Pornography and PTSD go together. As a professor and scholar I want to couch my words to be more precise and say, pornography and PTSD “seem” to go together. Maybe I should wait around for a new study by sociologists to say it with a sense of mathematical definitiveness. Yet as a working theologian, a veteran with PTSD, a spiritual director, and a father, I am more and more convinced of the link between PTSD and pornography. Terri Barnes in a recent issue of Stars and Stripes even addresses the PTSD and pornography connection and spousal concerns. In fact, the PTSD-Identity, the behaviors that PTSD inflicts on our souls and our relationships, leads to porn addiction and promiscuity – and ironically, even more PTSD.
Multiple Vectors Point Indicate that PTSD Leads to Porn, Infidelity, Porn, Promiscuity, and Addictions.
How can I say this with such confidence? Lots of reasons!
- The more I study the spiritual dimensions of PTSD
- The more I read about and listen to the pleas for help from spouses and loved ones about someone’s PTSD and porn.
- Based on my own PTSD-Identity, especially in my 20s.
- Based on interaction with other PTSD ridden soldiers, sailors, and marines.
- Based on my experience as a Roman Catholic spiritual director and learning from other human beings how their reactions to trauma can devour other people’s souls.
The more I know this is true. So with all due apologies to my colleagues in sociology, I’ll just state it bluntly: PTSD and Porn, Infidelity, Promiscuity, and Addictive Behaviors are connected.
Self-Medicating with Sinful Behaviors
To this end, I am working on addressing the issue of PTSD enhanced Promiscuity, Adultery, Infidelity, and Pornography Addiction. Each of these behaviors are encouraged by the PTSD-Identity. They reinforce one another. Each of them is a form of self-medication to attempt to overcome PTSD imposed loneliness and isolation. Each of them results from the PTSD-Identity crushing our sense of self-worth or esteem.
There is always so much to write about concerning the spiritual dimensions of PTSD. At the same time it can be challenging to prioritize topics. As this is an area that tears apart families and leads to spin-off PTSD and suicides, it is a subject that demands our attention.
These Addictions Can Be Healed and We Can be Restored
While these addictions and PTSD behaviors are awful, they can be defeated. Sometimes, infrequently, too much damage may have been done to go back into a family the way it used to be. But, there can still be forgiveness and healing and hope. While the PTSD afflicted soul is under constant attack to go and do the wrong thing, the person can still recover. Never forget that there is always hope. You have value. Never give up.
Semper Pax, Dr. Z
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Addictive behaviors? Oh yes, I see it all the time with my own PTSD-type symptoms. When the PTSD is triggered, the craving to engage in a little self-destruction returns full force. The only remedy, for me, is prayer, prayer, prayer and helping others.
Queta
Hi Queta, Thankfully, we can always recover from our behaviors. While it takes a lot of work, the PTSD behaviors don’t have to control us. If we can be aware of them, then we can strive towards forgiving ourselves and others. PTSD sufferers often feel trapped in negative behaviors, but we have real Hope to break out of them. One of the first things we do is become aware and then realize it is a hard day by day journey as we become the person we want to be and not the person PTSD wants us to be trapped in. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment! Semper Pax, Dr. Z
As a civilian who has not served in the military, but I have faced trauma from family members as well as from my spouse and some time ago,I was in a car accident in 2005. Flashbacks,nightmares as well as daymares and a increase in porn substance (Internet porn).
The car accident put me in a coma for 12hrs, the signs were not immediate, but over time I noticed increses in my sexual appetite(sex with my wife and when I didn’t get it that way,I would pursue Internet porn. Please help me, thank you
Hello, As a civilian who survived trauma you are just as susceptible as any military person to contract PTSD. I intend to write and post an essay about what you asked in your comment in the next day or two (I have to think it through and write it around my teaching times). Meanwhile, know that you (and your wife) have very real value. Know that God loves you. The terrible times you are going through now do not have to be permanent. I will keep you in prayer. Semper Pax, Dr. Z