No it is not. It is first and foremost a gross sin, a wickedness. I was steeped in that filth for decades and I gave the exact same excuses. I self-deluded myself, I lied to God about it. It wasn't until I finally came to understand it for what it really is that I was able to cast it from me forever-to where like the Scriptures say, I no longer desire to do wickedness. The same self-delusion, lies and excuses can be used for any sin. Adultery is first and foremost an intimacy disorder. Going to a nude bar is an intimacy disorder. It covers up the responsible party, which is you.
Once I saw it for what it is, the lies and self-deception go away. Why did I look at pornography . . .it's simple because I liked it! I enjoyed the sin, boy did it feel good to fantasize about indulging in the natural man! It wasn't because of some mythical "addiction" (that was just another excuse), going to it every night, spending hours . . .why b/c I liked it!! There is no other reason why, there is no "intimacy disorder", anyone who claims otherwise has not fully conquered the sin (maybe in action but not in heart).
I started when I was young too-I wish to God my parents had helped me out better-but I don't fault them b/c they did the best they could at the time. Then I became an adult and the excuses about blaming others, shoving the responsibility of my actions, my sins onto others could no longer work.
No, the problem isn't that you don't have a real connection with another human being-it's that you don't have a connection with God.
Yes exactly right, because you stopped the action, but you haven't change your heart. As such, there is a high likelihood you will return to it. Been there done that, returned to it like a dog to his vomit.
I agree the Church is horrible at dealing with this, but not in the manner you think. They are horrible at it because they don't teach true doctrine about it-they have gone along with much of the world in trying to solve this problem (addiction recovery programs and the like). The addiction model of this is flawed to the nth degree.
You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. The reason you feel like this is because the inner vessel is not clean.
A favorite scripture of mine: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
A couple of pointed questions. How is your scripture study? Do you read the Word of God every day? Do you say a prayer morning and night? Do you say a prayer before your meals? Do you prayer together as a family? Do you read scriptures together as a family? Do you have Family Home Evening? Do you as the head of household take the lead in setting the example of righteous living? Do you lead your family?
Of course your wife doesn't respect you. She has been married to a wicked man for years and as such whether she will admit it or not she will reject any of your counsel. Nobody wants to be lead by wicked leaders (except the wicked). But brother, you start becoming a Man of God and if she is righteous I guarantee you she will follow you anywhere!
Convert yourself to Christ, convert yourself to knowing that it is only through Him that we can be cleansed. Start with something simple-start having family prayer. There is just something intangible about someone who is converted to Christ. People recognize it-they see it, in some way they know.
Do I want people to know about my past sins, not particularly. Do I really care? No, I don't. I don't blast it out b/c most of the time it isn't relevant to who I am, where I am. My past sins aren't who I am now, my past wickedness is not who I am now. I still fall mightily, I still have plenty of my own weaknesses and sins. But I can truly say, that wickedness is gone. It's gone b/c of Christ. Because I was in the gall of bitterness, I was in the depths of hell. I saw myself stripped of all the excuses all the lies all the self-delusion, I saw myself standing before God at the end of my mortal existence and I was sore afraid.
Change the inner vessel, become a man of God and I promise you in a couple of years when you look back you will be amazed at the miracles God has worked in your life. The happiness you seek, can't be found in other fantasies of the flesh, it can't be found in your wife, it can't be found in job. It can only be found in a living a life according to God's laws, being in compliance with His will. It can only be found in the peace that the Savior gives to those who repent, forsake their sins and come unto Him.
It is my testimony, my witness as someone who has traveled down that path, changed my life and now I'm a much, much happier person.