Install An Adult Site Blocker
The easiest way to stop watching porn is to make it impossible for you to do so.
You can easily install porn blockers on your browser. There are various options to stop your computer from even being able to visit pornographic sites. Some of the more popular options are:
Once youve made it impossible to satisfy your pornography habit on your electronic devices, the next step is to live transparently. You need to make sure that you use your computer in front of people at all times.
When its impossible to browse internet porn on your own and youre constantly in front of other people, then youll break your internet porn habit by sheer force. It will be impossible for you to watch in private and youll never get a chance to anyway.
Eventually, the urge will leave you.
How To Overcome An Addiction To Porn As A Teenager
This article was co-authored by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin specializing in Addictions and Mental Health. She provides therapy to people who struggle with addictions, mental health, and trauma in community health settings and private practice. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 45 testimonials and 82% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,854,312 times.
Like any other destructive behavior that disrupts your everyday life, watching porn can become an addiction. Below are steps you can take to find out if you do indeed have a problem you should be concerned about, ways to understand the problem, and tips for changing your habits so that your temptation progressively lessens. Don’t be afraid to seek help from responsible adults and mental health professionals, as they are invaluable resources for overcoming a problem with pornography.
The 4 Cs Of Addiction
The term addiction is abstract for many people who are learning about the topic. Fortunately, the 4 Cs model has been developed to help define an addiction in concrete terms. Specifically, the 4 Cs model is a screening test to diagnose whether an addiction has or has not arisen.
Below we apply the 4 Cs model to Internet porn addiction:
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How To Cure A Porn Addiction
The issue of pornography addiction is a serious problem not only in the world but also in the church. A significant challenge is that it includes a tremendous amount of guilt and shame, thereby making it very difficult for a person to bring it to the light and receive healing and freedom in God. Like every other addiction, porn affects more than just the user their relationships are also affected, and it can often lead to victimization of others. Today, Pastor John addresses this issue head-on and brings to light the root issues that drive a porn addiction, the consequences of porn, and the possible health issues porn may cause in the user. He also provides three scriptural steps for how to cure a porn addiction with Gods help. Our prayer is that God sets all those free affected by porn and porn addiction, and provides healing in every area of their lives.
Six Strategies To Stop Watching Porn
Thinking about porn addiction treatment? If you have decided that you want or need to stop watching porn, here are six effective ways you can start.
Understand what you are trying to avoid
Addiction often comes from the avoidance of negative feelings. This means, in order to stop watching, you will need to do some soul searching and try and work out what is bothering you.
This will not happen overnight its a process that takes a lot of time. But its vital if you want to regain control and stop having your life dictated by your porn habits.
You can either try and do this yourself by journaling your feelings and trying to peel back the layers of protection you have undoubtedly, and understandably, wrapped your mind in, or you can seek help from a mental health professional.
Remember, there is nothing shameful about watching porn, and if you feel you need to reach out for help, you should feel comfortable enough to do so.
Explore your sexuality in other ways
Many people watch porn as a way to explore their sexuality. What they like or dont like in sexual encounters.
If this sounds familiar, try using different means. If you have a partner, see if they would be open to experimenting with you.
If you want to explore alone, try exploring your own body. For example, you can use your hands or sex toys to discover how you like to be touched and find new ways to orgasm.
An orgasm will give you that much-needed dopamine shot without the need for porn.
Avoid your triggers
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Practical Steps For Breaking Pornography Addiction
- May 1, 2020
Pornography found me when I was 13. What started as innocent research for a school science project began a battle with pornography that followed me through high school and into college. At first, I felt it qualified as a safe expression of my sexuality I had no risk of STDs or an unwanted pregnancy. But as I entered my senior year of high school, I realized I had a different problem I couldnt stop.
Every day after school, I would come home and watch pornography for hours on our family desktop. At school, I would read erotica on the school computers. After my mom went to sleep, I would stay up watching the adult channels . As I lost sleep, my schoolwork started to suffer and my perfect GPA was in jeopardy.
I tried many different techniques to break free from pornographys hold. Instead of finding freedom, I felt myself getting sucked in even more. The shame and stigma seemed like quicksand. With every failed attempt to break free, I felt more trapped.
I struggled for years. I had to hit rock bottom actually becoming someone elses porn by choosing to share nude photos of myself before I finally found freedom. Many people who struggle with pornography are desperately searching for a formula of easy steps to break free from it. I searched time and again for the simple one-two-three solution.
Conditions That Encourage Unnatural Pathways For Internet Porn Addiction
The conditions that establish this unnatural pathway for porn-induced sexual arousal include:
- Being alone
- Continuously searching and seeking new pornographic material
- Opening multiple tabs to watch multiple porn videos in quick succession
- Pornographic novelty
- New pornographic genres to overcome boredom
Whilst this type of sexual conditioning is far more powerful during adolescence, it can occur at any age. This disparity between real sex and pornographic aided masturbation is a major factor for both porn-induced erectile dysfunction and the inability to stop using pornographic videos. If you suffer from a porn-induced fetish or porn-induced ED, you will need to stop using porn to literally rewire your pathways so you exhibit a preference to real-life people. This is known asrebooting.
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How Does Porn Addiction Affect The Other Partner
Yes, it can, and almost always does.
Being committed to a person with a porn habit can be taxing, to say the least. Porn addiction can significantly impact you in various parts of your life. But, most of all it can be emotionally tiring, depressing, and anxiety-provoking to the point where you begin to question why you are still with your partner. A partners porn addiction can make you feel as if you are not pretty, handsome, sexy, smart, or witty enough to be with your partner.
It can also cause you to question if your partner would be better off without you. You may feel the need to compete with the women or men in the porn images, video clips, or movies that your partner is obsessed with. If you are unable to perform like the people on the porn sites your partner frequents, it could cause you to develop an anxiety condition, like OCD, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder , or depression.
A partners porn addiction could also cause you to turn away from your friends and family for fear they will discover what your partner has been up to. Thus, it is an embarrassment, shame, and guilt that prevents you from talking about what is happening in your relationship and/or home. It is a lot to deal with alone, which is why you need support. But most of all you need to be on the same page as your partner.
Is It Hard For Former Porn Addicts To Remain Porn
It can be
Honestly, it can be hard for a former porn addict to remain porn-free forever. Porn has a way of grabbing hold of people and refusing to let go. What does that mean? It means that relapses are always possible. Relapses are likely to happen for most former porn addicts. So, if you find yourself falling back into old habits like viewing porn, it is important to seek porn addiction help as soon as possible.
As before, porn addiction relapse treatment may involve an online porn cessation program, lifestyle changes, porn addiction therapy, anti-porn blocking tools, mindfulness techniques, etc. The good news is there is no limit as to how many times you can seek porn addiction treatment. And, there also isnt any judgment associated with it. The goal is for you to become permanently porn-free, regardless of how long it takes.
Why is it so hard for a former porn addict to permanently quit porn?
Well, primarily because sexual images are readily accessible. In other words, you can find them on your electronic device and movie and television screens. You can also find them in magazines and books. These images are literally everywhere! You dont have to look too far or too long to stumble across a sexual or pornographic image.
What if my anti-porn blocking program is unreliable, and permanently shutting down my device is unrealistic? How can I prevent a porn addiction relapse then?
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Ask Someone To Keep You Accountable
Getting free of porn goes a step beyond just talking about the struggle with someone. You need to ask someone to hold you accountable. What does this mean? This means you invite someone to check in on you and help you follow through with your goals.
A powerful way to do this is using the Covenant Eyes app. You install this on your devices, and it sends an accountability report to your ally, who helps you keep on the path away from porn.
Join Fight The New Drug Nofap On Reddit And Other Online Communities
The Internet is likely the place where your habit became a compulsive one, since theres endless supplies of free content. That doesnt mean we cant use the Internet for positive things, as well. Fight the New Drug is a website for resources and reminders of why youre taking on this challenge.
Another online community is called NoFap, named after its dedication to helping members avoid pornography and masturbation.
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Fading Unhealthy Pathways And Strengthening Healthy Pathways
What about sensitised porn pathways that are behind your addiction to porn and cravings? The good news is that nerve cells that form this pathway will slowly but surely begin to disperse from one another. However, the bad news is this pathway for Internet porn addiction will never completely untangle, although it will fade and weaken. This explains why you will experience cravings even after years of abstaining from Internet porn use.
Dealing With Porn Addiction
Seek professional help if:
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You continue watching excessive amounts of porn on repeat in spite of any problems it has caused or is causing, in your relationships, work, or home life, and despite any attempts to manage it.
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You continually lose track of time while watching porn.
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Your mind is consumed with thoughts of porn ALL. THE. TIME. even when youre not watching it or dont want to be thinking about it.
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You feel extremely ashamed, guilty, or depressed about your porn viewing or you feel anxious trying to hide the fact that you watch it.
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You feel like its interfering with or keeping you from enjoying or finding satisfaction in your own sexual experiences.
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How To Handle A Porn Addiction Relapse
Dr R. Y. Langham
Internet use has literally exploded over the past few decades, firmly establishing itself as an integral part of everyday life. While unlimited access to people and things around the world has been a blessing for most, for some, it has triggered a host of uncomfortable, distressing, harmful, addictive, and/or dangerous consequences.
In fact, researchers have found that excessive internet use can trigger questionable behaviors, such as extreme online porn use and porn addiction. And, because most of us are constantly on the internet for our jobs, entertainment, dating opportunities, networking, connecting with others, relaxation, etc., it makes sense that there has been a significant increase in web-based addictions, such as porn addiction.
However, the one thing most people dont understand is that while there are porn addiction treatments available, they arent fail-safe. In other words, even after receiving porn addiction help, there is still a chance you may relapse.
Remember, addiction, regardless of its nature, is a disease. Its not a choice. And, just like any other mental and physical conditions, there is always the risk of a flare or relapse. In other words, what prompted the disease originally can re-trigger it, if the previous circumstances reoccur.
Seven Ways To Know If Your Porn Viewing Habits Are Problematic
Intrusive thoughts about porn
If you are constantly interrupted by thoughts and urges to watch porn while you are doing completely different tasks such as hanging out with friends, working, or eating, it can affect your day-to-day functioning.
Money problems caused by porn
If you find yourself spending more money than you can afford watching porn or are in debt because of it, this is a red flag sign that your porn viewing is affecting your life.
Hiding your actions
A common trait of people suffering from addiction is hiding their behaviour. So if you find that you are constantly finding ways to cover up your porn viewing, it is possible your habit may be out of control.
Risky behaviour
Remember that dopamine release thrill we talked about earlier? Its super addictive. And over time, porn, or any other dopamine-releasing habit repeated continuously, causes the brain to release less dopamine as it comes to expect what is coming and is looking for something new to get a thrill from.
This opens the door for other risky behaviours like gambling and drugs. So if you find that youve recently become riskier with your conduct, it may be time to stop watching porn.
Your relationships are suffering
If your porn watching is affecting your relationship with your loved ones, its time to stop. This could be always choosing to stay in* and watch porn over socialising or ignoring the needs of your family and friends because you are too focused on when you will next watch porn.
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There Is Always A Way Out
No matter what situation youre in, no matter how this addiction has affected you or your family, there is a good, loving God who is full of grace, who has provided hope and healing.
Learning how to stop watching porn may happen fast, or it could be a journey, but it is not the final destination of your life.
Learning how to stop watching porn may happen fast, or it may be a journey, but it is not the final destination of your life. It is part of Gods plan to restore you to a relationship with Him, as this person at Life.Church found out:
Today Im almost 8 years clean. I have learned so much about myself and about God. As I learn how pure and perfect Gods love is for us, I cant help but want to stay as far away as I can from porn.
Finally, heres some truth you might want to memorize:
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Staying Busy And Focused
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