Sex / Pornography Addiction Support Group
Sexual addiction, also sometimes called sexual compulsion, is a form of psychological addiction to sexual intercourse and other sexual behavior.
I need help to stop watching porn. What can I do to stop it. All I want to do is watch porn and masturbate. I can go a week or so and than I can not resist the urge to do it again. I don't know what else to try.
That's exactly where I was at one point. Now I've been free of porn addiction for more than a year. (No masturbation either.) Here are a few things that helped me:
1) The website yourbrainonporn.com, which helped me understand why I was having such a hard breaking the habit, but also gave me the confidence that if I did abstain from it for long enough, it would eventually become easier to do so. It also outlines a 90-day reboot process.
2) The book "Breaking the Cycle" by George Collins. While there are aspects of this book I'm not crazy about, it helped me realize that I had a lot more control over my thoughts and actions than I realized. The book is available online through print or e-book format.
3) Setting goals. What are some things you've always wanted to do or felt you should do but haven't gotten around to doing yet? It could be anything from reading a certain book to learning a new skill to just getting the house clean. Plan those goals into your schedule. Try to recall things you were once passionate or curious about -- find ways to make those part of your life. Spend more time with the people you love. The more exciting and meaningful you make life without porn, the more you'll be willing to fight the good fight, and the less of a hold it will have on you.
4) Prayer. The best way to become more like the person God created you to be is to draw closer to the God who created you.
5) Learning to avoid trigger situations. Anything that even makes you think about pornography should be avoided. This includes looking at non-pornographic but still arousing images and mentally fantasizing about people. Avoid situations that are likely to tempt you, like just wasting time on your computer when you have no clear purpose.
6) Forum participation. The forum I participated in has mostly moved to rebootnation.org. When I was feeling tempted, stressed or frustrated, the forum gave me a place to express my thoughts and get feedback from others. A caveat, though -- unlike live support groups, online support forums have no defined start and end times, so you could easily blow hours a day reading and writing there. It's also easy to be narcissistic in these groups -- focusing on your own issues and ignoring everyone else. You have to regulate yourself by setting time limits and forcing yourself to devote some time to listening to, supporting and encouraging others.
7) Hope. Please know that this addiction can be beat. Contrary to what some believe, addiction doesn't have to be forever. Through my own recovery I've met many people who have conquered it and by the grace of God, am happy to say that I have to.