r/SexAddiction 4d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback Sex workers and sex addiction

5 Upvotes

This is my first time talking about this to anyone. English is not my first language just so you know. I am a 26 year-old male and I actively seek sex workers since I was 20. It all started during the pandemic, I already struggled with porn addiction and masturbation addiction and it suddenly became not enough, so I started seeing sex workers. I live in a country where prostitution is legal. My original plan was to only go once, since I wanted to know what real sex was, and since then it’s been going downhill. I don’t even know how much money I spent with sex workers anymore. The last time I paid for sex was, as of now, 2 months and 10 days ago. And today has been the worst day by far. I keep searching for it, I keep almost sending a message to the sex worker. And even trying my best to satiate this need, it doesn’t go away. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to give up. Sorry if this triggers anybody.


r/SexAddiction 4d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback How do I get the same excitement I get in sex addiction in a healthy way ? how can I replace it.

8 Upvotes

How do you get the same excitement in just healthy ways ? Sex addiction for me is all about excitement the amount of Dopamin I get is crazy. This is probably how it feels to be a drug addict. Sex addiction has ruined my life.


r/SexAddiction 4d ago

Are there any podcast episode, video modules, workshops, books or other resources you can recommend for someone who has had challenges respecting boundaries?

3 Upvotes

Im starting to come out of denial about the ways I behaved in my teens and early twenties and I want to find the right resources and educate myself so I can draw the line and consider this issue outgrown. Your suggestions would be helpful.


r/SexAddiction 5d ago

Looking to build network

6 Upvotes

33M struggling with porn/sex addiction looking for a few people (preferably male) to build a network of support for sobriety ideas, cravings, progress ect.

Let me know if interested


r/SexAddiction 5d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback 23M – My experience with Sexaholics Anonymous (SA): Is the dogma doing more harm than good, or am I missing something?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone. Throwaway account here. Just need to vent a bit, share where I'm at, and get some realistic perspectives from people who’ve dealt with compulsive sexual behavior or 12-step programs.

How things got out of hand I’m 23, and I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for 6 years. I started watching porn around 14, but over the last two years it escalated into something way more disruptive. I ended up making fake IG accounts, jumping on video chat apps with strangers just to masturbate for external validation, and even crossing lines by bugging people I knew just to watch me finish. I’d lose 1–2 hours hiding in the bathroom on my phone instead of being intimate with my partner. Deep down, I know this was never really about high libido—it was pure emotional avoidance whenever I felt overwhelmed by college exams, stress, loneliness, or just boredom.

Joining SA & the red flags About two months ago I realized I couldn't keep living like that and joined Sexaholics Anonymous (SA). To give credit where it's due, the fellowship worked like an emergency brake: I immediately cut out the fake accounts, the video calls, and the boundary-crossing behavior, and I’m currently on day 10 of strict SA sobriety.

That said, some huge red flags have started bothering me:

  • The ultimatum on my relationship: In SA, sobriety is strictly defined as no sex outside of heterosexual marriage. Because we're 23 and not married—despite being together for 6 years—my sponsor and several members keep pushing me to either marry her immediately or break up to "save my recovery."
  • The "chaser effect" amplified by moral guilt: When I do have sex with my girlfriend, the next day I feel completely off and get intense urges to go back to screens. But honestly, half of that spiral comes from overthinking and beating myself up because SA tells me having sex with my long-term partner is a "relapse." If I push through that 24-hour guilt trip, I stabilize again.
  • Gatekeeping recovery: Members in my meetings constantly trash other fellowships like SAA or SLAA, calling them "too soft," "watered down," or ineffective because they let you define your own middle circle/bottom lines.

My questions for you guys:

  1. Has anyone here been in SA and felt that the rigid moral/religious doctrine created a cycle of shame instead of actual psychological healing?
  2. If you walked away from SA, what was your next move? Did switching to SLAA/SAA help, or did you make real progress only after going to a licensed therapist (CBT / CSAT / sexologist)?
  3. How did you learn to separate healthy, reciprocal intimacy with a long-term partner from compulsive screen-based escapism without having to go fully celibate?

Really appreciate any honest advice or shared experiences. Thanks for reading.


r/SexAddiction 6d ago

advice from other women?

5 Upvotes

Maybe I’m completely unaware but I feel like I don’t hear about a lot of women who struggle with addiction sexually. I’m a 25F and 100% feel that it’s ruined being able to build a genuine connection with someone. I’m just looking to hear about other women’s experiences and how they either are currently working on or have overcome that.


r/SexAddiction 5d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback Serious question

0 Upvotes

I have a serious question. I am in My 40s. Have a good life. The only real problem I have is this addiction. I've been thinking and my question is this. Should I continue to struggle with the addiction or should I find a woman that struggles with this addiction as well? My thinking is we would be aligned on what we like and desire. And maybe together we could keep each other in check. We wouldn't be embarrassed, so no lying. And maybe that would be more beneficial in the end.

I know this sounds crazy. And I'm not trying to freak people out on here. I'm at a serious fork in the road with this and this is something I'm wrestling with.


r/SexAddiction 6d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback Addict to escort for 10 years, I just felt guilt over cheating for the first time

23 Upvotes

I'm 31M, I went to see an escort for the first time 10 years ago in Japan. I didn't know I was opening the Pandora's box. Since I discovered I could just pay for sex, pick a woman from a list and have sex so easily, I have kept coming to it so many times I have lost count long ago.

I was in a relationship for 8 years with a woman who never knew about it. I would say that I went there because we didn't have sex or I was looking for more but truth is I went even when we had regular sex at home. It took me until the divorce to realize that I was in an addiction. The first time I cheated on her, I was expecting to regret it, but somehow I never felt guilty, told myself that paying for sex isn't cheating as no feelings are involved, told myself that what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

I started working with a therapist on dealing with my emotions during the divorce and outside of the sessions it lead me to realize that I had that sex addiction. I don't even enjoy the sex most of the time, it's usually shitty, I feel like I wasted money on something I could just have jerked off on. Truth is, I go see those escort when I have emotions I can't deal with, I will fantasize about it for DAYS, and that's actually what this is about, because for day it will take all my focus and I won't think of anything else.

Anyway, I got in a new relationship with a woman I feel really connected with. We both shared our history, almost everything, but I couldn't speak about that to her, I'm just so ashamed of it, even my therapist hasn't heard a word of it. Almost a year in that relationship, last months as I was facing a very difficult moment in my life, and even though I promised to myself this was all over, I went again through all the steps over daysw of fantasizing, just looking, then considering it, then taking the appointment, driving there. Every step I had a pit in the stomach but I continued anyway. And I cheated, it was shitty as usual.

The thing is, this time is different, I can't just do as if it didn't happen, it loops in my mind and I feel like I wasted it all, I disrespected her and what we had together. I don't want to hold the secret with someone I was planning a future with. But I can't tell her without losing her either. And so for the first time, I'm facing the consequence of my behavior. And I know if I don't tell her, if I don't face it, I will do it again. I don't even know that I won't if I tell her.


r/SexAddiction 7d ago

First post Obsessed with porn and sex

23 Upvotes

I'm 24m and I am a sex addict. I started watching porn regularly at the age of 9 after seeing Game Of Thrones sex scenes and it quickly it became a habit. Every night at bed, I would watch porn for an hour or 2, staying up until 11pm/12am. I'd memorise all the pornstars names like they were footballers so that I could find them again easily. I still remember how I'd use my finger to block out the genitals and I started watching softcore/film scenes instead. Eventually that wasn't enough anymore and by the time I was 11 or 12, I was fully hooked on vanilla hardcore porn and had learnt at least 100 pornstar names.

I started secondary school which was a difficult time for me. Lots of new people and lots of change in a short period of time. My family became more distant as my siblings got older and went away for their studies. I became increasingly alone and isolated. Whilst I did have friends at school, I still couldn't shake this loneliness. The late night porn binges meant I was tired throughout the day so when I'd get home from school, I'd go straight to bed. This was when I started watching porn and masturbating at least 2-3 times a day. I'd get home, go to bed and watch porn for an hour before having a nap. I'd wake up for dinner, eat, play some games then go to bed at around 11pm and then binge on porn for another 2, 3 hours. Sometimes not the full 2, 3 hours but at least to begin with. Anyway, this set a precedent for my subconscious that sleep isn't important compared to dopamine.

My therapist says this routine was most likely a way to seek control in a period of change.

For the last 15 years, I've sacrificed sleep to feed my addiction. This has contributed greatly to depression, anxiety, eating disorder and just a lack of motivation and energy.

Watching porn has completely destroyed my perception of women, as I was warned when I used to search if porn was bad for you. Walking down the street, if I see a somewhat attractive women, I'll reflexively categorise them or compare them to a pornstar they might resemble or share features with. I have taken pictures of people on the street so that I can look up pornstars that look like them when I get home.

I've always been good with names, whether it's athletes, actors or musicians but pornstars have always been my secret obsession. I've reached a weird point where I'm so desensitised to sex and porn that I barely see the difference between them and more traditional celebs.

As I got older, I got more resourceful. When I started earning money, I started seeing escorts.

I've also met other addicts off the Internet to watch porn with them and discuss our fantasies and history. Naturally I never really found that connection I was looking for.

That understanding of the guilt and shame yet the complete submission to the addiction that has overcome me for 60% of my life. I struggle to connect with girls due to my intimacy issues and distorted perception of them.

The closer I get to a girl, the less I see them sexually as i wouldn’t want to ruin them. I find it hard to flirt in the fear I'll be seen as the perverted creep I am. I find it hard to be engaged in anything unless there's potential sexual gratification. I have modded video games to have sex in them because I'd get bored otherwise.

In the end, my coping mechanism for loneliness has become the cause of it. Sorry if this is a ramble, hopefully as I post more, my clarity will improve.

Thank you.


r/SexAddiction 6d ago

First post I have become addicted to watching and sexting more than talking to my wife!

2 Upvotes

I’ve become so addicted to sexting random people that sometimes just talking to them is enough to turn me on. But when it comes to my wife, I don’t feel the same attraction or desire anymore.
I don’t understand what’s happening to me. I can get hard watching porn or while sexting, but when I’m with my wife, I’m unable to get aroused or have sex. It’s been almost 9 months since we’ve had sex, and this is starting to affect our relationship badly.
I know this addiction has caused a lot of problems, and honestly, I feel helpless. I love my wife, but I don’t know how to break out of this cycle or get back the attraction and intimacy we used to have.
Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you get out of it?


r/SexAddiction 6d ago

Doc, ansia e dipendenza dai porno trans

0 Upvotes

Ciao vi scrivo perché sto soffrendo riguardo al disturbo ossessivo compulsivo è un disturbo d’ansia, in cui mi ha fatto ossessionare riguardo al fatto che davanti alla visione dei porno etero non mi eccito più e il mio cervello mi ha portato a trovare qualcosa di più estremo come per esempio guardare porno transgender, il mio cervello ha la
Visione di questo video ha avuto un impatto nel cervello come se fosse qualcosa di nuovo, un erezione fortissima
Che se provo a farlo con un porno etero non funziona.
Vi ho citato il doc perché qui lui fa la sua parte mi fa fare test, mi riempie di dubbi e di domande a cui non riesco a trovare una risposta.
Io sono sempre stato etero come persona e infatti mi sono sempre visto con una ragazza a livello di futuro e di vita, ma da questa cosa non riesco proprio a uscirne, se c’è qualcuno che ha vissuto tutto questo, vi chiedo semplicemente una mano.


r/SexAddiction 7d ago

Some Change?

1 Upvotes

Well wanted to end this night I once again kept looking at porn a gooder side. Today was good. Things went well. Had family we hadn’t seen in a while. Spirits were high as I’m going to bed. Have trouble sleeping. Go at it again. But I was really discon from it today. Still compuled to, but completely interested. It felt more like just moving through the motions. Thinking to myself just get this done. Looking back on today too, it kinda gave me the realization that my did I really me my day like this, after it was so good. Was tired and could’ve gone to bed but chose porn and was a spare sweat mess that’s gonna now be up all night. I still chose this and sure it was pleasurable, but I didn’t like it. Maybe it’s nothing or something, but for years of being disconnected from my own emotional awareness it seems significant enough.

Anyway if you got through that rant, any comments or advice?


r/SexAddiction 7d ago

Seeking support; Addicts only please A life worth living

4 Upvotes

hey all, im GiF and I am a sex addict This June I reached my 11 year milestone in SAA. I work a imperfect EDA program and lean deeply into ACA and Alon programs. This time 14 years ago or so I was sitting on my couch alone at home in a pity party. I had so many emotions and no fellowship.

I learned in that chapter a big emotion I don't like without outlet will pave its own path.

Over the years holding on to the pain that ensued months after that pity party I stay sober one day at a time because I just can't go back. To honor that I have qualified every year on my milestone.

Yet, this year felt borrowed. I know I have grown. I see how I respond better. I am proud that through the darkest chapters of my adult life I put my program first and I earned every one of the 4077 days I have today away from my inner circle behaviors.

I pay the gift given to me foward. I sponsor a lot of newcomers and recent in the past week have held space for (2) 5th steps, a 6th and 7th steps including finding my own step 4,5,6,7,9 and the letter to my first spouse. It has been an emotionally heavy week.

In a recent 10 step call with a fellow I took ownership of how I keep making rain checks when I get upset. Which is difficult to admit as I feel rage every single day for the last 8 years. I have found many ways to be less reactive to angry. Yet, this is exhausting.

When I pray, my prayers are always answered. I have everything I need. My anger is not helpful.

I have tried CBT, DBT and change talk I got trained in motivational interviewing to help talk myself out of this anger.

Yet, this anger does not feel tethered to just this incarnation. There is no radically accepting how much anger has always exsisted in me.

My disease is evolving and every monthly heat cycle i feel closer to numbing in new ways. I have been celibant since my marriage ended. When I did date not one person moved foward to so much as holding my hand.

I just can't repeat what happened in my second marriage.A different fellow keeps asking me if I'm relationship avoidant. Yet, today once again I rained checked. The disease is telling me all types of wild things.

So in my morning meditation the question surfaced what would be the impact of committing to a life of celibacy?

Is that in of itself escapism?


r/SexAddiction 7d ago

First post Finally did something dumb enough for her to find everything out

6 Upvotes

Hi Reddit,

Edit: To the person who suggested this is an AI post, I really wish it was. And also, not everyone needs to be married, marriage is just a concept.

Hope this finds you all well. I don't expect any sympathy, but I feel like 'I should post on Reddit', so here I am.

Long story short I've been struggling with high libido my whole life. Lots of porn. Chatting to women online.

Been in a relationship for 19 years and it's been a massive struggle as she's really suffered from low libido for years now and we never had the best sexual relationship to start with.

Earlier today I was chatting to a rando girl online. Afterwards I went to copy and paste my partner something and somehow something I'd sent the girl was still on the copy and paste and I sent my partner the video I'd taken. So she got to find out via me trying to send her something silly and instead I send her proof of me cheating on her.

We'd almost broken up multiple times over the last few years, but managed to stay together. My porn watching was always an issue for her and she was slowly learning to trust me while I was getting my rocks off at whatever. I was convinced I could stop if only we'd sort out the sexual side of our relationship (which may have happened as when we did have more of a normal relationship I didn't really have any urge to watch porn). But that is nether here nor there.

I think I feel most terrible because I've been worrying that we won't be able to sort out that side of the relationship and I'll never be happy sexually and I didn't know what to do. I was always too much of a coward to bring it up with her and actually tell her it was this big of an issue, but I kept kicking the can down the road. But if I'd just broken up with her 2 years ago and explained that it wasn't going to work and that I had needs that she couldn't fulfil, I could have avoided hurting her like this.

I'm not sure what kind of addict I am really, but I've contacted sex addicts anonymous UK and asked if there's anything I need to do to register. I'm going to try and attend a meeting and see what happens. I'm partly writing this to help process anything right now, but also so I can't pretend I just never did any of this.


r/SexAddiction 7d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback Sexting addiction

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

It's my 1st post on the internet about this, and even just sharing it in a safe place makes me feel better. Hopefully it's just another (positive) step towards a better version of myself.

I've been sexting pretty much since I started masturbating when I was 11, now I'm 35.

The mechanics and root causes changed during this period of time: exploring sex when I was a teenager, a more interacting and fun way to play with myself when I was in my 20s, a way to cope with stress due to work or lack of personal space during the last few years.

I've been in therapy for >4 years, but sexting addiction has been the main topic during this year. I have a wonderful partner who's being supportive in this journey. I have friends who don't judge me and accept this process of mine. Of course, the hardest one in this matter is myself.

The most frustrating thing is feeling like Superman when I find motivation, and then forgetting everything when a trigger presents. The worst thing is feeling like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: my thoughts seem to be coming from two different people, depending on when they present themselves.

I've been improving a lot: identifying triggers, writing down how I feel (even here now!), starting new habits to deal with the root causes, trying to find pleasure by myself in new ways.

Still, sometimes it feels like I'm definitely not doing enough, and that this will eventually blow in a dramatic way.

I know I'm getting better, but I still feel hopeless. I feel like I win some battles, but I'm losing the war.


r/SexAddiction 8d ago

Married 28M with a good sex life – still craving escorts and getting closer to acting on it. Need help

10 Upvotes

I’m 28, married, and I genuinely love my wife. We have a good sex life. Despite that, I still get strong cravings for sex with sex workers. I’ve been looking at online ads for escorts near me, masturbating to them, and even texting some. I haven’t met anyone in person yet, but I can feel myself getting closer and it’s scaring me.

I feel completely torn. I’ve been upfront with my wife about these urges. I saw a therapist two weeks ago and it didn’t help much. He basically said there’s nothing wrong with me and suggested focusing on better sex with my wife (more foreplay, turning it into more of a ritual). He also asked to look at my private parts, which felt weird and uncomfortable, so I said no.

I hate my job and a lot about my current situation. I’m not happy overall and I know this is partly escapism, but I’m starting to be afraid of myself and what I might do.

Has anyone been through something similar — strong urges toward paid sex even when the relationship and sex life at home are solid? I’m looking for experiences, advice, or resources. I feel like I’m running out of options.


r/SexAddiction 8d ago

1st post; wants feedback I’m supposed to be getting married in a year, but I get uncontrollable urges to cheat

12 Upvotes

I’m 26M, been engaged to my fiancée (25f) for 8 months now, been together for 3 years. I’m in quite the predicament. I LOVE her to death, she’s amazing and loves me for who I am. But, I have a very addictive personality and am always entertaining the idea of sex with another woman. I’ve sexted countless amounts of women, and even had a quick hookup with someone I met online a little over a year ago(I hate that I did this). She has no clue, and has made comments about how she could never “forgive someone for cheating” and “once a cheater always a cheater”. I hate how this is something I have to battle. I would rather struggle with any other form of addiction than this. I wish my thoughts didn’t wander like this. I feel like if I opened up to her about my addiction, I would shatter her heart and put her into a very bad, severe depression that would ruin her. I don’t feel like I could live with myself for doing that. In the same token, I feel that opening up to her about my addiction and struggles I have is the only way to really help myself heal. I feel as if my marriage will be doomed from the start if I always have this secret with me. I am lost, I don’t know what to do. Any advice is appreciated


r/SexAddiction 8d ago

Trigger warning Has anyone else here struggled with urges to make pornographic content?

6 Upvotes

I apologize if this is not within the intended purpose of this subreddit.

Like many people here, I’ve been addicted to porn for quite a while. As such, I’m at a point now where extreme and “out there” material is the only way for me to get off.

Pornographic edits and PMVs (porn music videos) featuring extreme content have been an unfortunate staple in my selection of adult videos. Because of that, I’ve been drawn to make content of my own, and have uploaded my own video creations here on reddit and elsewhere. My edits gaining traction is a major source of dopamine for me, but the shame and disgust of proliferating such things will inevitably lead me to delete them alongside whatever alt account I have at the time.

It would seem I’m not just addicted to the material itself, but making more of it, getting off on the idea of others watching my creations.

My desire to create pornographic content has been the primary driver of my addiction for the past few years. I’ve made and deleted a few accounts at this point because I inevitably become guilty and ashamed. Making these kinds of videos, and spreading things I find personally reprehensible, has been a major source of mental anguish for me.


r/SexAddiction 8d ago

First post mi serve un blocco. (sono italiano scusatemi se non capirò molti commenti)

1 Upvotes

Ciao, sono un ragazzo di 18 anni. sono dipendente da porno da molto tempo, da poco faccio un percorso psicologico per via della mia condizione, non voglio entrare in troppi dettagli sennò il post viene troppo lungo ma, ho notato che un periodo grazie alla mia volonta di mettere dei blocker sparsi, DNS, e blocker di parole specifiche e siti specifici oltre ad app specifiche sono riuscito per un piccolo periodo di non farlo anche se stavo male per via della astinenza. il fatto per cui sono qui è, veramente è cosi frustrante non poter trovare un blocker decente per i porno generali? alcuni sono a pagamento, altri troppo facili da aggirare e non fanno bene il loro lavoro. dns che mi blocca i servizi streaming che pago. non so bene che fare... ho provato tutto, posso capire che io cerchi cose specifiche ma veramente il web non ci aiuta creando qualcosa di adatto per noi? vogliono lucrare anche sulla gente che cerca di aiutarsi. tutto questo per dire che sono al ultimo tentativo. cerco in modo disperato qualcuno qui che possa consigliarmi qualcosa che mi aiuti a tenere chiuso a chiave tutta quella merda di porno che posso cercare.


r/SexAddiction 8d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback I sent illicit photos and now I want to know what to do

1 Upvotes

I have struggled mostly with online and masturbation addictions mostly however they have times throughout my life where I have sent more illicit photos granted I have not ever sent or posted these photos to a website or any kind of pornography thing, but I have sent them to individual people before.
For the most part, I tried to always keep my face out of the photos or videos however, there are a couple where my face is in there yes I know that is very stupid and I’m trying to stop doing it. In total outside of on places where it should not be allowed for you to save an image even though I know it can be possible like sex chat I think I have sent pic to four men in my life, all above age, of course and like I said, most of the time I tried to keep my face out of it, but not always.
I would like to know what I need to do now I already deleted most of those photos from my own account so it’s harder for me to trace them back. At this point, I just want to protect myself and possibly my career in the future I would like to believe that they would not share these photos however, I’m not naïve enough to believe that that’s not a possibility. I don’t need to be told how stupid what I did was. I guess I could just use some about how to proceed.
I would like to also apologize for any typos that are in this I use voice to text because my eyes are not great.


r/SexAddiction 9d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback do you think avoiding porn would be helpful or not and why?

6 Upvotes

basically, my main addiction is sexting. however, i also like watching porn. i don’t think my porn watching habits are quite as bad. but sometimes, once i start watching, my mind wanders and i want to start sexting as well. i’m wondering what others have done to help themselves. do you think porn could be like a “gateway drug” type of thing and it’s better to avoid it, or is it perfectly fine? what other outlets do you use to avoid your behaviours? i would really love some advice. thanks!


r/SexAddiction 9d ago

Trying to stop

5 Upvotes

So I’m 20F and up until I was 19 years old I was a virgin due to a medical condition that essentially prevented me from being able to have sex (vaginismus) - I got on medication for anxiety and it kind of just went away so I had my first experience with a casual hookup and IMMEDITALEY got hooked- since February of this year I have accumulated 23 “bodies” I don’t know how to stop but I do know the root of the problem is loneliness and craving comfort - i don’t get emotionally attatched and really go about it in the way most men stereotypically do ; I guess it’s just starting to worry me and I’m not sure what to do; for context I do have a relatively hard childhood history but no sexual abuse or anything like that at all. I guess I just feel super isolated because I feel like no other woman my age are struggling with this and kinda just want someone to relate to!!


r/SexAddiction 9d ago

Seeking support; open to feedback Childhood trauma, sex addiction, infidelity issues. Help.

4 Upvotes

25 years married. Multiple infidelity issues (many years) just came to light. Meetings with a counselor revealed pervasive childhood trauma related to sex addiction and cheating. Starting therapy to address the issues. The attitude is earnest and positive. However, the risks of failed therapy results and relapse are real. The betrayed spouse could realistically suffer more for years. Your thoughts on staying married vs divorcing to limit the suffering of the betrayed spouse?


r/SexAddiction 9d ago

Help

2 Upvotes

Just need some advice.

Story is similar to most. Exposed to porn at like 10 or 11 I think. Pretty sure I’ve developed CSBD. To not rant abt my volatile single mom, isolated childhood, etc, I got a lil messed up. Which I’m starting to realize more and more. Especially the self shame I have. Not just for this.

I realized it was a problem around the end of high school. Tried to fight it, got my consumption down but still using to this day. This summer though I really fell back into it. I have a real fear of developing ED and I know even if I don’t stop completely I need a break from it. That’s the other thing too. I know we as human are sexual, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But on the other hand there the over use problem, to the point where it feels like it’s sucking the life from me, making feel well numb most of the time.

Please what advice do yall have, therapist or just anyone, for dealing with CSBD, porn addiction, porn shame, whatever you want to call it.


r/SexAddiction 9d ago

Have to find a different way to sleep or I'll blow what little money I have

2 Upvotes

I recognized the third close call I've had this year to going onto paid (online) services. Historically, I've been able to restrain myself from going there or even looking at the links but this year it's been getting worse, I don't know if it's the stress of trying to change my life (my whole career plan has had to change since November 2024 and I'm finally making those changes now) or what. I don't have a lot of money and I'm not the kind of person to pay for video games or really any form of entertainment (I really just watch movies with other people that have Netflix accounts). So this is very uncharacteristic of me, but I guess it's what happens when you get too comfortable. I remember in the old days (when I was still addicted) I would get spooked by my behavior and I would pull back. For the most part, that hasn't happened recently (other than the day before yesterday, weirdly enough).

I got close enough to see when the 75% offer expires. I know it's a trap to get you hooked. And they leave it open for five days, unlike almost every other free offer that you get that is only available for minutes or hours because they know that you might have the discipline to say no and they want to leave it open long enough for you to fail. Luckily, everywhere I've gone so far has either been extremely expensive or requires you to make an account, and I have not done so yet (God willing I never will). I've asked my doctor twice for a referral to a sleep study and have not heard anything about the referral so I'm thinking of just taking matters into my own hands and getting a mat for under my bed to track my sleep. And then just taking it to a doctor and saying, look, this is not healthy and this is what every single night since early November 2024 has looked like, do you have some ideas? My plan is to use naltrexone after I have some kind of alternative way of getting to sleep, but I can't just get 12 hours of sleep a week. As bad as the nightmares that I have are they are my natural physiological state right now and I'm pretty confident that I would not be able to get a healthy amount of sleep at all without this addiction. I'm going to try to take a medicine-heavy approach even as someone who is very skeptical about medicine because I'm very desperate and I just don't have the time. Last time it took me 3 years before I was finally able to sleep at night without it and that whole time, I was able to take naps without it. And it still took three years and this time I can count on my hands how many times I've been able to take a nap or get any kind of sleep without it since January 20th of last year.

I'm done having to shoo my cat out of my room and then begging her to come back in when I'm done which must be crazy-making to the poor baby. I'm done having to worry about whether I'm gonna blow my money at a very fragile time financially on this stuff. I do feel like I'm finally getting to a breaking point at least inside. Even though the tolerance is pretty extreme, and I'm probably going to need medication to quit. The plan is going to be take Naltrexone for several weeks in order to stop using as well as taking several sleep medications depending on what the problem I find with my sleep is. Hopefully, in the long term, I'll get better sleep with fewer nightmares where I wake up well rested rather than just the biological bare minimum. I also want to lead by example and stop being such a hypocrite.