What stage of the addiction are you?

As you analyze each stage of recovery, you will shortly feel a sense of hope.

You have no idea how these stages of recovery will build a solid life of freedom.

At the conclusion of this article, you will make a choice to improve your life or keep on doing what you are doing.

However, you are worth more!

If you step from one stage of recovery to the next stage, the last stage seals your recovery from porn addiction.

Very Important: Think about each stage first before going to the next.  If you read the last stage first, you will get the wrong impression.

Let’s Start.

First Question: Are you powerless over addictive sexual behavior?

You hate pornography! Yet, inside, you still feel a burning urge to ride the erotic waves of porn, just one more time, one more site; you can’t stop. 

The addiction has become an emotional hell.  Your soul is crying for relief.

You feel shame, depression, and self-loathing. Despair saps the strength out of you.

You hate what you have become,  You feel worthless.  Life has lost meaning. 

The Great Paradox: The misery you feel causes you to go back for more.

Your life as become unmanageable!

You still have a love/hate relationship with pornography.

1. You are in the Precontemplation Stage of change: “I WON’T CHANGE” OR “I CAN’T CHANGE”.

Taking the next step, you weigh the pros and cons for changing.  Take the steps.

Second Question:  Do you need a power greater than yourself to break free from pornography?

You experience the feelings of being sick and tired of the emotional pain (negative energies).

You’ve had it!  You can’t go on like this any more.

If you have come to this point in your life, then you may qualify for help.

2. You are in the Contemplation Stage of change: “I may change”; you are thinking about stopping.

You humbly sacrifice yourself to change, sacrificing erotic pleasure to having sanity.

You are aware of some of the benefits of change, and less satisfied with your present physical, mental, and emotional health.

If someone wanted to help you and go through recovery with you, would you feel more at ease?

I hope so; this Blog guides hurting people with pornography addiction to find relief.

Taking the next step, you consider the advantages.

Question Three: Are you ready to make a decision to help yourself recover?  Yes!

3. You are at the Preparation Stage to change: “I will”.

At this time, write a short statement on what you are committing to do.

For instance; “I commit to have sobriety from pornography and inappropriate sexual behavior.  I know that I have conditioned my brain and body to react to sexy women, pictures, and talk.  However, when I slip, I will not beat myself up but ask, “Why? and What can I do differently the next time? I am committed to my sanity. I choose to have Peace in my life.”

4. Action Stage: “I am” performing the actions necessary for change.

What may be challenging situations for you? How can you change the meaning for these triggers.

For example, your eyes fall on a woman’s breast. You say to yourself, “That’s just a habit.” You then bounce your eyes away from her.

Another example, you become aroused seeing a beautiful model on TV. You say, “My body has been conditioned to respond to women this way.” You look away or change channels.

Feeling a ping or becoming aroused in your pelvic region is just a signal to look away, stop doing, or just allow the sensations pass.  Don’t beat yourself up.

5. Maintenance Stage: “I sill am”

21 days = a habit; 21 months = a new lifestyle.  

Possible Obstacles:

• Overcome Boredom by Daily Reading his story; Morning devotions
• Overcome with Short-Term Motivators by Following your heart’s purpose and giving a little each day to your life purpose (Cause).

Strategy:

1. Model spiritual people (not necessarily religious)
2. Develop a long-term vision: Heaven is your home/destination.  Your purpose is your life-goal.
3. Stay connected to your values, strengths, resources, vision, goals, and motivators.
4. Find a group with like-minded goals for overcoming porn addiction.
5. If necessary, find a therapist trained to counsel you for addiction.

The first 5 stages are inspired by James Prochaska (Prochaska, 2008).

 

To your peace,

Dale Criswell

Reference

Prochaska, J. (2008). Decision Making in the Transtheoretical Model of Change. mdm.sagepub.com; February 5, 2015. Retrieved  from http://mdm.sagepub.com/content/28/6/845.full.pdf.