hi im experiencing a porn addiction. i feel very trapped. i associate porn and masturbation with a good feeling and thats why i think im really struggling trying to get off it. i want to get off it but im not taking it seriously enough. ive tried to get help but i feel i just dont take it seriously and im wasting peoples time. i think why do i deserve this help im not commited enough to this change. i need a change of mindset but i cant seem to make that happen. i really wanna take this addiction seriously and wanna change
Sam
Hi there,
People can become addicted to anything. It can start if you do something to help you cope in a difficult situation or to make you feel better. If you do it often, it can become a habit and you might start to feel like you can't do without it. This is when it becomes an addiction.
When people try to stop doing the thing they're addicted to, it can affect their mood and how they feel. Cravings for the substance or activity can be overwhelming and difficult to control. They can sometimes make it harder to do normal routine activities and affect your friendships and relationships. Sometimes cravings can be all you think about and are focused on.
It’s a good idea to get support by speaking to a professional like a doctor, nurse or counsellor. Treatment for addiction can be different depending on what you're addicted to. Some things, like drugs and alcohol, can create a type of addiction based on chemicals. In these cases your doctor would give you very specific help.
If your addiction is more about a behaviour or habit, like watching porn, there are also things you can do to help yourself. You might make watching porn more difficult by only being on your phone or computer around other people so that you can’t watch it. Doing something else during the time you'd normally spend watching porn can also help you break the habit. If you're busy doing other things, the urge to spend time watching porn may be less.
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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