Post published by StarLightReboot

Porn Blockers are a very good place to start, they put a mental barrier between you and the porn reminding you that it is a bad thing.

Other things include exercise, medatation, wearing trousers with a belt, not spending a lot of time online, and just don't touch yourself. Sounds simple, and it is. Just don't tocuh.

How do I fight pmo? Very carefully. I've been trying to break this since I was 15, and I am 17 now. I know that you cannot give your sexual side a micro-inch. As soon as I feel any sort of sexual undertone stewing in my mind I shut off my phone and look to do something in public or something that won't trigger it. Just be really aware and ready to shut off devices and places that will make you urge. Because this subset of porn is so powerful, often you don't need to look up sP, you just need the thought, so be aware.

Do I use porn blockers? No. I want to make it of my own will. When I was struggling I wanted to do them but you don't necessarily need them, I also don't judge those that do use them.

To your mix of 'switching attention to other things and cold showers question', I find actually depending on the task it can make me give in. There was a time when I would workout whenever I felt an urge. I felt good at the end of it because I like working out, but it would also make me tired and I would often give in. Mental tasks are good, and if the urges are real bad, as much as I don't like being impulsive, video games help with bad urges because they can sometimes mask the reward circuit and match the pleasure felt by the urges. Granted it's not perfect doing that but it sometimes helps.

Do I try and minimize the damage by going to something more regular? I try, and sometimes I'm successful, but most times when I am having bad urges, in my sexual fever I go straight to trap/sP. Even if I do end up going for more normal stuff, I end up falling to the tracer effect and going back to trap/sP. The bottom line for me is to avoid relapse with my life. Do I shame myself? I don't have to, it's an automatic sort of response. I can't help but feel shame. That's what this type of porn brings to me, shame and depression. Hope that answers your questions.

Great points, @Sprinter123 and @Maninsearchofasoul ! I just wanted to add a bit about ACCOUNTABILITY over BLOCKING as a philospophy behind selecting software. Porn blockers are initially effective, but as soon as you find a loophole (and you will), the blocker becomes effectively useless. Your addicted brain cannot "un-learn" the loophole, and you will just go straight to the loophole every time the urge strikes, potentially continuing to spend money along the way. I know this because I was there.

Accountability software works differently, because you can browse freely, but all of your activity is logged and sent to a select person known as an accountability partner (AP). This forces you to take responsibility for your mistakes and learn from them, as opposed to thinking you can just block them outright. My AP is my girlfriend, and I know that if I indulge, I put tears on her face. Very powerful motivator to get the hell away from porn, and stay away.

I strongly recommend the latter, but I will concede it requires someone you trust to be your AP, which is difficult if you have not confided in anyone you know about this addiction. If that's something you're not prepared to do, then I humbly refer you back to some of these other great suggestions, including those without using software. Stay strong buddy!

Thank you guys for your replies, I think I see some valuable insights for me here! Though I thought there will be a bit more of active members here

Makes yourself a promise that you are done. Not for a while, not for a certain number of days, not until your next relapse or night of drinking, you are done for good. If temptation and urges arise recognize that these are thoughts, that’s it, they do not define you, you do not have to act on them. Don’t dwell in your thoughts and fantasizes, listen to the sounds around you and snap back into the present and do something constructive and healthy. These are the keys that have helped me.