Porn is a subject not many are comfortable speaking about, especially if they are struggling with quitting it. Porn can be habit forming just like drugs or alcohol and breaking a habit regardless of what it is, can be a difficult task. If you’re here because you are trying to quit watching porn, just know that it’s not an overnight process. Breaking a habit is not a one-size fits all. What works for some may not work as well for others. The most important thing you can do on the road to recovery is to stay focused and stay motivated.
Make it Approachable
While porn can develop into an addiction, facing it as such may make it harder to actually break the habit. When we think addiction, we think of bad, dark things that could ruin lives and while porn has been known to break marriages or relationships, crafting it into some sort of monster isn’t going to help the cause. By letting porn be known as an addiction, you give it power over you. Addictions are hard to break, and addicts are typically viewed poorly by society. Keep the problem approachable and don’t create it into some kind of monster while you’re on the road to quitting.
Acceptance
So, you’re the type of man that watches porn? Alright, time to focus on becoming the man who doesn’t watch porn. Watching porn may be against your religious beliefs and that could make it much harder to accept the fact that you watch porn. Remember though, accepting it does not mean you can’t and shouldn’t change it. Don’t focus on beating the addiction, just work on being the man who doesn’t watch porn.
Believe in Yourself
Get the word can’t out of your vocabulary. You can change, but you have to believe it and believe in yourself. When you say you can’t do something, you’re accepting defeat and refusing to make the necessary changes. Believe not that you can change, but that you will change.
Address the Issues
A porn addiction doesn’t just develop overnight. Figure out the underlying issues that cause you to turn to porn. Is it boredom? Pick up some new hobbies and find other ways to occupy your time. If your sex life with your significant other is lacking, talk to her! Don’t rely on life events to help you quit, either. “Once this happens, I’ll quit watching porn” can be a very dangerous mindset as it gives you time to further embrace the problem instead of fighting it. What happens if those events don’t happen when they’re supposed to? You’ll end up losing the motivation to quit watching porn.
Now that we’ve gone over ways to mentally help you quit watching porn, there are some actions you can take to make the process run more smoothly.
First, get rid of all of your porn. If you have physical copies of porn, whether it’s movies or magazines, toss it! If it’s not around, you can’t be tempted by it. Next, you can install blocking software on your devices to make it so you can’t access porn websites. Find a partner to help keep you accountable. Having someone to talk to about the struggles and the triumphs will increase your chances of success.
Don’t get discouraged if you find yourself backsliding. It happens when trying to break habits and it’s okay as long as you don’t let that instance keep you from continuing on the road to where you want to be. Address the underlying issues that are turning you to porn and find other ways to occupy your time. Believe that you can change, and you will.
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