Porn addiction making life worse
I have been watching porn since I was eleven and havent been able to stop for more than a week since I started. For a long time I thought it was normal, but then I realised that I couldn't stop. I use porn when I am stressed and I completely lose my sense of time and end up watching it for hours. I am in college and am starting to fall begind in class because I waste so much time. Everyday I hope I can stop but I always end up letting myself down. I haven't told many people about this and it feels like I'm not in control of my life. I lost my ability to have sex and feel really bad admiting it to girls I date. I want to talk to others with the same problem and maybe try to stop my addiction with the help of a sponsor or group.
@SamDWilder
I can't comment about your specific issue, but in general regarding unwanted habits...
The easiest way to stop a habit might be to...
change mindset completely so the habit seems completely unacceptable and totally repulsive for some overwhelmingly important reason(s) that one decides over-rides all previous reasons one had in mind in the past. Then that might create the needed self-identiy change and motivation and willpower and reduce the desire to stop the habit until it no longer has an urge. Of course there are environment changes that could help too.
Mindfulness can help as explained in this book...
The Here-and-Now Habit - How Mindfulness Can Help You Break Unhealthy Habits Once and for All
By Hugh G. Byrne 2016
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Here_and_Now_Habit/aVyfCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
The book has some great supplementary audio files
that walk a person through the questions they can ask themselves to change their mindset and deal with the habit as it is being elimnated.
Other habit books explain how to change the personal space environment to make a habit more difficult so easier to resist (books like "Tiny Habits" or "Atomic Habits").
@SamDWilder Hi Sam, You're really on the right track by starting to open up about this. Because of the stigma and how the addiction cycle works, many people with sex addictions don't reach out until later in life. You're doing awesome even just taking this step.
At the point when you feel that you're losing control, you don't need to feel ashamed that you can't break the habit. Addiction is a serious thing, and not being able to do it alone is completely normal. It's great that you're looking at resources and groups to help you. Don't give up! My boyfriend is a sex/porn addict in recovery, and I can personally vouch for regaining control over your sex life is totally possible. Keep reaching out, researching sex addiction resources and don't give up. ♡