Hi, my name is Joshua. I’m a 21 year old college student. I have been struggling with porn addiction since I started masturbating at age 11. Since I first started, I have masturbated almost everyday. The longest I have gone without masturbating has been two weeks. Just thinking about it makes me feel bad.
I have hurt many people both knowingly and unknowingly with my addiction. I have ruined relationships, violated personal spaces, and ruined my own body with this addiction. I don’t even like to masturbate anymore. I just do it. Sometimes I’m not even hard and I masturbate anyway.
I want to stop this vicious cycle. I feel like this is my last hope. I don’t have money for therapy. Joining a support group was an option I saw for addicts. I am skeptical, but I have no other choice. If anyonw has any tips for me, please let me know. Thank you.
Welcome. There are so many resources to help you on your addiction free journey here with fantastic folks.
Hi @joshua.1234 welcome to the forum as tallie said look at the recovery thread s related to your addiction .there are many people on here who understand what you are going through and give good advice @Matt @KevinesKay
SA (Sexaholics Anonymous), SAA (Sex Addicts Anonymous), and SLAA (Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous) are all free, and have significant psychological benefits for people who work their programs. I’m in an SA group myself for recovery from masturbation and porn. Search online and you will find their sites.
It sucks, I know. Just that default addiction behaviour. It is demoralizing and isolating, and it sucks all the energy out of your heart.
It is possible to find a way out. Keep searching. Do not isolate. It is not possible to overcome addiction alone; it is not possible on willpower; there are no boundaries you personally can create which will hold it at bay. You need to seek input from knowledgeable people in recovery.
Welcome to Talking Sober!
@joshua.1234 I am also a new user here and like a few others have said a lot of what you said is a feeling shared by so many of us and so this is a great place to be reminded that we are not alone. Be proud of yourself for taking the action to be here and to share your feelings. Stay strong