9 YEARS PORN-FREE!

J

jjacks

Active Member
Nice to see you here ? coincidentally, I just dropped by after a few months? absence to do my own update (2 years less 2 months). I am glad to hear how well things are going for you and everyone around you.  The message is clear ? stick with the program and the benefits will be life-changing, for you and for everyone around you. As a wise person said -- "Porn is not an option"

Congratulations, dude, a big hug from a fellow traveler.
 
lyon03

lyon03

Respected Member
Good day nation! Tomorrow will mark 4 years porn-free for me. Let's have a look at my very first forum post:

"Here is my story: 42 years old, first discovered porn/masturbation around age 12, went from magazines, to video, paid streaming porn, then free and highly addictive porn sites. What was a flirtation became a full-on obsession in 1994 and heroin-like addiction in 2005. I'm starting this journal on day 23 of my recovery with a goal of hitting 90 days initially before stopping forever. My addiction has now cost me: my career, my business, my marriage, and was well along to destroying my relationship with my three kids. On October 30th, I finally said "f*ck this". I've not watched porn since and never will do it again. I've started a reboot with no-fap and no television. I've also read pretty much everything I could about my addiction, namely it's harder to give up than meth. (Scary!) But there are temptations, particularly in the form of rock-hard erections at night and geyser-like pressure because I haven't had an orgasm in roughly two weeks. I'll post daily to keep motivated. Glad to have found this site and very happy to share with others."

I can't express how much better my life is without my addictions to porn and masturbation. So how did I get this far?

1. Set a goal: "Porn is not an option"
2. Joined www.pornaddictsanonymous.org and this forum.
3. For the first 100 days, posted daily.
4. Read everything I could about addiction and particularly porn addiction.
5. Made a point of reading other threads while also encouraging others.
6. Got back into shape.
7. Quickly realized that, for me personally, porn was just a coping mechanism. I had to change my whole way of thinking.
8. Worked hard to address a whole host of other issues (being closeted; toxic relationships; co-dependency; sex addiction etc).

Thanks for reading friends. This forum was a huge part of my recovery so I'd like to thank Gabe Deem and my fellow members. Keep fighting the good fight. Love Lyon.
 
uncreatedlight

uncreatedlight

Active Member
It is inspiring to read your success story.  I too am a sex addict, not just a porn addict.  I'm feeling hammered by 8. right now (whole host of other issues).

It feels like this depression, anxiety, and heartbreak will last forever, but you give me hope that there will be victory eventually.  Thank you for taking the time to come back to post.  It gives hope.  :)
 
bob

bob

Respected Member
Your first post puts things in perspective. One always thinks the folks that have succeeded really didn't have to "travel too far." Most of the time, that isn't the fact.

Good thing to keep in mind.

Peace
 
lyon03

lyon03

Respected Member
Hey friends! I just celebrated 4.5 years porn-free and I did it just like all of you: one day at a time. Life is so much better porn-free. Insomnia: gone. Limp d*ck: gone. Depression: gone. Anxiety: gone. Self-esteem: back. Love of life: back. Confidence (not arrogance): back. Happiness: back. Had I not stopped watching porn back on October 29, 2014, I know for a fact that I'd be a dead man right now. Why? Because I was such a screen addict that I often watched porn and sexted while driving. There is no secret to my recovery: hard 90 porn/masturbation free; posting here for the first year of recovery; encouraging others; and these days I continue to participate in weekly 12-step meetings for porn addiction (www.pornaddictsanonymous.org). For me, there was no quick fix to overcoming my addictions to porn, sex, and masturbation. It was a grind, particularly for the first year, but now 4.5 years later, it was so worth it. I wish you all the best with your own journeys. Love to all. 
 
N

newday

Member
Hi Lyon....

so, today, of all days....I came back here to visit....and thought about writing again and processing here again. I was hungry for a place to just be honest and be able to write....and thought about this place.

I see that YOU were here today as well. Interesting.

I'm really happy that you are still free from the p & m.

I hope all is well with you.

Thanks.
NGU
 
J

Jbow

Active Member
Lyon, you have been an inspiration to me since we have both began this journey at the same time.  I'm getting close to 6 months pmo free. I cant describes how great I feel not spending hours looking for the perfect video to further my sickness. Thank you lyon.
 
workinprogressUK

workinprogressUK

Well-Known Member
lyon03 said:
Hey friends! I just celebrated 4.5 years porn-free and I did it just like all of you: one day at a time..... There is no secret to my recovery: hard 90 porn/masturbation free; posting here for the first year of recovery; encouraging others; and these days I continue to participate in weekly 12-step meetings for porn addiction (www.pornaddictsanonymous.org). For me, there was no quick fix to overcoming my addictions to porn, sex, and masturbation. It was a grind, particularly for the first year, but now 4.5 years later, it was so worth it. I wish you all the best with your own journeys. Love to all.
Click to expand...

You've been a consistent source of inspiration to me and others. I really value your advice. Sincere congratulations and best wishes for a healthy continuation.
 
chiefmitch88

chiefmitch88

Active Member
Hey Lyon, thanks for checking in. I credit a good portion of my recovery to meeting you here. You introduced me to Breaking the Cycle. That was the thread I held firm to. I am currently 8 months porn free. I too, use an online support group but I'm not working 12 steps...yet. I think it's gonna be necessary if I want to kick my recovery into overdrive. I'm in a rural place and face to face SA meetings just aren't available.  Phone meetings are difficult for me to get enthused about.

Glad to hear from you!
 
R

Redfire03

Active Member
Lyon great job man. Where you are in life now how do you feel? How is your dating life and relationship with your kids? Did they ever forgive your were they ever aware?
 
marsturm

marsturm

Active Member
It's lovely to hear from you and about your happiness. All the best for your ongoing journey of a porn-free life!
 
lyon03

lyon03

Respected Member
Bam! On Wednesday, I'll celebrate 5 f*cking years porn-free. And I couldn't have done it without this forum and its wonderful members. I am beyond thankful. On an addiction scale of 10, I was easily a 12 before joining Reboot Nation. I'd spend hours every day fapping to internet porn, suffered from severe porn induced erectile dysfunction (PIED), and a whole host of other porn-related problems. Now five years later, I'm a different and much better man. One of the greatest things about recovery is being able to sleep again. For most of my life, I've been a black-belt insomniac and never once considered that it was caused in part by my porn addiction. These days I fall asleep almost once my head hits the pillow and it's bliss. I can't tell you how much happier I am without porn because I don't spend all day, every day with this porn-like "I'm ashamed of myself" stank like some creepy form of second-hand smoke. I no longer have to deal with the daily shame of seeing my post-orgasm reflection in the computer screen after I've fapped for hours to some of the worst filth imaginable. When I joined RN five years ago, I thankfully adopted a "porn is not an option" mentality. I'm not going to lie. It was damn hard to go porn-free, particularly for the first 100 days. (Feel free to read my posts where I detail: night shakes; head rushes; migraines; and terrible blue balls because I gave up compulsive masturbation as well.) But after a few months, things got much easier. What was truly difficult was dealing with the emotional damage that led me down the path of addiction. For that, I'm thankful to www.pornaddictsanonymous.org and the 12 steps. Now five years later, I'm happily divorced, completely out of the closet, self-employed, and renovating a house with my long-term boyfriend. We move in next month! I am so thankful to Gabe for creating this website/forum which truly saved my life. Without RN, I'd probably be dead in some ditch because I was so addicted to porn/sex that I'd often watch porn and surf gay hookup apps while driving. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love Lyon.   
 
J

jjacks

Active Member
Congratulations and big hug, dude.  Your joy shows through in every sentence.

Your words helped me, as they surely helped many others. A mere "thank you" seems almost insufficient. I have just passed 3 years clean last week, saving my marriage and re-discovering a masculine rigour that belies my age.

Like you, I come back here from time to time, as much to reassure myself as to be there for others. And I quote you all the time because it is a great mantra ... porn is not an option.

Lots of happiness in your adventures and au revoir!

-jj
 
lyon03

lyon03

Respected Member
Thanks brother and congratulations on 3 years porn-free. I'd encourage you and others to keep sharing, posting, and (most importantly) encouraging others. This community and its kind members were a huge part of my recovery. And remember...porn is not an option.
 
lyon03

lyon03

Respected Member
Hey Nation! I recently celebrated 5 1/2 years porn-free and wanted to check in with y'all. There is no secret to my recovery:

1. Doing a hard 90 (no porn, no masturbation)
2. Regularly posting here
3. Joining Porn Addicts Anonymous and working the 12 steps with a sponsor
4. Exchanging and encouraging other members
5. Honesty, accountability, and authenticity

Life is so much better porn-free...I'm talking like going from grainy black-and-whites to IMAX-movie better. Yes there may be stumbles/relapses along the way, but falling down on this journey doesn't mean you fall completely off the mountain. I hope everyone is healthy and safe during these trying times.

Much love,

Lyon

 
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