Anyone successfully overcome a porn addiction?

Thank you, and thank everyone who responded. I needed this. Not going to get professional help because it’s not THAT serious, but I wanted to vent to a group of people who might understand me. And most of you did.

Some porn actresses are probably trying to just get famous. They are utilitarian. They are my body, my choice, etc. and it's a free world. But I can't fault them for trying to make $. It's a tough world out there economically so people are going to do what they have to do to survive.

I respect you and honestly everyone else who was serious in this thread. I dealt with similar things in 2009-2010 and I can tell you at a certain point I was able to end the habit simply because I got disgusted with myself and saw how much time I was wasting.

I realized it had also hurt my running/physical fitness and that was a wakeup call too.

Chiming in to agree with JustMe22 - get screened for Bipolar for sure but I would add ADHD. Pardon the amateur science, but people with ADHD can experience serious dopamine deficits and things like eating sugary foods, porn, video games etc. can become what feels like "addicting" even though the addiction feeling is gone when you aren't dopamine deficient. Again, this patter can be similar to what people with bipolar disorder go through, but sometimes it's not an "addiction" in terms we know but actually a symptom of a different problem. Look up ADHD symptoms, I would never have thought I had any until I actually read about it and understood.

Hey man,

Proud of you for speaking out about this. Let's run is full of toxic idiots so don't take in most of what people are saying.

Depends on what you define success as. I've been addicted to porn for years. Understand your triggers, journal, go for a walk, when you want to watch.

Also, get the app detoxify, best app I've used and it is really helpful. Get a therapist and be patient with yourself.

It takes time and the urge may never fully leave but you can learn better ways to cope.

Best of luck

Take up road cycling - way more effective at lowering testosterone than running.

(Seriously - I'm training hard for some upcoming crit races and my libido has basically disappeared, ran high mileage all winter and still wanted it 3-4 times a week).

It is more than a choice, it is a biological urge. It has helped our species survive for thousands of years, so we can't turn it off. So yes there are choices on how to satisfy that urge, but in our modern society everything is out of whack. (sorry, had to add a pun.)

I will be start by saying porn addition is a nasty, veil and discussing habit!

If it is a 'real addiction' as in you are watching porn when you should be doing other things and you think about it even when you are not watching it...you should get professional help. I know someone who kicked the habit cold-turkey when his wife threatened to leave him, but it wasn't easy and he has to constantly be aware of his triggers to keep things in check. I think you are brave for taking the first step in recognizing your problem; I strongly suggest you take the next step by getting help.

Addictions all have triggers and one of the keys to kicking any bad habit/compulsion/addiction is to recognize what those triggers or behaviors are.

I read about a guy that was trying to quit smoking. And he said that every morning, he would drink a cup of coffee, read the newspaper (back when we had real print newspapers) and smoke a cigarette.

In order to quit smoking, he had to completely change that routine. He would drink his coffee on the way to work, and skim the newspaper one he was there. Porn is the same thing, you surf porn when you have "alone time" so fill that time with ANYTHING.

Good luck.

Excellent post!

Still strugglin myself and I have a very sexually active relationship (last sunday i finished 3 times with my gf)

I started young as a kid and had ED when I first started being sexually active, I cut back porn and masturbation and it got better.

Recently the consumption got worse again with being alone working remotely in covid and being bored af. I dont get ED anymore (unless for some reason I beat an insane amount for a few days), so I have to fight for a more internal reason to stop.

even in a committed relationship if I dont use it for just a week I can feel a huge difference in confidence and overall happiness. It feels terrible when your dick is picky when you are having sex ("I have to get it in soon or it'll go soft") and vice verse it feels great to know that its going to work for you 100%. I think the addiction is highly correlated with a feeling of passiveness. It comes to me when I passively want thrill or excitement but don't want to actually do something actively to make it happen. The result over time is that it will pacify you and hold you back from actively achieving things, even unrelated to the bedroom.

Obviously remembering all these things and benefits will help, but the slipperly slope of that desire is still pretty strong. Best practical advice I could give to you is that if you need to, masturbate without porn and only your imagination. If you are highly addicted you might not be able to do that at first. So if you go soft, leave your room and go about your day. Doing so will prevent you from unnecessary stimulation, but still give you an outlet to let loose if necessary. I think removing porn can help unveil to you how messed up ur mind has gotten

There is not thing as “sex addiction” either you bum. There are no withdrawals or physical dependence. This concept of sex or porn addiction is a Puritan psychological moral made up crap

Better use an ad blocker on LRC also, or else those Hot MILFs in your area, will knock you right off the wagon.

The very best advice you get.When I had grlfriends and was married I never looked at porn. Now when alone for some time I need it to get the right stimulation.

Most women can't or won't keep up with the male sex drive. If you re lucky enough to find one that can and will.. you better keep her.

*see post nuptial cut off thread

People can argue about "addiction", but there is an energizing thing to being physically aroused. I don't know if having a habit raises your testosterone level on a daily basis. I do think this: watching porn and getting aroused does have physical effects (i.e. - I wouldn't be surprised if your pupils aren't dilated, heart rate and respiration go up, etc.) A lot of posters will joke about this topic, but it obviously bothers you. I think porn really messes up your brain to be so exposed to these images. It took me a year or so to get myself away and back to normal. One thing that helped me was: and I don't remember how to do this, but you can go into a hosts file on your computer and block every porn site you look at. It's a bit of work, but that's good because it's takes a bit of work to undo. I'm now free of this compulsion and feel so much better. I honor your courage to ask the question and wish you the best. For the jokers, I don't think you realize what you're doing to yourselves, but whatever.....

Thank you (and everyone else) for the thoughtful reply. I know letsrun isn’t the place for an entirely serious discussion, but this is a struggle that most people on the messageboards (read: guys) likely can identify with. Obviously some more than others.

Certain posters have mentioned bipolar disorder or ADHD. I do have a history of chasing quick pleasures (sugar, for one) but am generally in control of myself otherwise.

The toughest part about this all is I don’t see myself fully recovering. I see myself going through times of healing then reverting back. Just like losing weight, staying sober (not necessarily issues for me), or anything in life really.

I've been guilty of doing some creepy, shameful stuff, related to porn...stuff beyond just whackin off to some video or pix.

its terrible to live with- I'm always worried that all my shenanigans will come out and I'll be exposed and be shunned and the laughing stock of everyone I know