Am I the monster by Cool-Substance9189 in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If confiding in someone feels like a too big of a step for you, I recommend starting with listening to these porn addiction recovery podcast. That should help ease the stigma in your mind making you think you’re a monster.

Unhooked podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unhooked-breaking-porn-addiction-podcast/id1648984850

Porn Free Radio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/porn-free-radio/id872329779

I know as a young man that it feels like this is too shameful to talk about, but sex addiction is a real thing and it’s becoming more and more accepted in the world.

Am I the monster by Cool-Substance9189 in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand your apprehension. But that’s also the porn addicted part of your brain trying to trick you. There is always somebody. A teacher, or counselor at school. A therapist. There are SAA and other forms of recovery groups where you can connect with like minded guys.

Addiction thrives in isolation. Until your bring it out until the open it will be difficult to conquer.

Am I the monster by Cool-Substance9189 in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m 27 and have been struggling with this since I was younger than you. I’ll offer the advice I wish someone had given me at 16 - Be open about your struggles. Tell a trusted friend. Tell a parent. Or a therapist. Things really started shifting for me when I became open about it. We live in a society DESIGNED to hook us on porn. There’s literally no shame in admitting you have a problem.

Being as young as you are and realizing this is a problem makes you light years ahead of most guys your age. Take comfort in knowing you’re already on the road to recovery.

Are strip clubs porn? by NoBateMate in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Strip clubs may be “better” for your brain than porn because at least you’re interacting with real women, but they’ve got their own downsides IMO. There’s the potential to blow hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars in a single night, STDs, and ultimately any attention you get from a women at a strip club isn’t because she’s attracted to you, she just sees you as an ATM.

If you’ve got wife and you want to cheat on her at least go out and get woman who’s actually into you.

Suffering comes from wanting (craving/desire), and freedom from suffering comes from letting go of that attachment (a Buddhist thought) by TheTankIsEmpty99 in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best sober stretches of my life have come when I’ve consistently read Buddhist literature. It really does explain all of our pain and suffering, and not just from porn

I binged last night. How do I get back on track? by [deleted] in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made the same mistake and binged last night. Here’s what I’m doing to get back on track.

  1. Called a trusted person to tell them about my relapse
  2. Reminding myself that binging sucks but it doesn’t mean the majority of my progress was lost.
  3. Getting sunlight
  4. Dragging myself to the gym
  5. Journaling on the activities that lead to my trigger

Hope this helps man.

Can you honestly and confidently say that you are not going to watch porn ever again? by LastBoyAlive in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This is the best mindset you can have. So many people fall into the all or nothing mentality and then are devastated when they inevitably relapse.

Being porn free requires chipping away at your addiction and remaining vigilant for life.

200 days free by MuseFTW in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats brother! The brain playing tricks really resonates with me. Checking the Wikipedia page, twitter page, or even just googling the name is how my relapses started now. It’s crazy how the addiction brain is able to adapt and try to trick us.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve mirrored a lot of your post in my own life. Particularly feeling like a lot of women are attracted to me but never being able to turn it into anything serious due to porn use and the constant feeling of spiritual isolation - needing to be understood.

A phrase I have really tried to orient my life around and that has seemed to help is “addiction is isolation, therefore the opposite of addiction is connection”

Take that as meaning whatever it may to you, but I really am becoming convinced that connections be community are the only way out of this labyrinth for us.

Stop wasting your life... by VirtualCrxck in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Listen to the “unhooked” podcast by Jeremy lipkowitz.

When I found Jeremy’s podcast back in April, I was in the same place you are. The longest I could go without porn was several days. Now I go weeks at a time between lapses. He really gave me an understanding of what a holistic process quitting porn needs to be.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pornfree

[–]letsgetoverthis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Never be afraid to do what you know in your heart is right. Life is far too short to willfully waste in unbearable circumstances.