[AnxiouslyEngaged]

I haven't done very much research on this myself (and I'm talking mostly about the scientific sort), but I've heard the following from a very reputable source:

PA is actually physically imprinted into the brain. That's why addictive behavior is so hard to get past, because the neural pathways are set for it, physically. It's incredibly difficult to interrupt that process each and every time it occurs and reroute the electrons that are flying through your brain. Also, over time, addiction will actually damage the brain in a certain way, as the addictive behavior takes precedence over normal, healthy, and productive neurological functions. The longer the time, and the deeper the addiction, the worse the "damage." Here's the good and bad news. The good news is that the process is reversible. The damage can be undone, and every effort to redirect addictive pathways in the brain will help that process. The bad news is that it takes about five years to be completely recovered--where the former PA will no longer experience any desire for P at all, where relapse is no longer "possible" or likely in any way.

In my opinion, after ten years of struggling with this addiction, five years seems like a small price to pay--especially considering that those five years will be spent in a successful struggle against it, with me fighting it off, and not having it control me. That's more good news, I guess. I can choose to not let pornography control me starting today, and then keep that attitude forever. In five years, it will all truly be a thing of the past in every sense of the word.

I've been hesitant to mention those "facts" because I really don't want any of us to think, "Five years?" and despair. Because I think it's clear that even after a few days without P, life starts to improve. The hard part is that the urges will continue to come, but it doesn't mean any of us must succumb to them. We just have to keep the fight going. Also, each day gives us more strength in that very struggle. All the time, the addiction will be getting weaker as we keep ourselves clean. And then, in time, it will be gone forever.

AE