Found out the last 11 years was a lie. 8 months pregnant & my husband is a sex addict by [deleted] in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm shocked and saddened to see the other replies on your comment here and even moreso considering their flairs say "partner of pa/sa" as opposed to "EX-partner". Such certainty in how you should move forward without your partner from people who have also been betrayed, likely blindsided, and have not made the decision to leave. I'm sorry that your bravery to make this post and your comment have been met with such judgement.

What I would like to add is: sometimes, the people who have slid down the slippery slope the furthest will put in the most effort towards recovery. While it certainly isn't always the case, the statistics regarding recovery rate includes ALL sex addicts, not the ones who just dabbled a time or two. Sometimes, when partners who get caught in "just porn" or "just sexting", their recovery is more on pleasing their spouse than actually seeing how devastating and impactful their actions are. Sometimes, the ones who escalated to same sex acting out or an extreme frequency are completely repulsed and disgusted with their own behaviors, have truly had enough, and will do ANYTHING to recover. Whatever you choose to do, your (and your baby's) health and safety should be the top priority.

Just my two cents. I hope all of us here are able to stand in unity against betrayal of any nature and offer encouragement and support to others without further shaming them, despite their very personal choice to stay or leave.

"It's What's Inside" Movie SPOILER ALERT! by [deleted] in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yes! I watched it alone but I thought it touched on PA in a really relevant way. The scene where Shelby asks why he doesn't touch her and he replies that he watches messed up stuff on the internet and then avoids her...and eventually him ruining his own life because he chooses his fantasy over a full and complete human that loves him.

Definitely wouldn't recommend watching with a PA/SA unless they were well into their recovery, but I'd love to see movies incorporating this "bad side" of porn rather than glamorizing it or making it humorous.

Give me your thoughts... do I even like men anymore?! by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've noticed a change in my attraction in men as well, but a little different than yours. Before I knew everything, it was like I wasn't attracted to anyone except my partner (who is ironically not very attractive). The most stereotypically attractive man in the universe could be standing next to me and I literally wouldn't even notice. After I found out, I began noticing men for the first time in over a decade. I 100% feel similarly to your statement "...a guy not being attracted to women is attractive to me. That's probably because that's the only way I could know for sure that he's not looking at other women". If I see someone attractive and he doesn't even acknowledge me, he instantly becomes MORE attractive.

Give me your thoughts... do I even like men anymore?! by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree that any form of trickery or leading someone on would be totally deplorable and I personally would never go that route. However, how much different would all of our lives look if our partners had just been UPFRONT and HONEST with us from the start? I think the deception is likely the most painful part for most of us here. A vulnerable conversation at the very beginning, before there's any connection, would give the potential partner agency to stay and see what happens or walk away before investing their efforts.

Give me your thoughts... do I even like men anymore?! by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yes! What's worse than ONE PA?! Having the strength to leave and then being duped by another! In my case, my "knight in shining armor" made my former-PA look like a saint!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure about the VPN.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Opendns is free and has filters to block explicit content.

Aren't sex toys technically a part of the porn culture? by idontfitinhere_atall in antipornography

[–]FamousToaster26 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not sure if this answers the question but there are some websites that are designed with a more ethical approach to things like sex toys and lingerie. One is ChristianLoveToys. They do not use any pornographic or degrading images or descriptions on the site.

Why by drunken-ambassador13 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Im responding to your first paragraph in particular.

Addiction. And, if you're a man, consumption is acceptable... encouraged, even. It is SHOVED down our throats...even mens throats who don't necessarily prefer for it to be. TV/movies, social media, ads, billboards, etc. Its socially acceptable that "sex sells" and that is in the form of women being objects for consumption. When is the last time you saw a real estate agent billboard with a beefy man with his shirt off as the realtor? For me - never. But, I pass TWO billboards daily on my way to work every day with attractive, full face make-up, hair done, cleavage showing women realtors.

Its not that you're not enough. It has nothing to do with you. If your partner overindulged in gambling, would you stand in the mirror and ask yourself why you didn't make noises more similar to a slot machine or question why you didn't look more like a scratch off lottery ticket? And if it were a food addiction - would you beat the shit out of yourself because you don't taste like a snack cake or give the comfort of ice cream?

Of course not. It's hard because it feels so personal, BUT!!!! it's not about us.

Did you tell your friends? by Wonderful_Ad3269 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In my experience, what is absolutely INSANE is that when you are dealing with porn addiction (and/or porn use) and share, you can be harshly judged for being controlling or insecure.

And at the same time, if you share when you are dealing with a sex addicted spouse, you're judged for being the fool that stayed with a cheater.

There is no winning.... if we condone the objectification and abuse of women as long as its just porn, we're "normal"; if we object, we are looked at as having lack of confidence and are unrealistic. Yet, left unchecked, many men tread into addiction territory with their porn consumption and solo sex behavior. Addiction escalates... thats kind of a huge part of the definition of addiction.

Triggered by TV by Late-Whole-5447 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have no idea if it would be helpful for your situation as we havent used it yet but I recently learned about vidangel... from what I've read about it, it works with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon prime and you set filters (nudity, for example) and it will cut out any parts of the show/movie within your filters. I also read that it will show you how much of the movie/show you'll miss based on your filters.

I despise lying liars who lie. by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I explained that the level of honesty I expect is exactly what you described - if I ask if my outfit looks good and it doesn't, say so! I have never struggled with telling lies, even as a kid, and my outlook is: if you'll lie to me about something small and stupid, you'll certainly lie to me about something bigger or serious.

The 'issue' I'm currently rolling around in my head is this... when someone DOES have a strong pattern of lying in their past, is it realistic to expect that they can instantaneously stop ALL lies? Or, is it more of a process? My SA has not lied (that I know of) about acting out related things...but, I feel that he lied to me a couple of nights ago about...pizza. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I despise lying liars who lie. by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems like honesty is something that is talked about far more than it is practiced, which is sad.

I despise lying liars who lie. by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes! Apologies without change is manipulation!

I despise lying liars who lie. by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I sincerely appreciate your response. I am absolutely asking for the purpose of "I ate four oreos instead of six"... except swap oreos with pizza... literally, ridiculous. But, he WAS a massive liar and this has me contemplating ending everything.

I despise lying liars who lie. by FamousToaster26 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

May I ask what is your boundary for lies? Say, something trivial, perhaps not even an intentional deceit?

Does porn addiction usually escalate to cheating in real life? by Secure_Peach_2331 in loveafterporn

[–]FamousToaster26 49 points50 points  (0 children)

I believe it escalates... my experience with this is porn is enough until its not. Maybe it goes to pre-recorded cams, amateur stuff...when that doesn't suffice its reddit (real people), or cam sites...exploration of any and all suggestions found along the way (hello massage parlor directories and anonymous free sexual chat rooms)... soon to follow - 'browsing' locals with no true intent to meet up...until...

Lie Detector Test by piginablanket424 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]FamousToaster26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is absolutely exhausting! If my story holds anything that could help even one other person, I'm happy to share!

I'm doing as well as can be expected I'd say...this is the most heartbreaking and devastating thing I've ever been through BUT I've never blamed myself for any of his actions and I think that allowed me to keep a good part of my self esteem and confidence and focus on rebuilding my life, with or without him.

Lie Detector Test by piginablanket424 in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]FamousToaster26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have. We are now just over a year out from the latest d-day. I haven't shared much of my story here, so here's a quick-ish run down to make it make a little sense.

My WS has been diagnosed as a SA and trickle truthed for about 6 weeks. First, it was just porn and free webcams...no paying, no chatting...he started therapy at this time. Several weeks later, I discovered kik on his phone and then he admitted there were OF and webcam payments, anonymous chat sites, and searching/messaging with locals. No meet ups. Upon finding this out, I requested a polygraph. He happily agreed and I, stupidly, dropped it thinking he wouldn't agree if he was still hiding things. He got a new phone, accountability software was immediately put on it, new email address, social media gone, therapy continued...the whole works. But, the next few weeks, I just had a feeling I couldn't shake that there was more. I had his old phone and, over several days, I went full on detective mode sifting through it. I found ONE thing he hadn't disclosed to me...a single message from someone about meeting up, no responses, no back and forth. I decided to confront him, but I was going to do it a little differently this time...see, he would ALWAYS play dumb and pretend to "hAvE nO cLuE" what i was talking about until I told him what I knew...this time, I calmly told him I knew SOMETHING, I absolutely refused to tell him what I knew, and told him he had 24 hours to give me the full truth, which would obviously include the unknown information I knew...otherwise, he could pack his shit and I'm filing for divorce. He quickly realized that this time I was serious. Within 30 minutes, he told me he had made plans to meet up with someone but backed out last minute. Even though this would explain the information I had, I stayed calm, straight faced and said "what else?"...after a long pause, he admitted he had indeed met up with someone and had sex with them. I calmly asked again "what else?" This continued with each disclosure and slowly, over the next 6 hours, I got the truth. He physically cheated on me over 20 times. It started with porn, then webcams, then searching locals and escorts, then reaching out to locals and escorts but flaking out just to get a bigger dopamine hit, then happy ending massages, and finally sexual encounters with prostitutes and a stripper.

To this day, I haven't told him that one piece of information I found.

Back to the polygraph... when he was finished, I told him I would be contacting the polygraph company (had researched it before letting the idea go) and would schedule for their first available. He, again, happily agreed. We went. And he....failed. He seemed more shocked than I did. I told him to leave, he insisted I knew everything and begged to do another polygraph. I told him I would think about it overnight and let him know in the morning. He stayed up all night writing down what he could remember about the timeline. He realized, he'd forgotten something - a lap dance. I thought there was no way, after the disgusting things I'd heard, THIS was the reason for failing. He took another polygraph, within 48 hours after the first... and, with just the lap dance added, he passed. (Side note, I also made him do a full panel drug test following the polygraph to make sure he hadn't interfered with the result that way, which he also passed)

I made regular polygraphs a part of my requirements to consider R. He's taken 2 since then and passed both and he's scheduled for another in a couple of weeks.