Online Pornography - Is it an Epidemic?

I recently read that online pornography is a bigger reason for divorce in America today than stress created by financial problems. WOW!

When you think of the number of households that now have computers, and how sex and pornography sites try to bombard these computers every chance they get, it is no wonder there is a problem.

Sexually explicit Web sites, chat rooms, bulletin boards, interactive games, dating sites, social network sites, and 21^st century open attitudes are a mixture that is bound to create problems.

Open attitudes.....mmm! It seems like everyone today likes to think they are open-minded. Open attitudes are one thing, but we still are humans, with human feelings, feelings that are vulnerable to being hurt. We have no protection against being hurt, and this, I suspect is where the problem lies.

Sex over the Internet can and does affect relationships. It is affordable, accessible, it is easy to hide, and is in front of your face every time you turn around. It can also be highly addictive.

What seemed to be innocent can quickly move to being an extremely uncomfortable, stressful situation in a relationship. If the relationship is already having problems, watch out. All of a sudden you are looking at trust issues, decreases in self-esteem, hurt feelings, loneliness, and odd sexual behaviours. The special relationship you had with that special person in your life is all of a sudden taken away and along with it your security, emotional safety, and comfort. All of a sudden you can't function, focus, or sleep.

Some suggestions made by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy are:

Use pictures of family members as screen savers.

Move the computer to an open area in the home.

Use the computer only for specific planned tasks.

Control Internet access with filtering or blocking software.

Try to remember to talk it out like adults, come up with solutions so you are both happy, and seek counselling if problems can not be resolved.

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