New Delhi: Mental health experts in UK are alarmed to find sexual addiction becoming a growing trend among the working youth. In the United Kingdom, a 2004 survey found seven of 10 companies had disciplined staff for watching porn at work.
Watching porn is a problem affecting the workplace and families, one expected to grow with the number of people addicted to sex, experts say.
"It's a silent epidemic. It really is the only way I can categorize it," said Chris Tuell, a professor in addiction studies at the University of Cincinnati and director of the Family Service counseling center in southern Ohio.
Online porn addiction is a form of sexual addiction studied by the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery in Bradford, Pa. Books and Web sites offer courses of treatment and support groups such as Sexaholics Anonymous with chapters meeting worldwide.
But online porn addiction and other forms of sexual addiction have yet to gain formal recognition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the guide used in diagnosing mental illness.
"It's something that's out there damaging marriages, relationships. Certainly it's impacting the work force," Tuell said.
Research indicates 6 percent of Internet users become addicted and 1 percent of sex addicts become sex offenders.
Unlike drugs, online porn naturally stimulates the brain, intensifying the rush, said Ed Witte, a mental health counselor in Troy.
Like other addictions, only some people are affected, with the illness worsening at varying but progressive rates.
"They are chasing that high. Their behavior crosses into illegal behaviors. That's when the court gets involved," Tuell said. "You're dealing with a very intensive form of media, combined with a very intensive sexual behavior. There's a sense of anonymity," Tuell said.
Work suffers
"I've had people who've had multiple job losses," Witte said.
Witte suggested positioning computer screens so users can't conceal content.
Filters can block and detect some online porn viewing.
"There's hope. People can recover. The person has to seek help and be willing to accept help," Witte said.
Following web sites offer help to get rid off the obnoxious addiction with porn.
- Center for Internet Addiction Recovery www.netaddiction.com
- Sexaholics Anonymous www.sa.org, Dayton: (937) 640-3590, Cincinnati: (513) 522-1599
Taken from Dayton Daily News.com
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