I have to thank a generous PoSARC reader in the Northwest for recently sending me a wonderful article titled: X is for X-Rated, which offered up some surprisingly fresh insights about the impact of pornography use on relationships with self and partners.
I don't normally link to outside blogs since I enjoy writing my own material here, but this article isn't one our readers will want to miss. Not only that, it's one you might want to share with your partner as well.
The writer, Zach Brittle, a couples therapist, deftly deconstructs the myths perpetuated by pornography use: the myth of perfection, the myth of ease, the myth of privacy and the myth of escape - and he does so in language that feels light yet substantive at the same time.
To further support and illustrate the points he presents, he adds some astute quotes by his mentor, the venerable marriage therapist Dr. John Gottman, such as this one:
"even non-compulsive use of [pornographic] images can damage a committed relationship." He expands, saying, "most porn encourages steps that can lead to betrayal," including the loss of emotional connection, secret keeping, negative comparisons, and dismissing the partner as unattractive and, worse, unworthy."
After giving readers considerable motivations to examine their own personal relationship with pornography, the author then closes his article by self-disclosing his own history with pornography.
More I won't say; I'll let you uncover the small delight that is his article here: X Is For X-Rated
Once you're through reading, I'd love to know:
What speaks most to you in his article? Why?
Won't you please share those thoughts with our other readers in the Comment section? (you may post anonymously)