Joshua Shea

Named after his first book, this presentation focuses on Shea's belief that Pornography Addiction could be one of the next great health care crises in the world if action isn't taken in the next decade or two. What is the addiction and why should anyone care?Young adults who grew up not knowing a world before the Internet are becoming addicts in alarming numbers, yet even the mental health community barely registers it as an issue. Using research, statistics and his personal story, Shea outlines what needs to be done before this problem becomes an epidemic.

In 2012, Shea wrote an article in the magazine he edited sharing his struggle with bipolar disorder. Upon publishing, he learned that it was either a secret in most families or he became the first person people knew who dealt with it. In this non-graphic presentation Shea shares the origins of his addiction, how he managed to hide it for so many years, his rock bottom and the public shaming, and his eventual recovery. Shea addresses a bit of the overall problem facing the world, but hopes audience members walk away understanding it truly is an illness and there is no such thing as a stereotypical addict.

One morning, Joshua Shea was a local celebrity and pillar of his community. By the end of the day, he was out on bail for possession of underage pornography and the top story on the news. In this presentation, Shea recounts his public fall and the shame that came out of it, his decision to try and pull his life together, and following the calling to share his story of pornography addiction with others. Turning negatives into positives can make the world a better place.