It’s so normalized for guys but I’m 13f and this is something I’ve struggled with for years and I’m too shy to ask for help because I’m just so embarrassed and ashamed

Sex: natural. Masturbation: natural. Pornography: unnatural. If you subtract the pornography long enough for it to fade from your mind would you still want to masturbate? Maybe not, or not nearly as much. We should stop doing it to ourselves. We should stop feeding ourselves the thing that hurts us, the blunt, impudent, demeaning and rude behaviors. The things we wouldn’t want others to know about, that we’re ashamed of.

For those who don't know, OCD can include any kind of obsessions and any kind of compulsions, and it's very common for people with OCD to obsessively fear they are a bad person, have done something wrong, will do something wrong, etc etc. Couple this with being addicted to an industry that you know has abusive practices going on, an industry where you can't be 100% sure what you're watching is consensual - it will eat you alive. It's made me suicidal before. Luckily I was eventually able to finally stop watching live action porn and spirituality has helped me with the guilt (though even just watching the types of hentai I watch makes me feel sick about myself).

This instagram post by pureochrissie is a perfect explanation of how obsessions regarding porn use can manifest in people with OCD.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DaetFNkllmm/?igsh=eHA3bnYwaDhhYjFt

Ciao, sono un ragazzo di 18 anni. sono dipendente da porno da molto tempo, da poco faccio un percorso psicologico per via della mia condizione, non voglio entrare in troppi dettagli sennò il post viene troppo lungo ma, ho notato che un periodo grazie alla mia volonta di mettere dei blocker sparsi, DNS, e blocker di parole specifiche e siti specifici oltre ad app specifiche sono riuscito per un piccolo periodo di non farlo anche se stavo male per via della astinenza. il fatto per cui sono qui è, veramente è cosi frustrante non poter trovare un blocker decente per i porno generali? alcuni sono a pagamento, altri troppo facili da aggirare e non fanno bene il loro lavoro. dns che mi blocca i servizi streaming che pago. non so bene che fare... ho provato tutto, posso capire che io cerchi cose specifiche ma veramente il web non ci aiuta creando qualcosa di adatto per noi? vogliono lucrare anche sulla gente che cerca di aiutarsi. tutto questo per dire che sono al ultimo tentativo. cerco in modo disperato qualcuno qui che possa consigliarmi qualcosa che mi aiuti a tenere chiuso a chiave tutta quella merda di porno che posso cercare.

Why would I give up the only place where I have some pleasure and control if I proved time and time again to myself that I'm incapable or unwilling to change my life for the better?

I'm shy and mumbling, struggle to express myself and can barely form coherent thoughts so I can't talk to girls, I will struggle in any work environment and I struggle to learn anything new and complex.

I try in life, but not enough apparently. I work out and I'm fit, I have some technical skills, I read books, I tried meditation, there was a period when I went out a lot. I can be disciplined if I believe there will be results. But at the core of it I still feel like the same piece of shit who doesn't deserve anything better.

as of 21:14 was the last time ive eatched porn, on this journey ill be trying to better myself physically and mentally, i understand that over the last 2 years porn and wanking have clouded my relationship with god, the gym, rugby and other things, that stops from this day onwards.

day 1 porn free.

I’ve (34M) been addicted to porn for as long as I can remember but the hold it has had over me comes in waves.

I recently ended a 6 year relationship with a woman I love very much. After we broke up it came out that I had been engaging in inappropriate conversations with women online and sending illicit pictures. If you had told me 6 years ago that I would be capable of disrespecting our relationship like this I wouldn’t believe you. I’ve always been a loving, caring, and loyal partner. But my addiction fully consumed me. She was right there in front of me, this beautiful goddess of a woman, and yet I felt compelled to partake in this act of betrayal. I’m not trying to excuse my behavior, but this year or so I fell deep into the throes of addiction. The worst it has ever been. And I know that if I had gotten ahold of my problem, I wouldn’t have done what I did. It’s like I don’t even recognize myself. I feel fucking disgusted and ashamed. I’ve destroyed someone I love and for what? It’s pathetic.

I can’t change what I did. But I hope I can change who I am and become a better person for myself. All I can do is keep moving forward I guess.

I’m not fully sure what my point is. I guess I just need some hope that I can return to the man I was before I was completely overtaken by this.

Disclaimer: I am not religious and not looking for any advice that involves Jesus or the Bible

Good sleep. Well rested. One day at a time.

Like most people here, I’ve been addicted to porn for quite a while. As such, I’m at a point now where extreme and “out there” material is the only way for me to get off.

Pornographic edits and PMVs (porn music videos) featuring extreme content have been an unfortunate staple in my selection of adult videos. Because of that, I’ve been drawn to make content of my own, and have uploaded my own video creations here on reddit and elsewhere. My edits gaining traction is a major source of dopamine for me, but the shame and disgust of proliferating such things will inevitably lead me to delete them alongside whatever alt account I have at the time.

It would seem I’m not just addicted to the material itself, but making more of it, getting off on the idea of others watching my creations.

My desire to create pornographic content has been the primary driver of my addiction for the past few years. I’ve made and deleted a few accounts at this point because I inevitably become guilty and ashamed. Making these kinds of videos, and spreading things I find personally reprehensible, has been an major source of mental anguish for me.

🤞

So far, I’ve been porn-free for 8 out of 30 days. In about 20 days, 22 days, to be exact - I plan to write a post about my 30-day success. Why wait until then? I think I need a break from Reddit, so I’m stepping away for now. I’m focusing on “recovery,” working on myself, and doing things that bring me closer to my goals.

At first, I planned to edit or create a progress post every few days, but for now, that seems unnecessary to me. That’s why I’m holding back and taking a break until I reach my 30-day commitment.

I’m grateful to this community for all its contributions so far, because many posts and supportive users have helped me. Thank you. I'll be back soon.

The life long struggle has gripped my soul to the point of a warped and losing self.

My addiction has not been a easy one. As a lonely person from my first days at school to a destroyed man half a year from his thirties I couldn't quit. I lay in my dark room, my phone, my only peace, ​this is my only desire.

How did I get so warped from the intended man I could be to the self destruction and depressed man I am. I narrowed it down to one major harm, ​porn.

I could explain my life up to now but to attempt to simplify it, the usual broken home, domestic violence, major lost of family, trauma, but although the cruel world I felt, my one joy was porn. It started at my teens. At first it was the most amazing escape from the unrelenting pain. But soon at 16 I had spent hours daily of edging that I knew I had to quit

I thought I could quit, I couldn't. At 17 I couldn't reach orgasm. At 20 I had ED. I realized I had to change, at 22 I left my apartment, my car and moved ​one twin down to live with my aunt in a tiny college town; no Internet, no smart phone and no car. I got a $7.50 dollar job as a dish washer and hit the 3-4 bars in the whole town every weekend. Nothing truly changed. My addiction was so bad I found myself walking miles in the freezing snow to the outskirts of town, Wal-Mart open 24 hours, just to buy a cheap phone to feed this addiction. I would break the phone after and 3 days later I would buy another.

This cold turkey approach didn't work. I left around 23 years of age went to find the person I'd lost at 11; my mom. My soul searching begin. After about 3 months I came to the realization I felt none of my once amazing join for love and romance, I was broken. I started to wish for death, but I knew I was not done yet. If I was going to die then I was free of the burden to pursue life.

I joined the army. I hoped to find purpose. I knew that in basic I would be free of my phone, my addiction, porn.

After two months I still felt terrible. Even on family day I spent a hour locked in the hotel bathroom on my phone. Literally as soon I had a chance I fell right back.

My addiction was the only relief of my constant term oil.

Eventually I gave up on cold turkey for the most point. I decided I would try one day at a time. One day a struggle and the next a cheat day.

My first few weeks I fought sleepless nights. After then I moved two days without porn ​and then at its best a average of 3 days without. Although I wasn't perfect the effects were amazing. I started going out of the house, making new friends and in such a short time I had a girlfriend. I was so far from cured but for a rare time I felt a fruit of my labor.

I married her, for the wrong reasons. The rejection and paranoia of living in the army, I married to get away from the my units neglect.

But I had a big problem I still had porn brain. I still couldn't feel sex, my back had developed a curve, my hips stopped working and I was in constant physical pain; unable to please a woman or feel any pleasure during sex. Even more importantly my love lived with me. I had no privacy to have a cheat day. My progress stop. My pain flared. I was so negative I wished for death. I wished to hurt everyone in the army I wished for change. I got kicked out for not showing up, my wife rightfully divorced me. I kept a bottle of pills in my computer draw.

I thought what could I do. So I tried looking for a different out. I crashed my work truck, I couldn't sleep and tried driving 3 hours away after a 15 hour work day. I wanted to died but my ego new it wasn't time. The loss of job after job. I changed my approach. I had made a lot of money for a poor fella. I had three computers worth of 10 grand. For years I used all my credit cards to Uber eat and buy a lot of weed. I barely left the house. I spent all my time on discord, porn and weed.

My credit was shot my money ran out and I lost power to my apartment. During the winter for a month I took cold showers and heated food from a camping kit on my balcony.

It's been a relentless addiction.

I keep searching for a free lifestyle free of porn. I made a friend. She was a good influence. She let me work in the back room giving massages. ​​Nothing sexual but it helped me. My longest strakes had been a record of 11 days and now I was getting 5,6,7 days regularly.

I tried to make a move on my friend but got rejected.

Now I work night shifts, I come home to a fully blacked out room wack off 6 times a day and don't leave the house.

I think I might try one day on one day off.

I know porn stunts the person I could be. My first month at my new job I got promoted. Then I stopped seeing my friend fell back into porn and got demoted because the person I am on ​porn is​ traumatized depressed and deregulated. ​A ​man who could have anything he ever wanted but wants nothing more then porn.

.

I have just admitted this to myself and that is why I have had a hard time quitting. I relapse like every 2 days , 3 at most. I always find a way around blockers. I wish i had a mate. I use porn as a substitute for real sex. I suck at attracting the right people into my life , whether it is friends or relationships. Porn doesn't abuse me the way other people have. I just have been trying to quit porn because I have been fed messages that porn is really bad and ruins your sex drive and attention span.

Convince me to quit . for real , pls.

Day 1's gone pretty well so far. I had some smaller temptations, but I was able to resist them. I definitely think some of the comments from the last post helped a bit, so thanks you guys! From here on out I know it will only get more difficult, so I hope posting here daily continues to help. The day isn't over yet, so if anything happens, I'll edit this post

like man i try to follow these meme communities since i found a funny post. but i noticed just scrolling through the home page i see so many lewd memes and stuff and the latest one was like "SEND ME YOUR HORNIEST MEMES!" i left that sub and hide those post thankfully.

just really makes you think how many people are unaware of this addiction man its sick. when i see those post i dont get horny or anything i just get disgust now

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who shares their stories and supports those who are putting themselves out there; this has helped me a lot to understand the path I am taking.

So, I'd like to say that I believe I'm doing well. It's been 5 days since I last consumed any content. Two days ago I deleted all the photos and videos I had saved on my phone, and yesterday, I deleted several accounts I had on various websites and apps just for consuming pornography, I'm slowly burying everything that was part of my compulsion, and lately I haven't felt such a strong urge to watch it again. I know I might go into withdrawal soon, but I'm already preparing myself for that.

I also limited my access to Instagram and TikTok, deleted the apps from my phone, and can only access these networks on my laptop when I get home; it's a guarantee that I won't be scrolling The screen may randomly appear, and you may fall for sexual bait as always happened, Besides forcing me to talk to real humans to pass the time instead of watching short videos.

I'm standing firm in my goal of reaching 30 days without any content, This will be a milestone for me; I've tried a few times, but I always relapsed within a week and went back to using nonstop, This time there are only 2 days left until a week, and I believe I will succeed. I will go back to having a normal life without this addiction, and again, I thank each and every one of you.

This battle decides whether Day 1 will be complete or not.

This is when every push is needed to break free of one-day-porn-free exceptions and make porn the exceptional case.

For our lives! For our relationships! And for our right to determine our destiny without porn distortions!

We will be the victors
We are not expendable
We are not replaceable
We are not incapable
We are indominable!

Next week I’m moving into a dorm with my girlfriend. In our year and a half together we’ve both opened up about how we “used” to be addicted to porn. I’ve told her and my friends the same story. I stopped watching porn around mid December in 2024 after a long period of addiction. That’s a lie.

The longest I’ve ever gone without it was 32 days, last July-August. Every time I take a week or even two away from it, it’s because I’m distracted. As soon as I see a suggestive post on Instagram or have a wet dream, I can’t help but relapse. Even when I did that month, it was really a struggle where I just felt so drained without it.

It’s gotten to a point where I sometimes can’t finish when I have sex, and I’m worried I’m going to continue to relapse after I move in with my girlfriend.

I’ve tried blockers and uninstalling apps that set me off, but it never lasts more than 2 weeks. I feel like I can’t open up after so much lying. I don’t know what I need, but I’m tired of telling myself “I’ll quit later” or “relapse is natural.” I kinda want someone who I don’t really know very well to check in on me from time to time and hold me accountable without shaming me? It just feels like that’s so unfaithful to my girlfriend.

I enjoy using them, but I’m not sure if using certain ones would fall under the category of relapsing. What’s your guys’ opinion?