Positive benefits to quitting

[Irishmarie99]

I am now 48 hours PF. I went back to P for a few weeks and I was so ashamed of myself. I even spent $100 on a P site to get exclusive vids.

I am now stronger since learning more about my addiction. I have the conviction, determination, action and effort to stay P free.

[Misty-Eyed Matthew]

I hope you will continue to come here to beat your addiction, cause you are WORTH IT!

[Irishmarie99]

Yes, this has been a real struggle. I had no idea how strong the monster of PA really is/was.

[Misty-Eyed Matthew]

It will always be a struggle. It may take weeks, months,or even years to overcome the affects of this. Till that day comes, we'll be here for you. I recommend you introduce yourself to the rest of the family, if you already haven't. You are not alone.

[Irishmarie99]

It will always be a struggle. It may take weeks, months,or even years to overcome the affects of this. Till that day comes, we'll be here for you. I recommend you introduce yourself to the rest of the family, if you already haven't. You are not alone.

My name is Marie. I am very addicted to online P and M. Over the past year I was so addicted that I even posted pics of myself naked on the internet (due to the thrill).

I am trying to break free of the addiction/the monster known as PA.

I can use any help and support.

Marie

[Misty-Eyed Matthew]

Start a new thread in the new members area. Introduce yourself like you done here & start your story. You will not be judged here. Just be honest & we help you anyway we can.

[Misty_77]

I thought it was so neat, how so many people added to the list, so I thought I would post them all together for everyone. =) I think it's helpful to read them all together.

1) I have much more self respect and can hold my head up, I feel good about myself and my conscience is not troubled.

2) I don't feel embarrassed to let others use my computer, nothing in my browser history or temporary internet cache is anything to be ashamed of.

3) I feel qualified to advise my teenage children about pornography and masturbation without feeling like a hypocrite.

4) Far from despising my weakness, my wife respects me for my resolve and we have found healthier intimacy.

5) I get a better nights sleep instead of staying up till 2am looking at porn., I have more time to do things.

6) I feel like I am in control of the addiction, not the addiction controlling me.

7) much more pleasant atmosphere in the family, as I'm a more pleasant person now (less grumpy), with more time and attention for my wife and children.

8) I feel more in control of both my work and personal life, because I have time to sort out all those things that were pending because I 'never had the time'.

9) more at ease with myself because I'm overcoming the cognitive dissonance I was experiencing (left-of-center ideology, including strong views on gender equality, but at the same time giving custom to an industry in which women are exploited, abused, debased)

10) no need to worry about what I've signed up for with my credit card in my P binge, and whether there were any dodgy sites amongst them that may lead to credit card fraud, etc (yes, this HAS happened to me in the past).

11) I feel more comfortable around members of the opposite sex, I'm not constantly "checking them out."

12) Intimacy and improved sex life with my "real life" girlfriend.

13) Not rushing through life to get some porn time in.

14) Eat healthier, work out more, and all round improved health. When I would use porn I would tend to binge on bad food after-wards, and neglect working out. This combined with the other negative feelings to create more opportunities and reasons to look at porn, keeping my in a downward spiral.

15) Probably the biggest one, I am a whole person, not a split personality. There is one me to know, not the other side that is sneaking around or trying to hide from people.

16) This might sound strange, but if I die, or something bad happens to me, nobody will find a stash of porn somewhere.

17) The determination and resolve that we have is a great thing. To overcome something like this (or be in the process of doing so) takes a huge amount of willpower. Our strength in this mental war really defines who we are as people.

18) Realizing that I was only fooling myself.

19) Re read points 1 - 18 and realize your are not quitting anything. You are GAINING EVERYTHING!

20) No more depression. Since quitting depression hasn't been a problem in my life, and it was a problem for a long time and it would always be there. I always thought that it was a problem and that I'd need drugs but I don't.

21) Strength. Overcoming porn and masturbation is showing me that I do have the strength to do anything or to overcome any obstacle, no matter the size.

22) To hear your wife / partner is falling in love with you all over again.

23) experience Zen.

24) Don't feel the need to go on prescription medication to deal with the stress of being addicted to porn.

[fazbender]

Hi,

"Wow" its like I have been seeing myself in 100% of the posts in here. Sometimes you think you are the only one, who is or has done these things. Its my first day. The positives are an inspiration. If inspiration was needed its now.
Knowing I'm not the only one is a comfort.