Isolation, secrecy, preoccupation.
Habitual porn use can squander time,
money, and emotional intimacy.
Porn & Erectile Dysfunction (Video)
Image Courtesy E. Gibbons
Men in their 20s and 30s are reporting “copulatory impotence,” which is the inability to maintain an erection with an in-person sexual partner. These men report they still objectively find their partner attractive, but need to fantasize porn-like scenarios to get or maintain an erection.
The abundance of Viagra and Cialis commercials portrays erectile dysfunction as a normal, common phenomenon. Not, however, for men under 40! It’s often the porn!
AB1775 goes to California Supreme Court!
For those of you following the appeal of CA Assembly Bill 1775, all hope is not lost …
The California Supreme Court has granted review of the petition for yet another appeal regarding AB1775! This can only be good news, as the Supreme Court typically receives about 4,000 petitions per year and only grants about 60.
Lead attorney Mark Hardiman explained that the Supreme Court granting this petition means they will hear an appeal to the Court of Appeals’ decision on Mathews et al v. Kamala Harris. This typically means that the Supreme Court believes the Court of Appeals decided the case incorrectly, in whole or in part. Hardiman adds, “That does not, however, necessarily mean the Supreme Court agrees with our interpretation of the law.”
To check out the series of court documents, see specific links below. Countless hours have been spent researching, preparing, filing, appealing …
There have been significant fees and expenses in fighting AB1775. If you are so inclined or inspired, I know the folks who have committed their time and resources to this cause would immensely appreciate any contribution!
Please click here to contribute: GoFundMe/StopAB1775
(FYI: It’s possible to contribute anonymously)
I will report back with the outcome. Stay tuned!
LEGAL/COURT DOCUMENTS
- AB1775: Melendez. Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act: Sexual Abuse)
- Lawsuit filed against AB1775 (Don L Mathews et al v. Kamala Harris)
- Court of Appeals Decision
- California Judge Michael Stern’s Decision on the Demurrers
- Petition for Review to California Supreme Court
Nature, Nurture or Both?
We talk a lot in treatment about compulsive behaviors functioning as self-soothing mechanisms. In the 5-Day Intensive Outpatient Program, we often construct a genogram of each participant’s family history. Invariably, someone will say “Yeah, whatever. I don’t want to waste time blaming my parents for my being a sex addict.”
It’s always tough at this juncture. As clinicians, we want clients to accept responsibility for choices made. Yet we also want to present some explanations (not justifications and not excuses!) for how these coping mechanisms might have come into being: What emotionally dysregulating material is present, and how does sexually compulsive behavior obliterate those intolerable feelings?
Recent findings in epigenetics are fascinating to those of us working in the addiction field. [Read more…]
Excellent NYT article on Betrayal
Image Courtesy James Niland
Here’s a excellent article about the effects of betrayal from the New York Times. It’s a very elegant articulation of the depth and breadth of disorientation experienced by partners of sex addicts.
Am I a Sex Addict?
Image Courtesy J E Theriot
Think you might be a sex addict?
Take this short quiz to determine whether your sexual behaviors involve the components of tolerance, escalation and negative consequences we associate with sex “addiction.”
1. Do you engage in sexual behaviors to a greater extent, or over a longer period of time, than you intended?
2. Have you had more than one unsuccessful effort to reduce or control your sexual behavior?
3. Is significant time lost preparing for, acting-out, and/or recovering from your sexual behavior?
[Read more…]