In this article (based on PBSE episode306), we explore the painful confusion many betrayed partners face when asking, “Is my partner a narcissist, or just acting like one?”  While addiction in denial often mimics narcissism—through defensiveness, gaslighting, and emotional withdrawal—true narcissism involves a total absence of empathy and self-awareness. The label matters less than the direction: whether the relationship moves toward honesty, accountability, and healing, or r

In this PBSE episode (based on Episode 305), we confront one of the most disturbing betrayals a partner can face—when a porn-addicted spouse uses photos of family, friends, or acquaintances to fantasize and masturbate. We explore the deep confusion and trauma this causes, explaining how addiction hijacks the brain’s logic and morality, driving behaviors that defy love and conscience. Partners are urged to stop trying to fix their addict and instead focus on trauma support, ac

In this article (based on PBSE Episode 304), Mark and Steve respond to a betrayed partner whose marriage began in deception and has been riddled with years of pornography use, lies, and shattered trust. They validate her trauma as real and severe—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—and emphasize that healing begins with reclaiming her sense of self, setting firm boundaries, and refusing to carry roles like “policewoman” or “confessor.” True recovery for her husband requi

In this article (based on PBSE Episode 303), Mark and Steve respond to a betrayed partner's questions about what real accountability looks like for a recovering porn/sex addict. Real accountability for a porn and sex addict goes far beyond apologies or promises — it’s a daily commitment to honesty, transparency, empathy, and consistent action. It starts with brutal self-honesty, taking full ownership of one’s choices without shifting blame or dumping shame onto a betrayed par

In this article, based on PBSE podcast episode 302, Mark and Steve explore how betrayed partners struggle to believe their partner’s declarations of love and attraction when his porn use tells a very different story. Pornography isn’t about true desire or intimacy — it’s an immature, dopamine-driven escape that stunts emotional growth, distorts attraction, and betrays both self and partner. Because words alone are meaningless after betrayal, trust must be rebuilt through cons

In this article, based on PBSE podcast episode 301, Mark and Steve explore the deep damage caused when a porn/sex addict pressures or...

In this article, from PBSE Episode 300, we confront the painful reality of over-sexualization in relationships, as one betrayed partner...

This episode (from PBSE Episode 299) explores the exhausting cycle many betrayed partners face when addicts make grand gestures of...

In this article (from PBSE Episode 298), we tackle a raw and courageous question from a recovering porn and sex addict: What is truly...

When friends and family compliment an addict in recovery, betrayed partners often feel unseen, isolated, or even gaslit—because they...

This article (from PBSE Podcast Episode 296) explores the painful question many betrayed partners face: “When loving him means losing me,...

This article comes from PBSE Podcast Episode 295. It addresses the painful story of a partner whose husband used pornography as a weapon...

This article comes from PBSE Podcast Episode 294. Betrayed partners with a history of childhood sexual abuse face compounded trauma when...

This article comes from PBSE Podcast Episode 293. A sexually abusive childhood leaves deep, lasting wounds that profoundly shape how...

This article (taken from PBSE podcast Episode 292) addresses the painful reality many betrayed partners face when they find themselves...

In this article, taken from PBSE Podcast episode 291, Mark and Steve respond to an 18-year-old struggling with porn addiction, mental...

In this article, taken from PBSE Podcast episode 290, we explore the question of whether a betrayed partner can have a truly healthy and...

In this article, excerpted from PBSE Podcast Episode 289, we address a recovering porn addict's heartfelt question about how to handle...

In this article (from PBSE Podcast, Episode 288), we respond to a deeply painful letter from a betrayed partner whose husband, entrenched...

This article explores the painful cycle experienced by a betrayed partner whose addict spouse, despite appearing committed to recovery,...