The internet seems everywhere today, most of us have access to it and certainly it has changed the way that we shop, we interact with each other and the way we access information.
Yet the internet does have a number of down sides too.
There is an epidemic which seems to be sweeping the world of people addicted to internet pornography.
There are over 4 million sites offering access to pornographic images of every fetish imaginable (and some that you won't have).
There are nearly 70 million search requests each day looking for pornography, so the size of the problem is very large indeed.
While the internet has not created an addiction to pornography it has made images and videos readily accessible.
Of course many couples use pornography as part of their love life and using pornography is not in itself a bad thing, although it is unacceptable in many social and cultural settings.
We have to ask ourselves when it becomes a problem.
When should people be worried and start to look for help.
Of course internet addiction shares many of the same symptoms as other addictions, the person seeks ever more gratification, seeking the perfect 'high'.
They are willing to sacrifice important things such as relationships to follow their addiction.
The person is not in control of their behaviour.
This last one is often the one that family, friends and outsiders find the hardest to understand.
In a final ironic twist the sufferer feels shame, guilt and terrible about themselves till the next cycle kicks in.
It was once said that addiction to internet pornography one of the hardest addictions to kick.
An alcoholic or a drug user can get sober then avoid the stimulus (hard though that may be).
Since sexual feelings come from inside our head the sex addict can never truly get away from their addiction and the chemicals and hormones that feed the addiction.
The problem is not exclusively a male one, in a 2006 survey 30% of women said they used pornography and 17% said that they had struggled with addiction.
Researchers have suggested that the anonymity of the internet has made it easier for both men and women to access pornography and in particular sexual practices that they would not have encountered before the internet.
Some of the danger signs are

• Hours disappearing while on line
• Feeling alone or isolated like no one understands you
• Difficulty in sleeping or not sleeping well
• Guilt about your internet use, it is something that you are secretive about.
  
• Using the internet as a substitute for real world relationships especially if you suffer from anxiety or depression

Like all addictions internet pornography can be treated, but similarly to all addictions the first step is to admit your problem and not to sweep it under the carpet or dismiss it.
You will need support to get 'sober' and people like friends and family can help.
A word of warning though, partners may feel betrayed your behaviour on line and some friends and family may be very judgmental, so you may want to choose who you get support from carefully.
Many people go to see a counsellor or join one of the many self-help groups.
These approaches can not only help to identify and change unsafe behaviours round pornography and the internet but can provide on-going support that will help you to stay free of pornography.
There are practical things you can do.

• Understand what behaviours lead to you using pornography and avoid those behaviours for example perhaps it's always after a drink.
  
• Move the computer to a public room so that it is difficult to visit pornographic sites
• Consider installing blocking software (having someone else set the password) that will prevent many sites from loading

Finally get help, so that you can stop the pornography and internet controlling you and put yourself in the driver's seat of your life.