Help

How do I help when my child/teen is looking at porn?

Many good kids find themselves trapped in a bad habit. They are still good kids!

 

How did you feel when you first discovered your child was looking at porn? Some describe it as a sucker punch: a flood of negative emotions like anger and fear and everything in between.

Perhaps those emotions are still raw. That’s normal. It means you’re a good parent who cares deeply about your child’s well-being.

But now it’s the time to set all those negative thoughts aside —yes, all of them! Take a deep breath because you are about to start an amazing journey with your child. They need you as their best ally and supporter while they work to overcome their struggle with porn.

This is not an easy road by any stretch of the imagination. But there are some things already working in your favour.

  • First, you’ve discovered your child/teen’s struggle with porn early.
  • Second, you’re actively searching for help on their behalf (that speaks volumes!).
  • Third, you have a great kid who with your help can learn to be free from the pull of pornography.

One thing that’s absolutely crucial to understand is that this is their recovery and it will occur on their timeline. That means there will be a lot of ups and downs along the way. Some days it may even feel like you are sliding backwards. Don’t let discouragement and doubt creep in. That’s when kids become the most vulnerable.

Prickly teens may not always ask for help, but that doesn’t mean help isn’t wanted. The absolute best you can do is to keep cheering them on and believe in them, 100% of the time!