84 day update

Hey dudes and dudettes,

just wanted to update everyone. I started this as a 90 day reboot because porn has been a part of my life for over 16 years. I grew up through my critical developmental years with a strong addiction to pornography. It has never consumed my life but it has always subtly and negatively impacted my sexual, physical, and emotional health in ways I didn’t realize until now.

I am married and throughout the first year of our marriage we struggled sexually because of my addictions. It saddened me because I love my wife dearly and it was enough for me to finally take my addiction head on with a serious effort to rid it from my life.

I have gone 84 days without porn or masturbation. It’s been difficult at times, more so in the beginning than now. I would be arrogant and foolish to think I am completely healed of my addiction but I have learned several healthy ways of communication, handling stress, and mental toughness that I did not possess before. I feel better being able to look my wife in the eye and tell her the truth when I say I haven’t watched or looked at porn whenever she asks.

I do not have superpowers; I will make that very clear. I do think I am a better person over all and I am extremely thankful for this forum and all of the people on here who struggle with similar things that I do.

I am here to say that it’s tough in the beginning but it does get easier as you learn ways and methods to handle daily life. The benefits are well worth it and the effort in the beginning will pay dividends in the future. Porn is destructive, tragic, and sad. It is overlooked and normalized in our society and we do too little to combat it. It is a silent and clandestine drug that affects way too many lives. I can say with confidence at best momentary and fleeting pleasure; At worst, it will bring nothing but pain as suffering.

I am well on my way, still fighting daily, but doing it with confidence.