Red Flags & Relapse: Facing a Spouse Who Keeps Returning to Porn

Thanks for listening to Unfiltered: Real Talk about Sex and Love, with Ashley and Heather.

On today’s episode, we answer the following questions:

• After years of recovery work and shared ministry, I’m facing renewed betrayal as my husband returns to secretive, addictive behaviors, becomes defensive and angry, and dismisses my need for safety. I feel destabilized, fearful there may be more hidden, and unsure how to respond. Are these serious red flags? How do I move forward when my spouse seems to abandon recovery and the marriage itself?
• We’ve been separated for nearly a year, with my husband in recovery programs, yet repeated relapses keep extending our separation. On the surface, he appears committed, but I question his willingness to truly give up his addiction. How long is reasonable to wait for real change, and what can I do to protect my well-being while I wait?
• When someone says they’ve been using porn for 28 years off and on, with sometimes months maybe even years in between, would it then be a choice or compulsion that they keep returning to it?

If you have a question you’d like us to answer on unfiltered, email us at <u>unfiltered@puredesire.org</u>