The Candeo Program

[Sledge]

I did a quick search of the forum and found nothing, and this seemed like the place to ask, so is anyone familiar with The Candeo Program? The website claims that "At Candeo, we provide you with the proven methods and tools based on actual brain science that will empower you to stop your unwanted pornography viewing and masturbation." Which left me thinking "O....k...? Surely just stopping something you don't want to do isn't that hard (no pun intended)?" However, candeo take the view that pornography and masturbation are addictive. I'm not really sure on this, but I guess they could be. It's some of the claims made by the site I'd like to run past the folks here. From their FAQ:

Q: What is the typical profile of someone involved with pornography addiction?

A: After more than a dozen years of experience with thousands of individuals, the typical profile of a sexual addict is: they’re very bright, very sensitive, and very spiritual. Once you understand the neuropsychology and “brain chemicals” behind pornography addiction, this typical profile makes perfect sense.

Really? So thickos generally try masturbating and think "Meh, I can take it or leave it, really"?

Oh, and does the mention that typical addicts are "very spiritual" set off alarms for anyone else?

Q: I’ve heard the statement, “Once an addict, always an addict” is this true?

A: This statement is absolutely false and does not stand up against factual brain science, and the thousands of success stories in our clinics. Through the tested and proven brain-rebuilding process known as the M.A.P. (Motive, Awareness, Practice) coupled with the daily tool “Face-it, Replace-it, Connect” addiction circuitry shrinks, while new healthy brain circuitry expands and becomes dominant. Complete freedom from addiction is a reality!

I don't have the science background to comment on this at all. Is this an accurate description of curing someone of an addiction?

Finally, from the blog article "I stopped masturbating:

Yet, there continues to be a segment of society that says, “There’s nothing wrong with porn.” People are free to choose what they view in the privacy of their own homes, but they naively start viewing pornography because of this misinformed attitude, which leaves many thousands of destroyed people in porn’s wake.

So because this guy couldn't stop jerking the gherkin, porn is bad?

 

[Naddig74]

I guess it depends on whether we accept Sex Addiction as being real. If it is then Masturbation Addiction must be too.

Let's not deny it, it feels damn good, and it seems most anything that feels good can become an addiction, no?

 

[Sledge]

I'm not really arguing that sex addiction isn't real, although I suspect a lot of sex addiction is people being found cheating on a partner and crying "It's a disease!" to get out of trouble.

 

[godofpie]

AA pushes the "we're special -bright-gifted" aspect too, but I've met more than a few dumasses (it's pronounced du-mas) in the program. It seems to me if you are genetically predisposed to addiction, the actual substance does not seem to matter. As our knowledge of neuroscience grows over the next few years I feel confident that we are on the cusp of a breakthrough in addiction medicine.

 

[Naddig74]

I'm not really arguing that sex addiction isn't real, although I suspect a lot of sex addiction is people being found cheating on a partner and crying "It's a disease!" to get out of trouble.

Just so, and if that's the case, being caught stabbing the cat by your partner is open to the same exscuse.