300 no PMO

I was Baptized years ago, and did not realize the power.

I found that the compulsive urge DOES go away. At the same time I am highly disciplined about what goes into my eye sockets. If i happen to catch something, like a sidebar ad, i immediately redirect my eyes and thoughts. I have the tools to put the urge back in its place. I know that it will pass. I used to think that I would have to M in order to knock out "build up". Reality is that it will pass through when I go to the bathroom. You have to get past the idea of "blue balls" being a terminal diagnosis. They will and do pass without O. Once I learned this, it enabled me to get through tough times, and add up months of self control.

Key thing is to use reason to speak to the urge..."NO. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT AN OPTION". The reason and will have authority.
I also believe that the reason and will having authority is a grace given by God. Without grace, I would be a slave to the urge. I can't do a thing without grace breaking the power of the urge.
I believed in God for years, but did not see the power that He gave me to control the urge. Now that I have the grace and I know how to work the tools, " I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me. " Phil 4:13

GOD'S PEACE

 

I used to fear the same thing. Seeing a lifetime made me back down in fear.

My experience is this - the temptation is there, but when God's grace has broken the limbic system's ability to dominate the pre-frontal cortex of your brain - and you believe it - and start exercising that authority, the pre-frontal cortex wins EVERY TIME. What must be exercized? The pre-frontal cortex's ability to verbalize. For example -

"NO, PMO IS NOT AN OPTION".

"ABSOLUTELY NOT..THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ".

Or specific Scriptures, which are extremely powerful.

I get tempted, depending on my stress level, specifically with memories. But I am always able to keep it in check by using the gift that I have been given by God. I had this authorization all along, but I had no idea how it worked.

I don't act compulsively any more. I also don't find myself struggling to do this. It's because I am disciplined and because I fight the fight early and often, capturing every stray thought before it has a chance to grow.

I am also very careful about where I go online and on TV. Both will attempt to "bait" the viewer with subtle limbic triggers. This happens in advertising- getting a dopamine response from your limbic brain so you associate pleasure with their product. I don't play that game.

I am not a slave. I am free.

GOD'S PEACE!!!

 

Most significant change...Freedom over emotions, thoughts and actions.

I see that you're about to hit 90 - congrats!

GOD'S PEACE!!!

 

I used to treat women like God. Needing a smile from them to feel like a man. Pornography gave me the illusion of approval from MANY images of women. It fortified the problem.

I have found my approval in my connection with God, and this has made all the difference. I go to women with something to give, rather than needing something from them.

GOD'S PEACE!!!

 

I actually deal with emotions now. Before I masked them. If I am angry, I fix the problem that I'm angry about instead of avoiding it. If I'm lonely, I fix the problem.

PMO is a way to procrastinate and compound the problem at the same time.

GOD'S PEACE!!!

 

Hopefully we can all encourage each other in this. The big thing to remember is that this addiction is NOT impossible to kick. I saw it, for years, like a dragon that I could not kill. I saw no way of beating it. I figured that I could hold it off for a month, maybe 2 or 3, but I could not see any possibility of long term victory and freedom.

But hearing others that were having freedom inspired me. I knew, from them, that this was not a theory but a reality. Their stories were real and their freedom was real.

You can do this, with the grace of God and your cooperation.

GOD'S PEACE!!!

 

My battle was with pornography. Began with magazines and progressed with Internet in 1999. I had a couple of years with no Internet, but used R rated movies when I "needed" it.

GOD'S PEACE!!!