Starting the Journey of Recovery

Preventative Measures:
1. Reduce visual stimulation. This includes screen time, generally, and immodest images, particularly. I would recommend installing PluckEye on your computer (a customizable filter which by default disables all images). And consider restrictive measures on your Smartphone and tablets (I use an Appblocker so as not to have access to a web browser on my smartphone, for instance). I also see that you are 18, so these measures might seem extreme. But consider how much time you spend on screens (even leaving aside school work). PMO addiction thrives next to technology addiction. You're going to need to get the technology addiction in check if you want to have long term success with PMO addiction. Also consider keeping your phone and computer outside of your bedroom, especially at night.
2. Fill your mind with healthy stories/images. Consider reading some biographies on the lives of the saints. A good one to start with might be Jason Evert's book on John Paul II, "The Five Great Loves of Pope St. John Paul II". Audio talks are also good (Lighthouse talks, in particular). If you have access, or can get access to a subscription formed.org, that can also be a great help. Several great talks, videos, and ebooks on there.
3. Prayer. Especially the rosary. Devote yourself to our Lady--the more we take the rosary in our hands, the more she takes us into her own hands. The rosary is especially helpful to help calm our minds, and redirect it onto things that are holy.

Battle Plans in the Moment of Temptation:
1. Three Stages of Temptation. I wrote a post on this Roman Catholic forum going into greater detail on this... it's derived from St. Francis de Sales' analysis of it. But you want to start paying attention to when the impure thoughts are first suggested. That is your best chance to have victory. If you dwell on those thoughts, you have already committed a venial sin. Of course, if you continue to dwell on these thoughts, and act on them through PMO, then you have entered into the area of mortal sin (leaving aside the possibility that you're freedom might be impaired by the addiction, such that it is not technically a mortal sin... in any case, PMO is always a very serious sin).
2. Offer up the temptation. When the impure images come into your mind, pray this, or something similar: "Lord Jesus, may I suffer these temptations for the sake of these porn victims" (the porn victims being the ones who are the cause of your impure thoughts).
3. Porn victims and not "porn stars". Start changing your vocabulary on this. The idea of a porn star is a diabolical lie--it suggests a life of freedom and glamour that these women do not actually possess. Porn victim is more accurate. Mortality rate for porn victims is incredibly high, and they have often have had a history of sexual abuse. And really, what healthy woman would let herself be filmed/photographed in these sorts of ways?

Anyway, there's more that I can suggest. But I'll leave it at those. The two that I would especially recommend focusing on is (1) to pray the rosary, and (2) to offer up the temptation.

God bless!

 

Thank you so much, found this helpful!