too much porn

[MrAugust]

Sorry that I don’t know where to put this post, but I’m looking for help.

I’ve gravitated towards watching porn and it is hurting my relationship with God. The urge is overwhelming and seemingly uncontrollable.

What happens is that physically I get worked up thinking about my girlfriend, or her friend, or a cute girl I saw at the restaurant, etc. It gets to the point that I have to find relief or I don’t get any work done (I’m successfully self-employed and work at home).

I won’t bore you with details but I think God has had enough and is punishing me for this activity, and yet I still revert to it even after promising to myself that I won’t.

What do good Catholics do to fend off such urges when struck by them?

 

[pianistclare]

Sorry that I don’t know where to put this post, but I’m looking for help.

I’ve gravitated towards watching porn and it is hurting my relationship with God. The urge is overwhelming and seemingly uncontrollable.

What happens is that physically I get worked up thinking about my girlfriend, or her friend, or a cute girl I saw at the restaurant, etc. It gets to the point that I have to find relief or I don’t get any work done (I’m successfully self-employed and work at home).

I won’t bore you with details but I think God has had enough and is punishing me for this activity, and yet I still revert to it even after promising to myself that I won’t.

What do good Catholics do to fend off such urges when struck by them?

If you’re talking online porn, raise your restriction for internet surfing to the maximum. You won’t like it, because it blocks out so much, but it will highlight how often we see inappropriate things.
Paste a picture of Jesus to your monitor. Sound too simplistic? Maybe so, but it’s hard to sin when you really understand that He’s watching your actions.
Anything that works.
ourcatholicprayers.com/prayers-for-purity.html
^^^ here’s good article.

God bless.

 

[Sonny89]

Peace and All Good!

It may be helpful to install software such as Covenant Eyes (covenanteyes.com/?idev_id=254) or K9 web Protection software (www1.k9webprotection.com) which will enable you to block out online porn & establish accountability to another person, which is a really important step for many people.

Try praying Hail Marys & asking St Joseph & St Michael to intercede for you when feeling tempted.

Obviously frequent Confession, Communion & the Rosary are great ways to combat it as well, as is memorising & meditating on Scripture verses.

Wearing a Miraculous Medal & Scapular have really helped me as well

This is all based on my own experience & that of others I’ve known who struggle with these things.

Hope it helps. If there’s any other way I can help just let me know

 

[jaimeleglise]

Ask the Blessed Mother for help. Keep busy with other activities. Meditate on the Passion. Realize how pornography hurts and exploits women. Confession will bring you peace and help you to change. God bless you.

 

[pianistclare]

Peace and All Good!

It may be helpful to install software such as Covenant Eyes (covenanteyes.com/?idev_id=254) or K9 web Protection software (www1.k9webprotection.com) which will enable you to block out online porn & establish accountability to another person, which is a really important step for many people.

Try praying Hail Marys & asking St Joseph & St Michael to intercede for you when feeling tempted.

Obviously frequent Confession, Communion & the Rosary are great ways to combat it as well, as is memorising & meditating on Scripture verses.

Wearing a Miraculous Medal & Scapular have really helped me as well

This is all based on my own experience & that of others I’ve known who struggle with these things.

Hope it helps. If there’s any other way I can help just let me know

Great, (and better) advice here…but I didn’t know if he was Catholic…
Thanks!

 

[hamandcheese]

In addition to what everyone has posted so far I would try fasting. Just follow the guidelines that the Church prescribes for Lent and use common sense.

 

[Adamgu_Dalibi]

I would suggest listening to some (non-aggressive) “pump up” music, like this youtube.com/watch?v=x5__Ogi4Tek,
or this youtube.com/watch?v=RRGSHvlu9Ss,
or this youtube.com/watch?v=BXpdmKELE1k, grit your teeth and wait it out: you’ll get to Heaven one day.

Pray too.

“I plead with you! Never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”
“If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.”

• St Pope John Paul II

 

[rodgerdodger]

I gave up porn last lent. When I made a mistake I repented. I now see the shallowness and stimulation that porn really is. Take it one day at a time. It takes twenty days to change any habit.

 

[Sonny89]

Peace & All Good!

Great, (and better) advice here…but I didn’t know if he was Catholic…
Thanks!

Thank you for the compliment! I’m not sure if the OP is Catholic with but I though I’d post it in case it was useful.

 

[esmac]

Internet porn is the bubonic plague in our country that people rarely want to talk about but is doing a number in wreaking havoc in weakening our country and destroying families and shattering lives and vocations.

There is a Catholic book “Delivered” by Matt Fradd that may be of help:

amzn.com/1938983467

We’re all sexual beings so its a touchy subject for all.

What you are struggling with is an addiction that was formed by habit. You have to attack the habit. You do that by creating new habits to replace the old bad habit. Once you create and strengthen those new habits you will marginalize your internet porn addiction, which is not going away. You have to unravel the old habit and create cables with the new habits strand by strand. The more strands you twine together through habit, the stronger your cable that will not break…whether it be good or bad habit.

In Wild West terms the addiction = Indian braves (in spiritual terms - demons) that are picking you apart. You - your being - you have to circle your wagons and take a stand.

One of your best weapons of defense against this addiction is to pray the rosary daily. And build up your new habits as soon as possible.

I would also study the Book of Proverbs as Solomon the wisest man ever has an issue with lust himself. Chapter 5 of Proverbs is in a lot of ways about porn, but truthful observations and maxims about lust are made throughout the entire book, 915 proverbs total.

Study this Ignatius book on Proverbs by Scott Hahn:

Link: amzn.com/1586177753

Best wishes to you I will dedicate my rosary to you today.

 

[MrMegaphin191]

I’ll be praying for you!

Turn always to Our Lords mercy. It is truly endless if we seek him with a contrite heart. Go to confession when you fall, and recieve the Eucharist worthily as often as possible. This is such a core part of our faith, and immense in leading us from sins.

Turn to Our Lady, Queen of Purity. She longs to help us! In my own fight against porn, I took up my armor, her Brown Scapular, an my weapon, the Most Holy Rosary, and Our Lay has helped me so so much.

Pray often, and meditate on the scriptures to overcome sin, “He must increase, while I must decrease” (St John 3:30).

I will be keeping you in my prayers!

 

[TK421]

Block your internet from pornographic content. Change the password for the software to rubbish and then destroy the paper you wrote the password on.

Involve yourself in your parish.

Fall in love with Mary and the female saints. I’m becoming convinced that devotions to them are more efficacious for men than they are for women (vice versa, women are better served by devotions to the male saints) You have a desire within you - a desire implanted from God - to be loved by women. As a man, this is a symbol of Christ’s desire to be loved by his Church. You can turn to concubines on the internet or in your imagination to attempt to sate this desire, or you can turn to your mother and your sisters in Heaven. They are in union with God in Heaven and love you perfectly. Set aside your pride and ask them to hold you and comfort you and pray for you. Whenever you have the urge, turn to Mary’s arms instead. You can have Mary or you can have your concubines, but it is not possible to have them both. You have to decide. I keep a picture of Mary next to my bed, and every night I kiss her on the forehead/cheek and on her sacred heart, I tell her what a great job she must be doing in praying for me, and I ask her to hold me while I go to sleep. It works. My past is steadily slipping away and I’m being transformed as I direct my desires elsewhere.

Sometimes, God permits us to fall prey to certain sins so that we can be purged of even greater sins. Countless millions of men are addicted to sex/pornography, and it’s not something you free yourself from without jettisoning your pride in the process and learning to lean on God. The key to not lusting towards women is to love them instead. White knuckles and stubbornness aren’t enough. You will fail.

 

[sticknstring73]

I am going through this as well. For me it was better to go cold turkey with porn! What I do now is every time I get an urge I say a few prayers and if that is too tough I seek out a friend. You can and will beat this with a little fortitude and the Lord.

 

[MrAugust]

Thank you all so much for your responses.

It’s comforting to know there are actually practicing Catholics on here who fight the same battle, albeit with more successful results.

The most difficult part for me has been (apologies if too graphic) dealing with the physical sensations that come on and increase to the point where it’s tough to ignore it.

I’ve tried things I’ve read like lying on my back with my legs over my head to redirect blood flow in my body, cold showers, etc.

I will try more prayer and see if that helps.

 

[E_7]

Thank you all so much for your responses.

It’s comforting to know there are actually practicing Catholics on here who fight the same battle, albeit with more successful results.

The most difficult part for me has been (apologies if too graphic) dealing with the physical sensations that come on and increase to the point where it’s tough to ignore it.

I’ve tried things I’ve read like lying on my back with my legs over my head to redirect blood flow in my body, cold showers, etc.

I will try more prayer and see if that helps.

It is time to install K9 on your smartphone and on your computer (have another person to (name removed by moderator)ut the password that only she/he would know). No excuses, just do it.

Sometimes people do good out of fear instead of out of love. But it is best to be/do good out of fear than to not do good at all.