Prayers to help with my addiction

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Hello, my name is Kevin, I’m 17, and I would really appreciate prayers to help me break my pornography and masturbation addiction.

I have been going to confession almost every week for over a year, but it seems I can’t stay clean for more than 2 weeks. This has been wearing on me. My life has been very negatively affected by this addiction. I have a girlfriend, and she thinks that I’m pure. She’s proud of me for something that isn’t even true. And I continue to hurt God with my actions. I want to live a holy life, and I want to be always close to God. I just don’t want to do this anymore. I’m willing to do anything to get rid of this disease. So please, pray for my healing and for my sanity. Thank you very much, and peace be with all of you.
 
I recommend praying the Rosary whenever you can.

Praying that the Lord may grant you strength and perseverance in overcoming your addictions.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
 
Hey Kevin,

I suffer from exactly the same problem, and while I was with my girlfriend, I experienced much shame and self-loathing because of my behaviours.

God gives us freedom to live whatever life we choose, and I don’t think anything is forced upon us by Him. Nevertheless, while I ignored any good God had to offer in my life, my life got progressively worse. It seemed that all I wanted was self-destruction a lot of the time. A minute after having my viewing/masturbation fix, I’d be on my knees praying and wishing I’d not done it and asking for forgiveness.

I’ve been in recovery from these behaviours for nearly two years. I’ve come to realise some things that don’t work in freedom from these behaviours. Using God like a slot machine is one of them. Prayers such as “Please remove this temptation from me so I can go on living the same old life but without masturbation/pornography” did nothing for me.

That might sound like it contradicts the message “ask and it shall be given you.” But for whatever reasons, those prayers weren’t answered for me.

Imagine a life without temptation. It might seem like paradise, but that is no realistic life, to me. If God simply removed the temptation from me, my life would be so easy! But God, in His glory, does not rid me of temptation, yet He does mean I don’t have to act on it. This is the miracle. I must be a participant in it. Whenever Jesus performed a miracle, the message I’m starting to get is that it was no magic trick, it was a test of faith on behalf of those healed by Him.

Just last night, I felt the desire to watch pornography. Very strongly. And the natural human thing is to say to God, “take it away!” All the good within me comes from God; that is why CS Lewis called pride “the great sin.” Thus, when I accept my temptation and don’t act on it, it is not an exercise in my willpower - it is an exercise of my trust in God; and when the temptation does go away, I have Him to thank, and not my own resources. This is real humility.

Thus, the only prayer I have found that ‘works’ is “Not mine, but Thy will be done.”

God does not make junk–He loves you, even on your worst day.

All the best,
Tim
 
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.
 
Hang in there and keep praying and going to confession! There are many people who share in the same struggles.

Something that really hit me regarding pornography specifically was an article written describing the pain and hurt caused to women particularly and how it is essentially rape and prostitution. How they are objectified. When you view it over and over and over, you will start to see women as play toys and it robs them of dignity.

The other thing that hit me hard in the article was that the writer included excerpts of interviews with serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. They described how they began simply viewing “soft core” and like any drug they had to have more and more. Eventually they got into viewing such hard core material that it involved rape. After a while that was not enough for them and they felt compelled to take it to the next level in their escalation …which was rape and murder. :eek: Both said essentially that it was pornography that was the root of it all for them.

As another poster mentioned, pray the Rosary any time you start to have feelings and urges. Our Mother will be there to help you! Also when you pray just ask the Lord to send forth His Holy Spirit to fill your heart and mind and give you the strength and courage to fight this! No it won’t be easy but you obviously have the recognition its wrong and are attempting to amend your life. You are a teenager and hormones are a tough battle!

I will say a prayer for you my friend! Hail Mary full of grace…
 
Hail Mary
Full of Grace
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed are thou among women,
And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.
 
Kevin28 said:
Hello, my name is Kevin, I’m 17, and I would really appreciate prayers to help me break my pornography and masturbation addiction.

I have been going to confession almost every week for over a year, but it seems I can’t stay clean for more than 2 weeks. This has been wearing on me. My life has been very negatively affected by this addiction. I have a girlfriend, and she thinks that I’m pure. She’s proud of me for something that isn’t even true. And I continue to hurt God with my actions. I want to live a holy life, and I want to be always close to God. I just don’t want to do this anymore. I’m willing to do anything to get rid of this disease. So please, pray for my healing and for my sanity. Thank you very much, and peace be with all of you.
Click to expand...
Prayingbfor you to ovdrcome your addictive behavior.
 
ichthystim said:
Hey Kevin,

I suffer from exactly the same problem, and while I was with my girlfriend, I experienced much shame and self-loathing because of my behaviours.

God gives us freedom to live whatever life we choose, and I don’t think anything is forced upon us by Him. Nevertheless, while I ignored any good God had to offer in my life, my life got progressively worse. It seemed that all I wanted was self-destruction a lot of the time. A minute after having my viewing/masturbation fix, I’d be on my knees praying and wishing I’d not done it and asking for forgiveness.

I’ve been in recovery from these behaviours for nearly two years. I’ve come to realise some things that don’t work in freedom from these behaviours. Using God like a slot machine is one of them. Prayers such as “Please remove this temptation from me so I can go on living the same old life but without masturbation/pornography” did nothing for me.

That might sound like it contradicts the message “ask and it shall be given you.” But for whatever reasons, those prayers weren’t answered for me.

Imagine a life without temptation. It might seem like paradise, but that is no realistic life, to me. If God simply removed the temptation from me, my life would be so easy! But God, in His glory, does not rid me of temptation, yet He does mean I don’t have to act on it. This is the miracle. I must be a participant in it. Whenever Jesus performed a miracle, the message I’m starting to get is that it was no magic trick, it was a test of faith on behalf of those healed by Him.

Just last night, I felt the desire to watch pornography. Very strongly. And the natural human thing is to say to God, “take it away!” All the good within me comes from God; that is why CS Lewis called pride “the great sin.” Thus, when I accept my temptation and don’t act on it, it is not an exercise in my willpower - it is an exercise of my trust in God; and when the temptation does go away, I have Him to thank, and not my own resources. This is real humility.

Thus, the only prayer I have found that ‘works’ is “Not mine, but Thy will be done.”

God does not make junk–He loves you, even on your worst day.

All the best,
Tim
Click to expand...
Love this!

It might seem odd…but you could also try to cord of St. Philomena, the one for purity. It is red and white yarn twisted together, accompanied by a prayer for purity. Generally, you wear it around your waist. If you feel tempted, it might help remind you of your resolution. Praying for you!

Saint Philomena, virgin and Martyr, pray for us
that through thy powerful intercession
we may obtain that purity of mind and heart
which leads to the perfect love of God.
Amen.

St. Philomena, pray for us and for all who invoke your aid!
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
Thank you very much. Your prayers are helping. I’m going to keep praying for myself and all people with addictions because we definitely need it. I went to confession today, and I really hope that’ll be the last time I’ll have to confess those same sins. I keep a rosary around, so when I feel tempted, I hold it, look at the crucifix, and pray. It’s been pretty effective so far (only 2 days, though :p).
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen
 
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