5 minute read.
Many people contact Fight the New Drug to share their personal stories about how porn has affected their life or the life of a loved one. We consider these personal accounts very valuable because, while the science and research is powerful within its own right, personal accounts from real people seem to really hit home about the damage that pornography does to real lives.
Sometimes, we feature tips and tricks that Fighters have used to ditch porn for good. This Fighter had success with four different ways of putting his life and energy into other things besides porn, and he hopes sharing his experience will help others. These are not guaranteed to produce the same results—everyone's journey is different.
The following post is geared toward those in recovery from a struggle with porn. While Fight the New Drug is not a recovery-focused resource, we encourage anyone needing help to check out our friends at Fortify. Visit Fortify if you’re interested in resources aimed at recovery. This article contains affiliate links. Fight the New Drug may receive financial support from affiliate link purchases.
Hello, everyone, and good job on all the hard work! We are the generation of the future, strong, powerful, and kind-hearted.
I’ve quit watching porn off and on for the past several years. In 2012, I quit porn for over a year because of an all-natural process of spending 8 hours in nature every day, eating raw vegan foods and doing heavy meditation. Then, through a series of unfortunate events, I relapsed throughout much of the last 5 years, but I started getting stronger and steadier with my goals starting in 2016. This has been difficult, to say the least.
One thing that I have noticed is a huge amount of energy, clearer thinking, more vitality, and better relations with women because of the lack of porn in my life. Before, I treated them like objects, like the men do in porn, but now I treat them like friends. This is not just my conscious mind, but really my subconscious. Deep down, I have had some major rewiring, and it has mostly just come out of my will to be in control of my life instead of letting it control me.
Here are some tips that helped me regain control of my life, and I’d like to share them with anyone who might be in the same situation.
1. I quit something else at the same time I quit porn.
For example, I quit eating meat at the same time I quit watching porn, and this helped. Curbing my desires, I have found, put me back in control. If you let yourself eat too much, you likely will want to watch porn because you have fallen prey to a lack of self-control. Curb your diet to eat only healthy foods, and you can curb anything else in your life. This is like a fallen rancher getting back on his runaway horse that’s dragging him. You are in control of your body, and you should be the captain. Do whatever it takes to get back in control.
2. I fell in love with nature.
In 2012, I really fell in love with nature. Sometimes, nature is your only friend, so I learned to love it deeply. I hugged trees during this time, listened to songbirds, watched rivers, and delighted in sunsets. This I did all alone, by myself. I fell deeply in love with the Earth and found a lot of peace in the journey, away from something that would pull me back to porn.
3. Burnout triggers right away.
Sometimes, the world shoots sparks at you. At the supermarket, you notice a really attractive girl. This image is heightened and sticks in your mind—at home, it begs for your attention. Burn out the sparks right away with questions. Do I know the girl? NO. Is this girl right for me? NO. Do I love this girl? NO. Will what I think about doing to the idea of her bring me closer to love? NO. Flush out sparks right away with rational reasoning.
This goes without saying for everyone in porn, in life, in school, and anywhere. Think of people as humans, not objects for your consumption. Do not become a slave to impulse; instead, burn out sparks with important questions. After a while, you will notice that you are able to train that muscle that burns out those sparks subconsciously for you, easily and quickly. Letting a spark catch some sticks will turn into a roaring fire and consume you, and it’s never worth it. Train your brain.
4. Find true, meaningful, and nurturing friendships.
Find friendships with people who understand what you are going through emotionally. Most times, we fall prey to porn because of loneliness and the negative emotions that manipulate us. “I will only feel good if I look at porn,” or “I really liked this girl I saw online,” or ” I’m so alone, and I will never find anyone; who cares if I watch porn.” These types of thoughts manipulate your emotions and cause you to believe lies. This can open up a negative cycle, so face it immediately with love and support and continue climbing the mountain.
Find ways to become nurtured and supported by friends and family and build good experiences with them. People need each other in the process.
Good luck! Thanks,
–P.
The Big Three
This Fighter’s tips largely fall in line with what research is saying about changing habits and quitting compulsive behaviors. Of course, his experience is unique, so if these tips don’t work for you, no worries! There’s always hope, and finding a unique recovery plan is one of the first steps.
There is data to suggest that poor health can cause humans to be more susceptible to impulsive decisions. When someone is tired, hungry, or in bed all day, it can be much harder to resist those cravings when they come. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Even simple adjustments in the Big Three—sleep, diet, and exercise—can supercharge someone’s path to freedom in surprising ways. Not to mention building healthy relationships with friends and family.
By recharging your body with the sleep, fuel, and energy it needs, you can give yourself an even better shot at kicking porn to the curb for good. By realizing that life has so much more to offer than sitting at a computer, lost in fantasy, you can have the motivation to live your best porn-free life.
Need help?
For those reading this who feel they are struggling with pornography, you are not alone. Check out Fortify, a science-based recovery platform dedicated to helping you find lasting freedom from pornography. Fortify now offers a free experience for both teens and adults. Connect with others, learn about your unwanted porn habit, and track your recovery journey. There is hope—sign up today.
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