Addicted to working in the adult industry

[Iwillbwell]

I've been in and out of this business since I was 18. I don't know why but I always end up right back even when money's not an issue. I am addicted to the attention, lifestyle, partying and money. I don't know what to do. This is the first time that I'm actually reaching out and talking about it.

Does anyone have any similar experiences? Would be nice to talk to someone who has been through it too.

 

[Daniel E.]

I don't know what to do.

Of course, therapy can help with any self-defeating behavior (addictive or otherwise) as well as other issues that may be related like low self-esteem, depression, etc.

Does anyone have any similar experiences? Would be nice to talk to someone who has been through it too.

BTW, I found this interview:

Leaving behind the adult industry is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do for myself. It was harder than quitting drinking, because leaving porn meant leaving behind an entire identity, leaving the safety and predictability...

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-frisky-qa-sex-rehabs-jennie-ketcham/

There are similar stories here:
http://www.shelleylubben.com/shelleys-articles
http://www.shelleylubben.com/shelleys-videos/shelley-nightline-exposing-porn-industry (ABC News)

Though Shelley Lubben's site has a religious perspective (which obviously doesn't appeal to everyone), her story has been picked up by some major media outlets:

Her parents, who she says were "at their wits' end" with her dating life and drug problems, kicked her out of the house when she was 18. She worked as a stripper and a prostitute for several years until she became a porn star. She also became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Former adult fim star now helping save others - Washington Times

Regarding the desire for attention:

I was always the type to need to be center of attention. If I wasn't the center of attention, I felt like the outcast. It's usually either one or the other, no middle ground for people like us. Furthermore, no amount of attention (with the exception of from the occasional stalker which was too much attention) was really satisfying...

Despite having a master's degree in a respectable field and what many view as a successful mainstream music career, I always felt that something was missing. I remember walking down the carpet at the Grammy awards, and still feel depressed because the cameras would rather focus on Slipknot/Christina Aguilera/whoever would be more important and successful within a five person radius of me. A general sense of gratitude does not come easy for us sex industry addicts. I could release a new music single on the internet and monitor a few hits, BUT if I took my clothes off on a webcam I'd get 7,000 hits in hours – that's attention (albeit attention from people that were just as sick as I was if not more). However, even in the webcam situation I'd feel depressed when I noticed another fellow sick person received 50,000 hits vs. 7,000!

http://www.shelleylubben.com/former-male-porn-star-vj-soporno-story

"It is hard to view myself for who I am and my accomplishments rather than how I look and attention from men. I got this from stripping."

http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/stripc3.htm

 

[Iwillbwell]

Wow Daniel, this info is extremely helpful! Thank you sooooo much for taking the time to find this for me!!!!! :2thumbs::jiggy:

For those of you who have a hard time understanding.....it's like being in an environment where you're treated like a queen/goddess and showered with money/gifts in an unnatural and excessive way. It's easy to get caught up in the fantasy.......