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Addiction is based on "pleasure factor". When something is pleasurable it creates a response in your brain to want to do it again. It's dopamine and serotonin. The more exciting and pleasurable it is, the larger is the release of these brain chemicals. Since too much of these chemicals hurt the brain it causes your receptors for these chemicals to allow less reaction. This makes you want to increase the amount stimulation to get the same effect. Drugs, sugar, caffeine, sex, it's all the same, very stimulating. When you stop doing these things the urges to satisfy become less and less. You will always have a spot in your brain that will reignite if you do them again. It never goes away, once an addict, always an addict but not doing the thing that you are addicted to keeps the temptations low and manageable.
Adopting the mind of Christ and walking in the Spirit should help you to avoid all kinds of sin, lust included. Visualize that your body is just a vehicle that you have to use to get around in this world, because that's all it is. Now, if your car steered to the left, would you give it that option, so you go in a ditch or off of a cliff? No, of course not. Just because your body has urges, doesn't mean that you have to satisfy them. You need to identify that your spirit is in control of the machine. Most of the urges man has is programming that God put into the machine to adapt and procreate. Man just allows the urges to take control and make excuses. I get it, I struggled with the same stuff for years. It seems like you need the release in order to function. When you abstain, your brain chemicals readjust and return to normal, then the urges subside. You will always want to, but the feeling will pass if you don't indulge.
Adopting the mind of Christ and walking in the Spirit should help you to avoid all kinds of sin, lust included. Visualize that your body is just a vehicle that you have to use to get around in this world, because that's all it is. Now, if your car steered to the left, would you give it that option, so you go in a ditch or off of a cliff? No, of course not. Just because your body has urges, doesn't mean that you have to satisfy them. You need to identify that your spirit is in control of the machine. Most of the urges man has is programming that God put into the machine to adapt and procreate. Man just allows the urges to take control and make excuses. I get it, I struggled with the same stuff for years. It seems like you need the release in order to function. When you abstain, your brain chemicals readjust and return to normal, then the urges subside. You will always want to, but the feeling will pass if you don't indulge.
Thanks Willie. Our mens group have been talking about this issue, and they were really moved I think by the video. Especially the concept that accountability partners and self aversion to stimuli WASN'T TRUE FREEDOM, just another form of bondage.
I feel blessed that you talked about this person and idea.
I feel blessed that you talked about this person and idea.
I am so sorry your going through this struggle. I too have been dealing with overcoming porn addiction. It has been almost a whole year and I'm glad. I find that accountability with someone you trust is a good help in keeping you off of it. Also xxxchurch.com is a great resource full of different things to help you overcome this. I find them very helpful and friendly too. Good luck to you in this journey! You can beat this with Christ. I will keep you in my prayers.
T
That video had some good points. I resonated with the idea that pain pursues pleasure. But he lost me on his other points and it came across in a nebulous fashion regarding the whole lies aspect. I have contemplated self emasculation but upon further research discovered it still doesn't take away the inner drive. I've resigned myself to the cycle of sin, confession and moving on, not planning to sin but ending back at the starting point of the vicious cycle. I know that as a human being with a history I'm terribly complicated with various dynamics playing out in me spiritually, psychologically, physically and socially. Upon examination of all these factors I learned that this lust and porn thing took a web of intricate orchestration bringing me to where I am today. (I'm bogging down in my thought process as I type this). I'm overwhelmed with it all. I can't figure it out. So I continue the cycle, year upon year, decade upon decade, thus bringing me to echo Paul's statement of doing the things he didn't want to do etc. Bottom line, my personal take on all this is that I have to cling to God's response to Paul, that His grace is sufficient. I'm moving forward trying to remember that it's all about Him and His grace and not about me and my sins. I think as His grace captures me more and more the cycle will diminish over time. But at 51 my time is running out (my parents died in their early 60's). I just hope that I am overwhelmed by God's love and grace to a point that the cycle finally stops, if that makes sense. And that God and His amazing grace and love become the supreme focus and not this stupid, ugly porn and sin thing. Musings of an older man lol
A poll conducted by "one of the world's most visited Christian websites" indicates a surprising number of Christians are getting addicted to pornography.
"The poll results indicate that 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography.
The group defines "addicted" as applied to pornography as use on an ongoing basis.
"We are seeing an escalation to the problem in both men and women who regularly attend church," said Bill Cooper, President of ChristiaNet.com.
"No one is immunized against the vice-grip clutches of sexual addictive behaviors," reads a release issued by the site. "The people who struggle with the repeated pursuit of sexual gratification include church members, deacons, staff, and yes, even clergy."
How many Christians (especially) men can honestly say, "whenever I am tempted to lust, I NEVER give in." I have 100% conquered that sin. No problem?
If David, who was “a man after God’s own heart,” and many other strong men and women of faith yielded to sexual temptation, it could happen to any of us. Pornography may be the new addiction of this new century. Researchers are finding that when people indulge in porn, they release powerful chemicals in their brain and body. Mark Kastleman, author of The Drug of the New Millennium, said, "There are a growing number of therapists and psychologists who are saying that this is as addictive as cocaine," or alcohol, or even heroin. He explained that, when people view porn, "It causes the brain to release what we call endogenous drugs or endogenous chemicals. 'Endogenous' meaning 'produced from within.' So where cocaine or alcohol seek to mimic the brain's natural chemicals, pornography releases the real deal. And so we have things like adrenaline, epinephrine, ACTH."
Due to our fallen nature, we will have to deal with the temptation to lust until we die. The temptation to lust will come in many forms including ungodly sexual appetites; and there are lusts, such as the lust of power, fame or position. We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit inside us to overcome lust every day. No matter the form of lust we face, we can be assured that we have a High Priest and Advocate with the Father who "understands every weakness of ours" and "was tempted in every way that we are. But He did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:1). 1 Corinthians 6:18 says to flee sexual immorality! I can tell you that the first step in giving up porn addiction is that you have to REALLY WANT TO GIVE IT UP. Pour your heart out to Jesus and ask Him for the power to give it up. You can't simply suppress this sin in your own strength and give it up solely in your own power.
"The poll results indicate that 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography.
The group defines "addicted" as applied to pornography as use on an ongoing basis.
"We are seeing an escalation to the problem in both men and women who regularly attend church," said Bill Cooper, President of ChristiaNet.com.
"No one is immunized against the vice-grip clutches of sexual addictive behaviors," reads a release issued by the site. "The people who struggle with the repeated pursuit of sexual gratification include church members, deacons, staff, and yes, even clergy."
How many Christians (especially) men can honestly say, "whenever I am tempted to lust, I NEVER give in." I have 100% conquered that sin. No problem?
If David, who was “a man after God’s own heart,” and many other strong men and women of faith yielded to sexual temptation, it could happen to any of us. Pornography may be the new addiction of this new century. Researchers are finding that when people indulge in porn, they release powerful chemicals in their brain and body. Mark Kastleman, author of The Drug of the New Millennium, said, "There are a growing number of therapists and psychologists who are saying that this is as addictive as cocaine," or alcohol, or even heroin. He explained that, when people view porn, "It causes the brain to release what we call endogenous drugs or endogenous chemicals. 'Endogenous' meaning 'produced from within.' So where cocaine or alcohol seek to mimic the brain's natural chemicals, pornography releases the real deal. And so we have things like adrenaline, epinephrine, ACTH."
Due to our fallen nature, we will have to deal with the temptation to lust until we die. The temptation to lust will come in many forms including ungodly sexual appetites; and there are lusts, such as the lust of power, fame or position. We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit inside us to overcome lust every day. No matter the form of lust we face, we can be assured that we have a High Priest and Advocate with the Father who "understands every weakness of ours" and "was tempted in every way that we are. But He did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:1). 1 Corinthians 6:18 says to flee sexual immorality! I can tell you that the first step in giving up porn addiction is that you have to REALLY WANT TO GIVE IT UP. Pour your heart out to Jesus and ask Him for the power to give it up. You can't simply suppress this sin in your own strength and give it up solely in your own power.
C
i've been single for 7years... it's been my struggle. i've stopped masturbating & watching porn for a year now... & now i feel lonely & struggling again. & i thought of justifying it just like how i thought about it in the past. thinking that it's not a sin so long as you don't do it lustfully (thinking of someone else while doing it) but instead it's a gift from God since you're able to find pleasure with it & you don't even have to sin and engage yourself to premarital sex... so yeah, i'm struggling again. what do i do now? i feel bad about myself but i just can't help it.
