Being Human with Steve Cuss Sex and Porn Addiction, Misconceptions That Prevent Healing with Matt Wenger
Sep 8, 2025
Matt Wenger, the Executive Clinical Director of the Begin Again Institute, joins for an insightful discussion on sexual addiction and healing. He sheds light on the complexities of addiction and the ripple effects on loved ones, advocating for a compassionate understanding of recovery. The conversation emphasizes the vital role of community and vulnerability in overcoming addiction, challenging isolation with support from Christian cohorts. Matt also tackles betrayal trauma for partners, promoting pathways to healing built on empathy, trust, and genuine intimacy.
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Addiction Is Both Condition And Moral Issue
- Matt Wenger frames addiction as both a sin and a bodily condition involving neurobiology and trauma.
- He urges the church to hold both moral accountability and compassionate treatment for addicts.
Early Attachment Wounds Fuel Addiction
- Sex addiction often roots in early attachment wounds and dysregulation of the nervous system.
- Addictive sexual behaviors worked as a child’s coping strategy to feel different rather than solve the underlying need.
Shame Confirms And Deepens Addiction
- Sex addiction often confirms preexisting negative self-beliefs and deepens shame.
- Recovery can offer grace by helping the person forgive the younger self who used addiction to survive.
