A New Beginning, um, again…

I have been in recovery for several years. I have struggled with internet porn for several years. Having internet access and a private space can be challenging for me. Working in a cubicle environment was helpful for my recovery. Working from home during the pandemic with no one home has been challenging for me.

I go to SAA meetings once a week, as my schedule allows. I have a sponsor. I guess I thought it could not hurt to try joining Reboot Nation, as it sounds like it has been proven to be an effective online support community. I have Covenant Eyes on my phone, which helps. Since it appears that I will have to continue working from home for an extended period—I saw yet again that I need help. My current approach is not working. I can’t stay on the right path alone. And, I know that life can be so much bigger without porn. I guess if I have to work from home and have internet access, when no one is around sometimes – I need to reach out for help when I am online. I am hoping this support and accountability will help me stay porn-free.

My signing up with Reboot Nation is an amend to myself. (And, using the 3 R’s of making an amend— Responsibility, Remorse & Restitution---e.g. 1. I was wrong when I…. 2. Use an “I” statement that shows that I understand why my actions resulted in a harm and the possible consequences of the harm. 3. Then, offer whatever restitution might appropriate. Then, maybe ask the person—is there anything else that I can do? And, just listen.)

I am sorry that I wasted so much time and my life by looking at yet another video of….

I harmed myself and many others in my life by not getting my work done sometimes and not being available to my sons, wife, and myself since I was lost in shame after slipping.

I can make amends to myself and others in my life by asking for the help that I need to not look at porn. Hopefully, sharing my story will also help reduce the shame and isolation that I have because of this addiction.

Did I use porn today? No, I have not used porn today.

What were my triggers? My addiction has a variety of triggers—but, I suppose one common one is—anxiety—I worry about starting and finishing a task for work.

How did I soothe my anxiety—I listened to some solo piano or classical music. I said a prayer before beginning my task. I reminded myself of a funny saying from a co-worker—confusion rocks! It is a sign that you are learning something new. So, instead of trying to run away or escape from that anxious feeling in my body—and that tight feeling in my chest and the shallow breathing—I try to see that as a sign to welcome and embrace—as it is a sign that I am learning something new. Also, I made a very short list of things to do—once, I work on that and start a draft or even finish it—then, I can move on to the next task. This makes my work more manageable and helps me focus on just one thing at a time instead of maybe getting anxious if my list is too long. To start my day, I also said a 3rd Step prayer, asking that my actions be guided by the wisdom of the Buddha and the 12 Steps. And, I meditated. I ran 3 miles.

What am I grateful for today?

I have 2 beautiful, healthy sons. I am l lucky to be married to a loving, smart, kind, and supportive wife. I have a home, a pretty good job (and a kind boss), and loving brothers and sisters.

Today is Day 2 – PMO free : ) Thanks for your support.
 
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Checking in for the day.
No I did not use porn today.
triggers - I did see some women in summery clothes and had to remind myself to not get triggered.
soothe anxiety- said my morning prayers, meditated, tried to focus on slow, deep breaths.
Grateful- for the big, supportive recovery community, including my saa group
 

Phineas 808

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Welcome to the forum, brook trout.

Find it within yourself to say, 'NO' in the moment- not by sheer will-power, but by not responding to the urges.

You can do it.
 
Day 4 pmo free : )

great day today. Beautiful walk by the rive. Tasty dinner with my family. Prayed and meditated, listened to music, took a sauna. Grateful for my family, the big, supportive and wise recovery community.
 

Fappy

Respected Member
congrats on the five days. the first five or so are the longest.
as well as focusing on one task at a time, focus on one day at a time too.
 
There is a part of your mind ... your super-ego ... which IS the master. It is the "you" that you think of when you think of "me". It needs to understand what is going on, and it needs to be in charge. It's probably used to being kicked to the curb, but it IS the one who is in charge -- you just need to make sure that it does take charge over your behavior.

That other part of your mind saying "come on! You NEEEEEEEEEEEED it! It's ok! Just this once, what harm could once do? Man, it would feel SOOOO GOOOD!!!" is used to getting its way. And the thing is, it's based on real needs that are a part of you, but it's been distorted and bastardized by porn. Put the Super-Ego in charge. It needs to firmly say "NO!" To shout it out loud to that other bit of your mind when it starts whining about wanting another hit.

You've got a better direction in mind. And though sex is important ... this isn't sex.

It's a substitute that's gotten out of hand. And it is affecting your life negatively. It's affecting your marriage. I know it's affecting mine.

What do you like to do? What would you like to learn? How would you rather spend your time? When the urges come up, focus on those. Be it doing a better job at work, learning a skill, an art, spending quality time with the kids .... or the wife ... that's how you need to distract yourself. See a girl in a pretty summer dress - acknowledge that you find that attractive. That's ok. It's natural. Inform yourself that no, that doesn't mean you need a good fap over it. It just is.

I don't know that shame is a good way to go about this. I guess if it works for you, but for me, that's too negative. It makes one feel worth less. You are not worth less. You are worth more. This is the point. If you get to feeling to worthless then you might justify "well what does it matter?" and just sink right back into the pattern.

It helps me to get angry at the porn, about what I have allowed it to do to me ... but never to get angry with ME, per se. Frankly, I didn't know it could have this effect on me. Now that I know... I am pretty pissed off about it. But more importantly, I want to heal my brain. I know what's happened to it, and I know it must stop.

There is an old "children's" book. "The Phantom Tollbooth". In one chapter, the main character, Milo, gets lost in The Doldrums because he stopped paying attention, stopped thinking.

When he wanted to get out, he said he didn't know how,. The Lethargarians asked "well how did you get here?" Milo replied that he guessed it was because he wasn't thinking. So of course the way out was to START thinking. To do the opposite of what he had done to get there.

Well how DID you get to this point? This point where you realized you are in a bad place and you need to get out?

So how do you get out of it?

I have found that just knowing other people share the same problem has helped me. I read others' experiences. I know I am not alone in my error or in my struggle. I think this is a good place to be. I come here daily for support. I don't really need any "rah-rah's" ... though they don't hurt. Just knowing I am not alone helps immensely.

I'm on day 105 of no porn. No, I am not "cured"*. I don't even think I'm close yet. That said, I think I have a particularly bad case of PIED. But I do know this is the only way out. Keep on going, my friend.

* "cured" means I can have successful, normal sex again. It does not mean I can go back to porn and be able to get hard again.
 
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Thanks for your sharing your wise words of experience and compassion. Today is day 6 pmo free. I am at a potentially vulnerable spot. I did not get enough sleep last night--and I know it can be easy to go into default mode, mindless web surfing until I eventually look at porn again. Also, my wife is out of the house for a few hours--so, this is when I need to be careful--and is, in part, why I joined Reboot Nation--if I have to be online in these situations--I might as well try to reach out for help and embrace the good parts of what the internet can offer--a community of support and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom (not just a zillion porn videos.)

Last night, I did not look at porn but I was slippery, as some say--I did see see-through clothing. I know that this type of searching can take me to porn all too quickly.

As for soothing any anxiety--I have calm music on--I said my prayers--now I will meditate for a short while. I have a few concrete tasks to work on. Doing some slow, deep breaths to calm my mind and body.

Grateful for this great recovery community and to those who started it and sustain it today. Grateful for my family, job, kind supervisor, meaningful work, my health, the joyful music of New Orleans jazz.

I will check in again--at 10:30 --in an effort to be present to this situation and create an accountability mechanism to keep me on the right path. Thanks again for your support. It means a lot to know I am not the only one with this addiction to internet porn.
 
You can. You need to find something else to do. Maybe something that doesn't involve a computer. Go for a walk. Whittle a stick. Think about what you would rather be doing with your life, and make a plan to get started now doing or learning to do even one of those things.
 
You need to be able to say ... no, you ARE able to say it, you need to say "f*** slippery!" Tell it to GTFO, firmly and loudly. Practice this every time the thought crosses your mind, then re-focus on what it was you should be doing instead. You're bigger than this.

Tell it "YOU ... SHALL NOT ... PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
 

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PS ... it really is like a deep-seeded demon. The parallel is a good one. The inner struggle against an old, strong personal foe.
 
Another work day. My wife is gone. Trying to work on a task--will go for a run--it usually helps clear my head and get rid of this anxious energy. OK so far, but I did feel slippery before. I texted my sponsor, walked away from the computer, did some slow, deep breaths to calm my body and meditated. It is kinda scary sometimes to watch my addiction try to get me to escape that anxious feeling in my body.
 
Great idea. I like the running thing. Besides, I hear from multiple sources exercise helps a reboot. Getting outside. Getting away from the computer.

I had a close call today. Gandalf helped me repel it.
 
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