Should I get involved with someone who has a pornography addiction?

Should I get involved with someone with an addiction?  If I do, how should I show support? If not, will that make things worse?
    You have to make a decision for yourself as to what you can handle, and what you cannot. Maybe you can handle dating a guy who is working through an addiction to porn, but you can’t handle someone who picks his nose in public. Maybe you’re not alright with a guy who uses porn, but you are okay with a guy who flirts with other girls. Marriage is a crapshoot.  Everyone is imperfect, and everyone is deserving of love. God can help you overcome your limits and conditions for loving, but it’s hard work, and sometimes not what God has in mind for you at the time.  Heavenly Father knows will guide us to make the best decisions for our lives.  There is no shame in choosing not to be with someone because they are struggling with an addiction; It is a difficult road. However, sometimes the most difficult roads lead you to the most rewarding destinations.  
    Showing support for those struggling with addictions can be difficult because it is so triggering of our insecurities.  Although it may be difficult, being patient, loving and non-reactive will be very helpful to your loved ones.  There are groups available for loved ones of those struggling with addictions and can be found now on the lds.org site at  http://addictionrecovery.lds.org/find-a-meeting?lang=eng  and also through searching for addiction recovery programs in your area via an internet search engine.  These groups give helpful tips in how to deal with/work with/love/trust/and be a loved one of someone with an addiction.  What each person needs in a relationship will be different, asking your loved one what they want and need from you will open a helpful dialog.  Encouraging them to go to meetings, seeking guidance and help from their bishops, and reminding them to rely on the Lord are also great ways to show your support.  Going to groups and asking for help can be shameful, scary and embarrassing, but it is exactly what they need to work through their addiction.  Supporting and encouraging their attendance at meetings, and their meetings with bishops and counselors will help them feel less alone in the process.

Is porn addiction treatable or is it likely that guys will never get over it?

Is porn addiction treatable or is it likely that guys will never get over it?
     

Pornography addictions are treatable just like any other addiction is treatable. However, they are, perhaps, more difficult to treat because of the nature of our sexuality.  Our sexual feelings are God-given and healthy.  When we get involved in pornography, it taints those God-given feelings and sorting out the good feelings from the bad feelings can be difficult.  But difficult is not impossible.  The most difficult part is deciding to change.  The patterns we create in our lives create mental pathways in our brains, so that when we are faced with choices, our automatic response is to do what we’ve always done. Changing these pathways takes a lot of work, and lot of help.

But it’s not impossible!! Every person will work through their addiction differently and some may be able to work through it quickly and easily, others may struggle for longer.  There are many different treatments and sources of help for those struggling with pornography addictions as well as resources for those who are loved ones of those struggling with pornography addictions.  There is help and there is hope for every person with whatever and however they are struggling. God is good and He can help us move mountains in our lives.

Which resrouces are the most helpful?

Of all the resources out there, which resource(s) are the most/the least helpful (i.e. 12-step support group, therapy, bishop, etc.)?

             Of all the options, facing this challenge on your own is your least helpful option. If you are embarrassed, scared, or in denial you may avoid seeking help, but you will need others.  Acquire as many resources as you can to help you. The more people you have helping you, the better.  Luckily, there are a lot of resources out there, many of which are free.  Bishops are free, and often very helpful.  They can at least direct you to church-run resources and guide you through the repentance process, forgiveness process, or expanding your access to the Atonement.  Bishops can help you get the help that you need and support and love you in the process.  Their support is vital to your spiritual strength.
              12-step groups also have been helpful to a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons.  Sometimes one of the biggest parts of an addiction, or loving someone with an addiction is fear of what others will think or being ostracized. Support groups can help you feel normal, accepted loved and validated as you work through spiritual steps that also bring you closer to God.  The 12-step approach helps you be accountable to others and to God. It helps you take responsibility for your feelings and your actions and shows you how through others’ experiences.  It is a divinely inspired  program that brings you closer to God, closer to others and closer to yourself. 

 Therapy can help you deal with things in ways support groups and bishops cannot.  Most bishops are not counselors, and neither are most support group members and leaders. Working through an addiction or with a loved one that has an addiction is really difficult and can bring up so many different feelings and issues that bishops may not know how to deal with.  Working with a therapist will only benefit you, so long as the therapist is a good fit.  Most colleges offer free counseling services to students and have student clinics for community members wanting therapy services at a VERY discounted price. 

Because this problem has become so prevalent in our culture, there are loads of people who can help.  It is vital to their own progression as children of God to be able to help you, so let them help.