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Husband addicted to porn

(57 Posts)
AliceAnne Thu 27-Feb-20 12:19:44

My OH is 78 years old and is partially disabled. I am his carer.
For the last few months he has been visiting porn sites on the internet and spends several hours a day oggling at ladies showing off their 'bits'. He often stays up into the early hours looking at this stuff.
He is on certain dating sites and gets hundreds of e.mails in every day, again from females flaunting their wares.
Yesterday I discovered that he has been writing to one of them telling her about himself and giving his real name, photograph etc and I am afraid he is leaving himself open to blackmail.
Also I discovered that he has been filming himself, on a camcorder not online - masturbating.

I am disgusted with his behaviour.
Any suggestions as to the way forward would be welcome. Incidentally I am a lot younger than him and still working.

AliceAnne Thu 27-Feb-20 14:31:25

Thank you, I will think carefully over what has been said.

Greymar Thu 27-Feb-20 14:35:06

He must be fairly adept with tech to film himself and send it off?

Luckygirl Thu 27-Feb-20 14:35:31

It is very very common indeed for PD and the associated medications to cause this sort of inappropriate behaviour. I have had to deal with something similar myself and know how distressing it can be.

It is imperative that you talk to his medical advisors because it is almost always a side effect of certain PD meds (dopamnine agonists), and reducing or changing these can solve the problem, or alleviate it. I do not think you should just accept this as inevitable as there are things that can be done. The drugs have to be reduced under medical supervision and cannot just be stopped abruptly.

This is such a well-known problem that you really do need to take steps to deal with it - as it CAN be dealt with.

It is difficult in PD - very often people are put onto drugs which provide enormous help with physical symptoms but, over time, produce these sort of unwanted side-effects and they then have to be reduced or withdrawn and replaced with other options. It is quite normal in PD for drugs to be gradually increased, then decreased as time goes by in order to try and get the best outcomes.

I would not sit back and just let this go on. I did not.

Scribbles Thu 27-Feb-20 14:51:43

the only benefit he's brought into my life is a very good income...

Until I read that line, I was sympathetic.
Why did you marry him, OP? Was it all about money? If so, then forget about "in sickness and in health" and get yourself and some of his money to a divorce lawyer right away.

If there ever was any affection involved, then perhaps others are pointing you in the right direction and you owe it to the man you once loved to get some medical advice and to set some parental controls on the broadband access. And the camcorder needs to have a terminal accident - maybe his mobile phone, too.

sarahellenwhitney Thu 27-Feb-20 14:58:21

This is unacceptable and I believe in view of H age his GP needs informing.This is for YOUR benefit and safety.

Greymar Thu 27-Feb-20 15:15:31

Oh so sorry, I completely missed the remark about money. How odd.

SalsaQueen Thu 27-Feb-20 15:49:48

AliceAnne I worked in the care sector for 20 years, and cared for many people who had Parkinson's. There are 2 types of dementia associated with Parkinson's - one is Lewy Bodies dementia, the other is Alzheimers. Symptoms do not usually include behaviours such as lack of inhibitions, or an obsession with sex/pornography. You could look at the PARKINSON'S UK website. It might offer some suggestions, although I suspect that your husband's behaviour is nothing more than being a selfish, inconsiderate, dirty old man.
Good luck.

ananimous Thu 27-Feb-20 15:59:38

Change your internet password (Why should you miss out) whilst you think what to do next.

Ashera7 - Youtube for all "Dusty/narc" advice.

Boot him out ASAP.

Your new chapter awaits.

GillT57 Thu 27-Feb-20 16:02:20

Grandad1943 gave a very enlightening insight into the possible reasons for your husband's erratic and distressing behaviour and hopefully you will now consult your GP. As to all those who advocate chucking him out, so much for in sickness and in health eh? Also, just a small point, irrespective of who owns the house, if they are married, he has a claim on the property, just as a wife would in similar circumstances. Cripes, I thought for a minute I had inadvertently signed on to Mumsnet with all the LTB comments. I hope you have found some of the more sympathetic and informative comments helpful

BlueBelle Thu 27-Feb-20 16:08:25

So you’re a new poster AliceAnne that’s quite some post for a first one

Daisymae Thu 27-Feb-20 16:13:43

I would consider taking your sons into your confidence. I would also discuss his actions with your GP or other medical personnel that you come into contact with. As others have said there is something that can be done to help you. There's no reason for you to go it alone. It does seem that his behaviour has gone for for years. Its all very well for people to advocate throwing him out but he may be entitled to half of any assets which of course includes the house, even though its in your name. Might be a good idea to take some legal advice regarding securing your finances. He may be liable to blackmail as you suggest or he may just give money away. It does sound like a sorry way to spend your final years together, hope you can get some support.

JuliaM Thu 27-Feb-20 16:44:19

Its amazing how some peoples personality can change due to dementia. My Dad who is 91 and lives in a care home used to be very 'Respectable' when it came to any sexual matters, although we have recently found out that he had several mistresses during his lifetime. Hes flagged up at the home as needing a Male carer for any personal care proceedures, after inapropiately grabbing the female care staff and making rude requests for them.to strip off and get into bed with him, or into the shower. He would swear and shout at any of them who firmly verbally tried to correct his ways, followed by shouting nasty names like 'Big fat cow' or 'street hore' after them whenever he wanted something. He.now.refuses to come out of his room, but regularly requests family members to find him an attractive lady amoungst the fellow residents and bring her to his room for him, hes even tried to bribe his Grandaughter to bring in Gin and chocotates ready for the entertainment of said lady once she arrives!

sodapop Thu 27-Feb-20 16:44:38

Luckygirl is best placed to advise you AliceAnne talk to the medical staff who are treating your husband as she says. I know from my nursing experience that this sort of thing happens as a side effect of medication or from the illness itself.
Talk to your family, you need their support in dealing with this.

Greymar Thu 27-Feb-20 16:48:01

Blue Belle, quite post and impressive coordination for an old person who isn't well.

Yennifer Thu 27-Feb-20 16:54:26

If you don't know how to do it, get a young person you can trust to set up parental controls on his devices so he can't access explicit content. I wouldn't say that about a person in control of all their faculties but given you are a carer and he is vulnerable I think it would be wise x

Davidhs Thu 27-Feb-20 17:16:25

Some drugs used for treating dementure do increase sex drive so medication might need changing, have a word with his doctor, best of luck with parental controls, they’re definitely not secure.

Dee1012 Thu 27-Feb-20 17:17:38

While the comments are all very sensible, this jumped out at me;
"He has had phases of doing this over the years, making contact with ex-girlfriends and carrying on. I remember suggesting that he might be happier living with one of them and I could get on with my life but he wouldn't budge."
So, if this has been occurring in the past, is it really a side issue of Parkinson's, or sadly an issue of the man?

Oopsadaisy3 Thu 27-Feb-20 18:19:47

If he is well enough to use a camcorder and upload videos then he is perfectly capable of re- enabling any Parental Controls that are put on to prevent him accessing Porn Sites.
Whilst you are getting medical advice, disconnect his computer, camcorder and the router , put it in your car and take it to work each day, then he won’t have access to it.

Fennel Thu 27-Feb-20 18:21:22

@Grandad1943* what a revealing message. Thanks.
My late FiL gave us similar worries at that age, but not so extreme.
We thought he was missing his lost manhood. Otherwise he was a kind and generous man.
He passed away at 74.

Greymar Thu 27-Feb-20 18:36:45

I reckon I would struggle to use a camcorder and er....do other stuff.

lemongrove Thu 27-Feb-20 18:40:32

Does he realise that you know he is doing this?
He has created an exciting life for himself online, that’s all it is, as his real life ( for him) is lacking.Nobody’s fault, but you should talk to him about it, say it upsets you and you wish it to stop rightaway or you will possibly have to leave.
This may shock him enough to put a stop to it.

Yennifer Thu 27-Feb-20 20:09:26

Most 6 year olds are quite capable of turning off parental controls, that's why you password protect them. That's also why good Internet security is so important too. I get my Internet security from BT and the parental control works very well x

Jaycee5 Thu 27-Feb-20 20:24:56

Given that he is telling people his age and personal details, while you are dealing with the medical side, you need to be sure that he can't be giving any financial information, particularly any that relates to your finances.
If he knows any of your passwords, I would change them asap. It is a very difficult thing to have to deal with but hopefully with a combination of medical help and internet intervention you can at least make it safe and bearable.

NotSpaghetti Fri 28-Feb-20 01:01:49

I don't think the original poster said they were married.
I think this has to make things easier as presumably as a "carer" she can tell social care she's not prepared to do it now the relationship has broken down.

I haven't had to liaise with Adult Social Care for some time and I do realise they are massively overstretched but there has to be a way to stop.

NotSpaghetti Fri 28-Feb-20 01:03:57

Oh, I see the title says "Husband". My mistake.