Monday 24th October 2011 - Published by Lara Page - Account Manager
Porn Addicts Let Rivers Assist them out of the Deep ‘Blue’
Boys will be boys, we might think, when it comes to a sneaking a peek at a few naughty pictures or girlie magazines.
However, Rivers Assist, a psychotherapy provider in the Midlands has warned that it’s not always that simple. The rise of the Internet has paved the way for a serious addiction to pornography, which affects both men and women.
It may begin with a little curiosity, or by being unwittingly directed to a porn website, but while some can simply dismiss the images, others find themselves on the road to a destructive and uncontrollable addiction.
Research organisations estimate that over 28,000 Internet users are viewing pornography every second. What’s more, an estimated one million people in the UK alone have experienced problems in their work or social lives relating to porn addiction, and Rivers Assist has seen strong evidence to support the need for accessible help.
Pornography addicts may spend hours, even days, lost in two-dimensional images and experiences, leading to deep feelings of isolation, according to Patricia Williams, Managing Director of Rivers Assist, who said: “We want to let people know that we are here to help them with the management of their addiction.”
But feelings of guilt and shame do not only afflict addicts themselves. Partners, family members and friends also find themselves experiencing distress and anxiety surrounding the issue. Patricia added; “Rivers Assist also recognises the need and strives to provide the necessary support and care for loved ones, who may struggle to deal with the revelation.”
Research indicates porn addictions affect men and women from all walks of life, faiths, races and ages. There is great difficulty in recognising what is often a very secret shame, and recovery requires knowledgeable and experienced counsellors, so that addicts may express the sensitive and often humiliating aspects of their addiction in a safe environment.
