Addiction

Lately I have been talking to someone about their struggle with pornography and masturbation. He trusts me because he knows me well. I am something of an expert on the subject of pornography. I was 13 when I first view pornography. Within a year, I was addicted to pornography and masturbation.

That led to its own list of complex issues that I will save for a later date, but suffice it to say in time I was convicted of the damage it was doing to me spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I have since then put much time and effort into the study of addiction, and the causes and effects of pornography addiction.

I've written on this once and will write on it more, but let me say some things. First, there is hope. I spent years masturbating nightly, as many did. In Alcoholics Anonymous, they teach them that there is no such thing as a former alcoholic. If you are like me, you will never be a former addict, whether it is to alcohol, drugs, porn, gambling, tobacco, food, shopping, etc. If you get a taste of it again, even when in recovery, you will tend to binge. But you can be in recovery. It was a slow process for me. I should say it IS a slow process for me, but it is better than it was.

Second, let me remind you that this is a fight. Satan wants us to harm us. We are wounded, and will continue to be. There will be times we won't feel like fighting. We'll feel like we already lost, or never will win. But we already have won the war. Right now I'm watching the HBO series Band of Brothers. When Germany was beat, there was still fighting to be done. There were still people killed and wounded. Satan has lost. But there are still casualties. Don't loose hope. Keep fighting.

Another thing is get help. Get someone who you can talk to, who can ask you the tough questions, like "How are you? No, how are you REALLY?" and "How many times this week?" It needs to be someone you can call at 3am to talk to when you are struggling. Also I have some recommendations. Not Even a Hint and Every Man's Battle (Every Young Man's Battle is good for singles, but Every Man's is good for married men. That's right, this doesn't go away when you're married.) are good books. There's also XXX-church.com. These resources are good. I recommend reading those books with that trusted friend. Just like in a real war, or even a football game this isn't a solo effort.