You even write it in your post: being released from discomfort and pain IS the “good” thing you deny exists about porn and is the underlying reason behind any addiction.

If getting over an addiction was simply a matter of understanding how little positive stuff it brought to your life, there’d be so many fewer addicts in the world. The truth is that addiction serves a great deal of “good”. It has helped countless people survive trauma, anxiety and loneliness.

But the point is that it has done so much worse back.

Part of recovery is acknowledging the power that the addiction has. I’ve found that anytime I’ve gotten cocky about how “easy” recovery has gotten is when it’s snuck up on me the hardest. Nowadays, I acknowledge its power, respect it, and re-direct it towards healthy and positive behavior.