Struggling with porn and/or other addictions?

[tjplaw]

I've been struggling with it for 36 years. It started when I was 11 with my step father's stack, having no friends, and no father figure to show me the way. It has brought me nothing but pain. I too wish I could say my struggles are over. I am so tired of falling and then beating myself up over it.

Buy the book Every Man's Battle (http://www.amazon.com/Every-Mans-Battle-Winning-Temptation/dp/1578563682)

[A_Follower]

Hello men,

I'm new and this is only my first post, but this is EXTREMELY important.

I want to let you know that there could be nearly immediate freedom for you from the horrible addictions that may be facing in your life. Especially if you feel that you are not the one in control of the problem.

Pornography was a huge problem for me. I literally hated myself for years because I also hated the porn, but I could NOT stop. There was this compulsive drive to seek it out and indulge - and look out if I actually tried to resist! After too long I would be throwing screaming fits and just simply give in to feel normal again.

I was always depressed (clinically), my marriage was on the rocks. I tried deliverance, prayer, men's groups, Bible study, reading books on purity. Absolutely nothing worked.

The last time my viewing got out of hand and my wife found out we figured that was it, but I promised that I would go to the doctor since I was sure something was wrong. My doctor ordered a blood test and it turned out I was right, I had a medical condition that was driving me to feel and do things that I hated.

Men, my testosterone was LOW. You might think it would be the opposite, but low testosterone is a VERY bad thing for men to have. It causes all sorts of personality disorders and such. For me it was as bad as displaying bipolar and schizophrenic tendancies.

I have been PORN FREE for four months thanks to the hormone replacement pills. The personality change that goes with all the mental changes is a little hard to deal with and I am grieving for the lost time and the hurt that I have caused others, but it is MUCH better than the self-loathing and mental conditions that I used to deal with.

If you are having severe problems with addictions and/or other mental conditions do yourself a HUGE favor and see your doctor and have a blood test done. It could be out of balance hormone or brain chemicals. It is a needless suffering in this day and age.

If you have any questions or just need someone to talk to you can always PM me.

Mark
I've struggled with it for a few years now. I was first exposed to it at 5 and never really got away from it since then. It's really hard cause I'm only 21, no girlfriend, never had one, and I'm not being cocky but I'm a good looking guy, so I don't know what the problem is and it really hurts my self esteem. Plus I'm in college so there's temptation everywhere and it just gets worse when I hear my friends talk about what they do. Just the other day I told myself I was gonna just quit (for like the 10th time) I really feel like I can this time. Just pray for me, my initials are M.W. I'm sure God will know who you mean.

Like the guy who started this topic, I don't really like the porn anymore. I'm fully aware it's bad, I know it's not pleasing to God, but after I sit by myself day in day out at night with no one to talk to, no girls anyway, there's always access to porn, so it became like a pain killer to me. Even after I "watch" it, I still feel lonely and all the other feelings I felt before. I believe porn is stronger than any drug in the world.

[supergenius]

A_Follower:

Why are you sitting around by yourself so much? Hiding from life and people only makes the problem worse. Get out there and start enjoying life and being with people.

Anti-social behavior is one sign that there could be a biological issue as well. It could be psychological if you have experienced any type of trauma in your past. The point is, don't just sit there and wait for a "miracle" to happen - get out there and do something about it.

See a doctor. If there is no medical condition, GREAT!

See a counsellor/psychologist if you feel you need to talk to someone. You can see a Christian one if you want, there are lots of them out there.

You're young and you should be enjoying life, not wallowing in guilt, self-pity, depression, etc.

[No2Flesh]

About 30 percent of men struggle with porn. The number of woment struggling is growing. You're not alone. It can be beaten with the help of Christ

Slim

Amen PickensSlim,

I probably got hooked on porn as a young boy after my brother and I found a Playboy book in my dads top drawer.
As you can imagine I checked frequently to make sure it was still there.:doh

Later one would have to put some dark sunglasses on and go into a store to buy one.

Now, satan must be real happy about how easy and FREE it is to find on the internet.

Here is what helped me:

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess it each time, whether you feel like it or not...whether you think you should be forgiven or not..and He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Spend time on reading your Bible and praying also, which we should be doing anyway.

It is a choice. You can chose to be free with Gods help.

For probably 6 months Ive been free, with a couple of slip ups early on, its been months now with no viewing it and I no longer have the desire to view it.
Its also important to avoid lust in other areas that often trigger the hard porn urge.

[No2Flesh]

PS: Welcome to the board supergenius!

[A_Follower]

A_Follower:

Why are you sitting around by yourself so much? Hiding from life and people only makes the problem worse. Get out there and start enjoying life and being with people.

Anti-social behavior is one sign that there could be a biological issue as well. It could be psychological if you have experienced any type of trauma in your past. The point is, don't just sit there and wait for a "miracle" to happen - get out there and do something about it.

See a doctor. If there is no medical condition, GREAT!

See a counsellor/psychologist if you feel you need to talk to someone. You can see a Christian one if you want, there are lots of them out there.

You're young and you should be enjoying life, not wallowing in guilt, self-pity, depression, etc.

Well, from behind a computer it seems like that's the way things are but its not. I'm not depressed sitting in a dark room every night, and I don't need to go and get some meds or some stuff like that if that's what you're implying. My roomate is my best friend, every single day I go out and do something with friends and I'm not a loser or any of that. I'm your typical college student. The only reason I feel lonely is because I try and live the Christian life and to put it bluntly it's not fun. I could go do everything else everyone else does but then I'd be doing more wrong than I already do by watching pornography sometimes. I could solve all this tomorrow by going to the club, drinking and meeting girls, but all that leads to is sex. Several times I've quit porn for months, felt good and prayed and met people and all that but nothing ever comes of it. I always end up meeting people who are the exact opposite of what God wants for me. I'm not looking for hookups and sex, I'm looking for real relationships and thats hard to find cause alot of girls are just stupid sluts these days (sorry, but it's true) and when I can't find it I sometimes get depressed or whatever and turn to porn.

[onlyHiswilldo]

Heavenly Father, I lift up all those in the body of Christ, who struggle with any form of addiction. Lord Jesus, I beseech thee, by the power of Your precious blood, to break the grasp of deception that may have hold of any brother or sister in God's family. Lord, Your Word says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Lord, we who are called by Your name, believe Your Word and give You all the honor and glory. In Jesus name, Amen

[DallasCowboyFan]

Edited:

Posted in wrong thread:doh

[Wally]

You guys are great. Good testimony, words of advice, and encouragement.

I personally have good days and bad days. It is complicated by my wife's health, she has dry spells ( 2 months or more) and refreshing rains. It is tough some days, and clear sailing others. I have found so many issues men have from fetish to medical problems.

The Lord has made a provision for each one of us. It is up to us to seek out His provision whether it be discipline, prayer, or a physician's care.

Please keep adding to this forum, someone will find help in the many words of advice offered.

[Felkers]

What's hard to believe is the totally opposite way the wife can be wired. Men can be so visually hit by what is on the internet while it does nothing for the wife. Being the case, it is hard for her to understand why there is a problem to begin with let alone why a man can get addicted to it.


Fel