Pornography

[Gregory_G]

I first started looking at pornography 2 years ago and stopped as soon as I started. For 2 years I didn’t look at it and all of a sudden I am. How do I stop? I’m 18 does this have any effect?

 

[Luke_K]

You must replace your desire for pornography with a greater desire- love for Jesus and chastity. Do this by frequent confession and attendance of Mass, and personal meditation through prayer such as the rosary. Read literature on chastity such as Christopher West’s Theology of the Body for Beginners for enlightenment. Remove all sources of temptation in your life.

Being 18, you certainly have all the power necessary to not be doing this. I was 18 when I stopped doing it. I recommend praying for St. Maria Goretti’s intercession: mariagoretti.org/

 

[bargio]

Hey man, Theology of the Body for Beginners is quite insightful and helped me get over it. Also, what I found to be the greatest reason for using pornography is loneliness, (especially during the Christmas season.) We all have that yearning to love someone, and when we can’t find that love, we turn to something that is far from Holy. Why? Because it’s easy, convenient, and gives us instant gratification. And you and I, along with everyone out there knows that pornography will never fill that void. The only way to find it is first through Christ and then through the relationships with others. Both are very significant and crucial. Praying greatly helps too, praying the Rosary every night (as hard as that seems) has provided me with the peace and grace that I need to keep my lustful emotions at ease. I started viewing pornography in the 6th grade and finally quit a long run of addiction by 11th grade (2 years ago) and there would have been no other way to get over it but with the guidance and grace from God.

I pray you good grace and may God bless!!

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

I recommend you start fasting until the habit leaves you. You also need to practice control of your eyes, that means no checking at the pretty girls. Furthermore whenever sexual thoughts come into your mind immediately distract yourself by some method of mortification such as pinching yourself while repeating the names of Jesus and Mary over and over in your head. You can pinch your leg discreetly with your hand in your pocket.

You also most importantly need to get to confession as soon as possible to seek absolution for this so that you will have Gods grace to help you resist these temptations.

 

[StCsDavid]

Sin is in the will. Quite often we spend so much time trying to repress a sinful will that we forget to address it directly. Ask yourself…“I want to look at porn because…?” Whatever that answer is, bring that to Christ.

For example: “Jesus, I want to look at porn because I am lonely.” Now imagine how Christ might respond to that statement. His response would be one of love. What if Christ said, “Please don’t hurt my children (referring to the porn stars) this way.”? Would you still have the will to do it.

Make your screen saver or desktop background a picture of Blessed Mother. Look at her for a minute before you launch your Internet browser. Tape a photo of your own mom by your computer screen. Are you really going to want to look at porn with your mom’s picture right there?

 

[FiberZilla]

I first started looking at pornography 2 years ago and stopped as soon as I started. For 2 years I didn’t look at it and all of a sudden I am. How do I stop? I’m 18 does this have any effect?

Due to our natural state of sinfulness there is a tendency for men to look at pornography. The flesh desires physical release and those images can greatly enhance the physical pleasure of the experience. Pornography sets a whole range of body chemicals and hormones into overdrive in preparation for what is supposed to be the act of making a baby.

What happens to your body when you view pornography is perfectly natural, but what it does is distort your heart and mind. It also poisons your view of women and sexuality in general. Some pornography is far more mild than others. The hard core, degrading and often violent pornography often found on the internet will have a far more harmful effect on you than bikini websites, but pornography is still a very pagan thing and it is always sinful no matter what you are looking at.

Also, the bikini websites can easily lead to darker stuff. One exposure to pornography is usually all it takes to form a habit. My advice to you is read your Bible a little bit each day, pray a little each day, do your best to keep the garbage out of your life and keep good friends who will not lead you astray.

Your struggle is shared by the majority of men who love God. Some men are deeply ensnared, some are not. But most of us fall at least on occasion. Some men go for months or even years between transgressions. You are not alone in this.

God Bless you and keep up the good fight!

 

[FiberZilla]

Sin is in the will. Quite often we spend so much time trying to repress a sinful will that we forget to address it directly. Ask yourself…“I want to look at porn because…?” Whatever that answer is, bring that to Christ.

For example: “Jesus, I want to look at porn because I am lonely.” Now imagine how Christ might respond to that statement. His response would be one of love. What if Christ said, “Please don’t hurt my children (referring to the porn stars) this way.”? Would you still have the will to do it.

Make your screen saver or desktop background a picture of Blessed Mother. Look at her for a minute before you launch your Internet browser. Tape a photo of your own mom by your computer screen. Are you really going to want to look at porn with your mom’s picture right there?

These things are good distractions, but unfortunately once the idea of a porn viewing session enters the brain, you have a very short window of opportunity to escape. Porn is the ultimate sin of impulse. The apostle Paul said we are to flee immorality. That sort of means immediately leaving the house to go for a walk the very second you feel the impulse! Taping these images to your computer is fine, but they will not stop the freight train once the idea enters the brain. In fact they might even lead to a deep cycle of shame, guilt, stress and desire for more release.

 

[Crumpy]

If you have nothing to substitute for the temptation, then it may take several minutes to overcome the emotions that drive you to seek gratification through pornography.

Expect it to be difficult.

Pray for those who exhibit and degrade themselves in pornography.

Remember that temptation is just that a temptation. Step away from temptation. Learn to master it.

Temptation is something that is with us all our lives. We all need to develop and mature spiritually, and there is no upper bound or limit to that growth. As a part of that development, we need God’s help and a lot of that can come through scripture. I recently read a commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The second half of this short letter has to do with Christian conduct.

There’s a lot there, but just consider this. He says that we should protect our minds with the helmet of salvation. Put your faith between yourself and any temptation. Remind yourself of your faith and your hope, what you really believe in. Seek what is holy.

 

[Spirithound]

Gregory, my brother, I am praying for you. This is good advice here. This is something I struggle with too. Peace be with you, and Merry Christmas!

Sin is in the will. Quite often we spend so much time trying to repress a sinful will that we forget to address it directly. Ask yourself…“I want to look at porn because…?” Whatever that answer is, bring that to Christ.

For example: “Jesus, I want to look at porn because I am lonely.” Now imagine how Christ might respond to that statement. His response would be one of love. What if Christ said, “Please don’t hurt my children (referring to the porn stars) this way.”? Would you still have the will to do it.

Make your screen saver or desktop background a picture of Blessed Mother. Look at her for a minute before you launch your Internet browser. Tape a photo of your own mom by your computer screen. Are you really going to want to look at porn with your mom’s picture right there?

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Pray and fast.

I recommend that you pick a patron saint from these, if not all of them and pray for them to intercede for you with God.

Also, I highly recommend this sacramental, St. Joseph’s Cincture. Get a white, cotton cord blessed by a priest with the prayer on the bottom of the page in the link. If you can’t find white cotton cord, you can buy them usually from a catholic store or online.

I’ve been wearing one for a while. St. Joseph is very powerful with God. He will help you through this.

 

[StCsDavid]

These things are good distractions, but unfortunately once the idea of a porn viewing session enters the brain, you have a very short window of opportunity to escape. Porn is the ultimate sin of impulse. The apostle Paul said we are to flee immorality. That sort of means immediately leaving the house to go for a walk the very second you feel the impulse! Taping these images to your computer is fine, but they will not stop the freight train once the idea enters the brain. In fact they might even lead to a deep cycle of shame, guilt, stress and desire for more release.

I see your point and largely agree. I would however posit that the desire to look at porn goes deeper than an impulse as said impulse is simply a manifestation of the sinful will. Secondly, shame and guilt are mostly indications of a conscience at work. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; however, I do see your point that one could go overboard. Finally, I believe looking at porn has a highly compulsive attribute to it. Compulsion usually has a root cause. It is that cause IMHO that needs to be addressed.

 

[FiberZilla]

I see your point and largely agree. I would however posit that the desire to look at porn goes deeper than an impulse as said impulse is simply a manifestation of the sinful will. Secondly, shame and guilt are mostly indications of a conscience at work. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; however, I do see your point that one could go overboard. Finally, I believe looking at porn has a highly compulsive attribute to it. Compulsion usually has a root cause. It is that cause IMHO that needs to be addressed.

Thanks StCsDavid: My concern is with the poor souls who are so deeply ensnared that they can look right past images of Catholic saints that are taped to their computer screen and masturbate to pornographic images. The incredible guilt and shame that comes afterward can send one who is unstable to do harm to themselves. Sadly this is not uncommon.