Thinking About...

Politics. I hate politics. I hate how it takes real people and turns them into idols or devils. I hate the hype and the hysteria. I hate the division and the insults. But I believe in democracy and I believe we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and vote our conscious.

I don't buy that an evangelical Christian is automatically a Republican. Personally, I consider myself an independent. In the past I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. In this election year I am supporting the McCain/Palin ticket.

I am not patient enough to vote for someone with no chance of winning, so my choice was between Obama and McCain. McCain clearly has more of the military and foreign affairs experience required of a commander in chief, he has a tried and tested record, and I feel encouraged by his platform on abortion and the role of the courts.

I am not sure what to think about Palin yet. I think it was definitely not a safe or boring choice! I don't think that her daughter's pregnancy in any way calls into question her own integrity, and I appreciate her personal story of pro-life values in action.

I'll be watching the RNC with interest this week.

Sex Addiction. I read last week that David Duchovny had checked himself into rehab for a sexual addiction. I was sad for him and for his family. Then I scrolled down and read the comments people had posted on the article. Overwhelmingly these responses were dismissive and flippant. Some of the posters had never even heard of sex addiction and believed that it was a made up disorder! In this day and age of internet porn and To Catch a Predator it is unbelievable to me that so many would be ignorant to this problem. I pray that Duchovny will experience real healing in rehab and I hope that his public struggle will help shine a spot light on an issue that is crippling many people's souls and tearing families apart.

Here is a link to a link to a CNN article called "When Sex Becomes an Addiction." Excerpt:

It turns out sex addiction, also called compulsive sexual behavior, operates somewhat like a gambling compulsion or alcoholism: It's about devoting your free time to a behavior that you cannot stop, even if you damage relationships or prompt other negative consequences. Examples of addicting sex behaviors include extensively using pornography, having affairs, sleeping with prostitutes, and masturbating excessively, to the point where such behaviors get out of control.

If you think it's just about being horny, think again. For many addicts, sex becomes a way to numb out painful feelings, kill time or stop feeling lonely, said Kelly McDaniel, licensed professional counselor in San Antonio, Texas, and author of "Ready to Heal: Women Facing Love, Sex and Relationship Addiction."

"Most people I talk to get to the point where they don't even like sex," said McDaniel, who has no connection to David Duchovny and did not speculate about his specific situation.Sex addiction is estimated to affect 3 to 6 percent of adults in the U.S., according to the Mayo Clinic, but the American Psychiatric Association has not classified the condition in its diagnostic handbook.

The Internet, providing endless opportunities for porn-watching and cybersex, has fueled a surge in cases of sex addiction, experts say. "We're seeing it with epidemic proportions now, particularly with regards to cybersex," said Mark Schwartz, psychologist and former director of the Masters and Johnson Institute in St. Louis, Missouri. "There isn't a week that goes by where I don't get two calls" about sex addiction.