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.
Today is a special day. It is my third year anniversay from recovery from sex/porn.
It has been a good journey. I had ups and downs along the way. I had good times and not so good times.
I learned along the way are that I can be free from porn/sex. I AM free from this addiction and the addictive cycle. I no longer consider myself to be an addict or a recovering addict. I have lost all desire to return to old ways.
When tempted I use the advice of a friend, "go to another room". I do this every single time! Temptations WILL ALWAYS be around. I do not give any heed to them. Several times I have come across porn by mistake. I literally run from the scene or screen. I don't obsess over temptations. I rarely think of giving in.
I have come to know that nothing can make me use. Earlier this year I watched my father die, a best friend betrayed me, my wife's health is deteriorating at a rapid pace, the pressure of school and church are mounting, two knee injuries that left me with daily aches, none of which were reasons to soothe the pain by using sex/porn.
Each Sunday night I go to an Addiction Recovery Program, where I am the facititator. These brothers and sisters help me when I am down and life me back up. They support and encourage me when the day is dark and the path unclear. And I do the same for them.
My recovery is faith based. I belong to a church and serve my church family with all diligence. I pray daily, often every hour, I read and study scriptures daily. I forgive and seek forgiveness. I admit when I am wrong. I do not just say I am sorry. I say "I was wrong, can you forgive me?" I make amends wherever and whenever possible. Each day I thank my Heavenly Father for the day.
With every new day, new challenges arise. I will not rest. I will always fight the disease of addiction with all my might, mind and strength. With the Lord's help and his trusted servants I will overcome any obstacle placed in my path. Three years ago I couldn't say that. But I can today say with conviction that I shall overcome!
To those who are struggling with addiction, know that there is hope. It is something I firmly believe in. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!!! The path to recovery is hard at first, but it will get better the longer you do not use. I say to you, the suffering addict, keep a steady pace, find support. Recovery is not meant to be trod alone. Forgive yourself and do not beat yourself up over relapses, start anew. You will have good days and bad days, that's how life is. If it weren't for the bad days we wouldn't appreciate the good ones. Endure your trials with patience. Get enough sleep, eat right and exercise. Celebrate the small victories.
May God bless you in your path to freedom!
It has been a good journey. I had ups and downs along the way. I had good times and not so good times.
I learned along the way are that I can be free from porn/sex. I AM free from this addiction and the addictive cycle. I no longer consider myself to be an addict or a recovering addict. I have lost all desire to return to old ways.
When tempted I use the advice of a friend, "go to another room". I do this every single time! Temptations WILL ALWAYS be around. I do not give any heed to them. Several times I have come across porn by mistake. I literally run from the scene or screen. I don't obsess over temptations. I rarely think of giving in.
I have come to know that nothing can make me use. Earlier this year I watched my father die, a best friend betrayed me, my wife's health is deteriorating at a rapid pace, the pressure of school and church are mounting, two knee injuries that left me with daily aches, none of which were reasons to soothe the pain by using sex/porn.
Each Sunday night I go to an Addiction Recovery Program, where I am the facititator. These brothers and sisters help me when I am down and life me back up. They support and encourage me when the day is dark and the path unclear. And I do the same for them.
My recovery is faith based. I belong to a church and serve my church family with all diligence. I pray daily, often every hour, I read and study scriptures daily. I forgive and seek forgiveness. I admit when I am wrong. I do not just say I am sorry. I say "I was wrong, can you forgive me?" I make amends wherever and whenever possible. Each day I thank my Heavenly Father for the day.
With every new day, new challenges arise. I will not rest. I will always fight the disease of addiction with all my might, mind and strength. With the Lord's help and his trusted servants I will overcome any obstacle placed in my path. Three years ago I couldn't say that. But I can today say with conviction that I shall overcome!
To those who are struggling with addiction, know that there is hope. It is something I firmly believe in. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!!! The path to recovery is hard at first, but it will get better the longer you do not use. I say to you, the suffering addict, keep a steady pace, find support. Recovery is not meant to be trod alone. Forgive yourself and do not beat yourself up over relapses, start anew. You will have good days and bad days, that's how life is. If it weren't for the bad days we wouldn't appreciate the good ones. Endure your trials with patience. Get enough sleep, eat right and exercise. Celebrate the small victories.
May God bless you in your path to freedom!
Congratulations on your third anniversary. That is quite a milestone, good for you.
For me, after I was living the healthy life and was no longer living the addicted life, I felt the same way about it in the sense that I was no longer an addict therefore I no longer had the "disease" as you call it
I really never fought it, I found that a fighting stance only made harder to be healed from it. I, instead, surrendered to the process and in time, the temptations became a second's worth since my life centered around my life, nothing truly temps me as it had before
If I see something salacious now, I get annoyed and shake my head, after spending years working on rewiring my brain not to find those images alluring in the least. I did it by finding something pleasant to look at or even visualizing something pleasant, like holding my kitty cat.
As far as challenges come, after months and months of behavior modification training on my part, and after learning to be proactive and learning to look for opportunities in a seemingly challenging situation, I can now handle anything that comes my way and not panic or get all bent out of shape.
You have overcome already, as far as the addicted life goes, all is left is to work out the minute details such as temptations which I found only exist when your mind is focused on something it thinks it lacks but should have, example: I gave up smoking but in the beginning every time I saw someone with a cigarette I felt tempted but after a while I was no longer tempted because I no longer saw cigarettes as something I need to have or else. I feel the same way about porn.
Congratulations again,
Wolf
I hope other struggling addicts read your story and see that there is hope.
I also hope they see that you have a concrete plan on how to deal with temptation as well as a support system that you incorporate into your life along with a strong spiritual connection.
Also, just know that when you attend your group, you are paying it forward to others who need help.
Helping others is really one of the key components to a successful recovery.
Good for you and thank you for sharing. We can never hear enough success stories.