Get excited, get very very excited! We recognize that many young people are struggling with pornography but don't know where to go for help. We know from the hundreds of emails that we've received that many can't afford other programs and don't yet dare talk to anybody about it. Well, we are excited to announce that we are currently in the process of developing a FREE online program for teens struggling with pornography. We're calling it FORTIFY:
A Step Towards Recovery. Pretty cool, eh? This revolutionary program will not only give professional education but also tools and resources.
The problem of teenagers secretly suffering with an addiction to pornography is far larger than we know. There are several programs and organizations set up to help adults overcome this issue but currently teens are completely left in the dark. Just from the emails sent to our relatively small organization we have seen hundreds of desperate teens looking for help. They don't dare talk to their parents and they have no money. They’re stuck. Some got into it because they just didn’t know any better and others thought they could control their addiction and are now desperate for a way out.
Here are a just a few emails we’ve received:
- “Im nearly 16 years old. I have been addicted to pornography since I was 10. "I have been addicted to masturbation since I was 13. Im sick of this #%$@. I NEED HELP!” -Taylor
- “I am 11 and I just can’t seem to stop I get so frustrated when I do it I'm getting mad right now.” -Josh
- "My name is Brittany, I’m a female, and 16 years old. I’ve been addicted to porn and masturbating since I was 12 years old. I don’t even remember how I started it, all I know is I can’t quit. I have no idea what to do. I feel helpless and miserable. I feel like dirt and sometimes I feel like I deserve to go to hell. I try to quit all the time but then I get that weird feeling and I just have to do it... I need help bad. Someone please help me.” -Brittany
They come to us looking for help but up until now our approach was strictly education and awareness. We didn’t really offer any sort of tangible solution besides education and our resources page where we list a ton of other organizations – many of which cost money and can’t accept a teenager without parental consent. So… they don’t do anything. Those teens continue to suffer hoping that it’ll go away. But it doesn't. The more we learn about the brain and addiction the more we are realizing the need for professional help when trying to overcome an addiction to pornography.
Currently our website, receives most of it’s traffic though searches involving the terms “porn addiction recovery” and “help with porn addiction”. Our Resources page (which lists several 3rd party organizations that provide different preventative tools and recovery services) is our highest trafficked page on the site. Yet, through further data, we know that very few are actually clicking on to get help from these other institutions.
We need to do something! This program is going to cost us nearly $50,000 to create. The good news is that we've already raised the majority of it. We are only 15K short of being able to fully fund this effort. Don't get hung up on the 15K number. That is a big number to anybody. Think in $10, $20 or $50 dollar increments. Every penny counts. Seriously. Help us reach our goal and DONATE TODAY!
