng

I have to say that the article cited above is a very well written article that really addresses the issue well. I would encourage people to read it.

[Thinker]

I like that, thanks, Fianan.

We just listened to this interview with an LDS sex-therapist and found it very insightful & helpful for teaching our kids healthy perspectives of and approaches to sexuality.

https://boldnewmom.com/62-interview-lds ... yson-fife/

One of the important ideas I gathered is that often excessive shaming of anything (food, sexual feelings, porn etc) can actually contribute to the development of addictions. When we feel high levels of stress (ie shame), we tend to be less grounded in our reasoning about our values. That doesn't imply allowing harmful behavior, but instead of shaming, empathizing with the human desire, while explaining negative factual aspects (ie porn is fantasy not reality & may cause hardship in real relationships), and pointing out better alternatives in the big picture.

[MMbelieve]

Addiction is definately a real thing and I think we could pick out all those addicted to porn after spending 24 hours in a room without it. They would be the ones displaying addictive symptoms.

Of course i am relating the addiction to porn to the addiction to substances. If they are different then I don't know what I'm talking about. I do know addiction though and it is certainly no passing feeling - it's profound. I do not know specifically about porn addiction but would imagine it would be the same.

[Fiannan]

Addiction is definately a real thing and I think we could pick out all those addicted to porn after spending 24 hours in a room without it. They would be the ones displaying addictive symptoms.

Of course i am relating the addiction to porn to the addiction to substances. If they are different then I don't know what I'm talking about. I do know addiction though and it is certainly no passing feeling - it's profound. I do not know specifically about porn addiction but would imagine it would be the same.

Probably. And there very well may be a tiny percentage of users who really are addicted. However, as the article states that is not the case for most users and it can actually be counterproductive to think so.

[skmo]

Addiction is definately a real thing and I think we could pick out all those addicted to porn after spending 24 hours in a room without it. They would be the ones displaying addictive symptoms.

Of course i am relating the addiction to porn to the addiction to substances. If they are different then I don't know what I'm talking about. I do know addiction though and it is certainly no passing feeling - it's profound. I do not know specifically about porn addiction but would imagine it would be the same.

Probably. And there very well may be a tiny percentage of users who really are addicted. However, as the article states that is not the case for most users and it can actually be counterproductive to think so.

I would agree with part of that. There certainly are some differences. I was addicted to opiates for quite a while. Doctors kept just giving me more and more of the most powerful Percocet made for my back pain. I was ultimately taking 12 a day of the strongest ones made. I was so high it was unbelievable. When the doctors cut me off I went through a hell I can't explain, and I don't want to try. I seriously doubt the effects from porn withdrawls could be as bad as opiates, but then I've never had that so I can't say for sure (I think common sense says it, though.)

I have no doubt porn addiction is a real thing, but I think it's likely given more often as a false diagnosis than anything else other than maybe ADHD. In spite of some of the common thoughts, I don't believe it's going to automatically result in addiction, not true addiction.

What it DOES, however, is cause a weakening of the will to do the right thing and drive the Spirit away. It'll also desensitize a person to true intimacy and cause a falsely inflated sense of desire. I think the true addict suffers more from the addiction than from the porn, but the casual or regular user suffers more from the porn.

[Sirocco]

I am positive it has done some sort of damage, but my reality is a sad one and what do I need a proper concept of desire or whatnot, I ain't a good catch.
I think giving up things like that or caffeine would leave a void and a return would make things worse then ever.

[Fiannan]

I will note one irony here. I have been saying a lot of the things in this month's Ensign article for quite some time and been viscously attacked for my position by LDS people. I suppose those same people will now claim this has been their position all along as well.