Back in 2006, I had the opportunity to write an article for Relevant (which has been taken down after they relaunched their new site) about my addiction to pornography and boys and some pretty bad stuff in my later teens and early twenties. Every day, one of my top search queries – how people find this blog – is by searching for “women with porn addictions” or some variation of it.
Every day.
I get to travel and speak on the topic occasionally (you can see Mike Foster and I giving a talk at Community Christian Church in Chicago here) and I love to tell the story of how God has redeemed such a dark part of my life. However, it’s not the only part of my calling.
When I was working in student ministry, I had a newly-graduated senior confess her addiction to me. That was probably five years ago. Ever since, she’s been healing and helping others heal.
Today, my friend Crystal officially launches Dirty Girls Ministries and I’d love for you to check out what it’s all about. She offers online support groups and many other resources.
It’s a place you can go and begin a path to becoming more and more free every day.
Click here to visit Dirty Girl’s website or here to follow them on Twitter.
(And by the way, Crystal, I am super, super proud of you!)
Comments
16 responses to “Addicted to Porn?”
What Crystal is doing is incredible. As a former addict myself I know how difficult it can be to admit you have an issue as a man…I can’t imagine the additional stigma a woman faces having to admit it. Praise God for women like you and Crystal who are standing against that life destroying addiction.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Kanye West: A Cautionary Tale =-.
Excellent! Keep telling your story, Anne. I counsel many women who have this problem, to one degree or another. Sadly, childhood abuse is a common thread. Blessings, Lucy
.-= Lucy Ann Moll´s last blog ..Need CPR for the Soul? =-.
I have spoken on this subject before and had little success in getting anyones attention. I focus on Porn from a different direction, by asking what is the purpose of porn! Porn is really about “fantasy”! Men will look at it and fanticise about having a relationship with the woman they are viewing. Then gratify themselves sexually. Apparently women are starting to do the same thing, which is bad and a sin. Is the sin in the sexual gratifaction or the viewing and fantasizing? Or maybe both, (any time someone fantizes about a relationship with someone other than their mate its a sin!) if its both then one must conclude that women have been reading porn for years and its sold at the grocery store! “Romance Novels” are about fantasy relationships.
Very cool!!! What a great ministry!
.-= Josiah´s last blog ..Houses/Traveling/God?s Provision =-.
I love that you’re always willing to take on and promote healing for the dark-side of our nature. Love your courage, girl!
Be blessed and be free, in Jesus’ name.
.-= Donna Frank´s last blog ..A good, solid throat-punch =-.
thank you, sweet friend.
Thank you for pointing to the site.
Crystal, thank you for sharing. I’m praying for you.
That’s rad. It’s so cool to think that one person healing, and helping another person heal, would go on to heal so many others. Gotta love the ripple effect.
.-= Lex´s last blog ..I can?t do anything =-.
HEY LUST! In heaven
And earth, and UNDER IT TOO
Every knee will bow!
http://www.ChistianHaiku.com – Phil 2:10
Thanks for mentioning Crystal and her ministry. I love it that you guys are willing to provide resources for women struggling with porn addiction. When I was working at churches and still doing counseling, I run into a huge number of women who struggle with not only pornography but sex addiction too and there are very few good places to get help. I used to run a support recovery group for women who had been abused, and the porn / sex addiction was a common thread. For me even though I don’t struggle with that, having grown up with physical and sexual abuse, I know how healing and freeing it is to know that God can touch the most broken places in our lives with mercy and healing and forgiveness. It’s good to know that we aren’t alone in the journey. Thanks again to you and Crystal!
.-= Linda B´s last blog ..My Life Is Not Twitteriffic =-.
We did an interview with her recently here: http://culture.wrecked.org/?filename=girls-watch-porn-an-interview-with-crystal-renaud
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..Movie Review: (500) Days of Summer =-.
Hey Anne, is there any way I can read that article you wrote for Relevant, since it isn’t on their site anymore? I’d love to hear your stories.
.-= Mikey´s last blog ..2-by-2 Strategy for Church Multiplication =-.
Way to go, Crystal! Thanks for doing that interview for our blog, btw – http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2009/08/17/podcast-porn-addiction-among-women-part-1/
.-= Luke Gilkerson´s last blog ..Battling Sin at the Root (Fight Clubs Recap) =-.
how do u overcome something as serious as ponography!
im 18 and i need help
Hurray!!!! I am not alone!!!!
It’s great to hear people trying to help others with this issue. I think porn is a huge issue that gets ignored by many because they view it as harmless, but the truth is it damages a lot of relationships, instead of strengthening them.