A site that helped me get here

[Borrowed Hope]

I know its discouraging at times to quit and feel like you're weak, powerless etc. You don't learn to walk in a day, and many don't learn to ride a bike in one session of falling down. When you've fallen, make sure to keep your head up, and maintain patience. Don't lose your cool. There are tons of excuses we make for ourselves when we need to watch it and we give in. Please remember, you're not weak, or powerless. It's a powerful addiction that has the same brain activity as someone who is addicted to cocaine. It's a powerful addiction that will take time.

[IN NEED OF HELP]

You could not have said it any better. This is a very long and bumpy road for all who are addicted. we are all bound to hit some potholes along this road. if we find ourself going in the wrong direction, we need to put our life back on the right road. We should never allow ourself to beat ourself up because of it. This journey we are on, is one that takes a while to get to the end, so we travel one day at a time

I remember when i was trying to get off drugs, and i thought it was a fight for that, but i can see that Porn is a harder addiction to break

[bombers9]

Guys - this is a good thread.

Absolutely agree - no room for despondency if we fail along the way - back on the horse.

i figure that every time we avoid acting out we are doing good - for ourselves, for those trapped in the industry by reducing demand, and for those around us who might be directly affected. That impact remains, and I'm personally hanging on to the fact that the longer the stuggle goes on, and the greater the understanding of our triggers and motivations, the easier it will gradually get.

As a practical step, I put a post up a few days ago about how forcing myself to visit this site first (even if I am getting on the computer to act out) has helped divert me from that course of action. the more time spent here, the better.

best of luck to you.

B9

[BeingThere]

I was in "recovery" for 12 years before I broke free ... almost from day one. I would still be addicted if I had quit trying. Yes, it's very powerful.

I thought that maybe I had one of those "addictive personalities". Nope. I've had numerous highly addictive drugs in my life. None of them have created even the smallest craving. Not even alcohol. This is a VERY powerful addiction.

I have known several PA's that had broken smoking addictions, alcoholism (a tough one), and a heroine addict. They all admitted that porn was the hardest to actually break free from.

Don't read any excuses here because there are none. No "poor me, I'm stuck in the hardest addiction out there" BS. You just need to know what you're up against. Willpower won't hack it. It's tougher than you are. But you're smarter.

-Mike