Me (20m) and my GF (20f) have been in a long distance/online relationship for over a year now. And yesterday I finally told my GF about my porn addiction. And its probably gonna cause this relationship to end. I made this account to post anonymously as I my GF and friends have reddit and I'm too ashamed to make any of this about myself to them. This is a long post.
Background info: I was assaulted when I was about the age of 9ish, I can't remember the exact time as I had blocked it out of my memory for a long time. But when I was 10 I got my first phone and only a few months later started watching porn. And it slowly ramped up more and more. It became a full blow addiction and I never admitted it to myself till yesterday. And because of this I grew to be hypersexual. And I really hate it, I really often feel disgusting about myself to the point where I want to be castrated in some capacity so I can remove most if not all of my sex drive. I also have never had a relationship before this one. And have not had my first kiss yet. Nor have I ever been complimented outside of this relationship. Leading me to be really insecure about myself, especially when it comes to sexual and physical attraction.
My GF lives across the country from me (U.S.) and we haven't seen each other in person yet. She has borderline personality disorder and is autistic. She has a hard time expressing herself to me, especially because I have a hard time comforting other people too that isn't just being next to them. When we met we decided to enter an official talking stage, but it didn't last long. As 5 days after we first met here on reddit (different sub) I asked her to be my GF, and not even 3 hours later I told her I loved her. Very fast I know, but its my first relationship ever. And the biggest piece of info is that she said watching porn is cheating, and I agreed to it.
But once we became official I somehow easily dropped all porn. Very easily. I thought it would be a much harder time but I didn't have a hard time for some reason. And I felt pretty good about it. But over time we stopped being sexual together. Which she preferred as she didn't really want to be due to some shitty stuff that happened to her in the past. And I was okay with it for the most part. I don't care about sex that much, especially because I hated how I was hypersexual. But I still did want to be sexual, it just wasn't a priority. But whenever I would try to bring it up I would go about it almost the wrong way every single time. So it never ended well as it would quickly turn into an argument instead about how I only wanted sex and wanted her for her body. Which wasn't true but I still made her feel like that's what I wanted and that is on me.
It got to the point where some random day in July (the month of our 1 year anniversary) I couldn't help myself and I watched some porn, and my addiction started again. And I've been trying really hard to stop, but I can't help myself.
Then during this month we got into a fight about how neither of us open up to each other. And at the end of it I asked if I could vent about how I had been feeling in general. And part of that venting was a sexual section about how I don't feel wanted at all. And that "I wanted to feel wanted, especially sexually." Not instead of just saying "I don't feel wanted by you and its hurting me" I blabbered on more about sexual stuff and how I wanted her to "send me a nude randomly" or "ask me for a dick pick" and just really stupid shit that conveyed a completely different point than the one I wanted. I was an idiot about it and so that's when she first asked me if I watched porn. I liked and said no. And so because of that messaged I sent she would keep asking me if I watched porn. And I kept lying to her and saying no. I do not know why I was just honest, I've never really lied about something this important before. I think it was because we agreed it was cheating and I didn't wanna be another guy who cheated on her like her ex. Or maybe it was because I am ashamed. I do not know and can't tell you as I don't know myself.
But it all came to a head yesterday, where she was not letting it go and kept asking me if I did. I had complained about my sexuality and said "My body wants it but not my mind" which she said was a clue I watched porn. She said she had gone through it too and "So please, let me actually help u" which felt like she really was there to help. Then she also said she wouldn't break up with me if I did. She doesn't lie to me. I can't think of a single time that she has. And eventually in another couple messages I admitted it.
Then like any other reasonable person, she questioned if I had lied about anything else. Like if I was talking to other girls, which I haven't. She said she was disappointed in me because I kept lying to her. And that she needed time to process it. All of which is fair and I'm not holding any of it against her. But since she got this out of me I have finally admitted to myself that its an addiction and I need help. I had therapy only a few hours after this conversation with her and my therapist said many things, like "I'm just trying to fulfill my sexual needs" or things that would help me feel better. Which helped in the moment, but it doesn't help long term.
Then just a few hours ago, my GF messaged me again saying she was feeling suicidal, and it was because of me. I tried my best to comfort her, but again I suck at it. So with that and on top of the fact that I'm the one who hurt her so badly she feels that way it didn't go well. She let some anger out at me. She called me selfish, entitled, immature and a cheater. And said to not be surprised if I end up blocked.
I'm not asking for sympathy. Regardless of my addiction or not I did cheat on my Girlfriend and hurt her badly to the point where she is probably wanting to break up with me. I would like some advice on how to move forward, whether or not I will still have a relationship. And if my Girlfriend doesn't break up with me, how do I show her I really do care and comfort her through this?