Pornography and Masturbation

One way to quit a pornography addiction is cold turkey. However, this can lead to relapses followed by binge consumption. Abruptly quitting your addiction may not be best suited to you, so this seven-month plan is designed to reduce the chance of any relapse.

1-Make a list of habits you want to break and pair them with habits you want to form. When it comes to breaking bad habits, united they stand and divided they fall. You need to be able to fill in the void left from a habit, or else you'll feel some emptiness in your heart (and routine). List all of your bad habits on paper and pair them with habits you want to form.

2-Separate masturbation and pornography from each other. Use a timeframe of two months, and cut this period of two months into four parts.

For the first part, never masturbate and watch pornography at the same time. Have at least a five-minute gap between the two so that your mind can learn to decouple both habits.

For the second part, eliminate masturbation and be sure to limit your pornography sessions to 15 minutes three specific days of the week (e.g. Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays).

For the third part, eliminate pornography and limit masturbation to the same three days of the week.

For the fourth part, repeat the second part. At this point, your mind will have sufficiently separated masturbation and pornography and will be prepared for you to cut out pornography forever.

3-Stop watching pornography.

Cut out all sources that trigger you to want to use pornography.

Install a free internet filtering service (like K9 protection). This greatly reduces unwanted exposure to pornography.

Remember that many of the people involved in pornography are victims of abuse, and by using pornography you are perpetuating the demand for pornography and their abuse.

4-Control masturbation over a three-month period. Use the time you aren't masturbating to work on improving other aspects in life (such as the good habits you wanted to form).

Limit yourself to mornings on three specific days of the week. At first it will be hard if you used to masturbate many more times a week, but towards the end of the three months it will become easier.

5-Wean yourself off of masturbation.

Spend one month limiting yourself to two days of the week (Tuesdays and Fridays). This helps increase your confidence level.

Afterwards, spend one last month limiting yourself to masturbation only on one day of the week (Tuesdays).

Finish off all of the bad habits on your list and develop all of your good habits (e.g. showering and brushing your teeth twice a day).

6-Consider stopping masturbation forever. Although it is not necessary, some people feel the need to cut out masturbation from their lives. Use your newly gained confidence to break free of this habit. Take the time to review the gains you've accomplished over the last seven months, and give yourself a healthy treat and a pat on the back.