Addiction

[rich flax]

I don't know where to put it but I'll try here.
I'm struggling with a self-pleasure addiction. I started a year ago and it was okay at first, but then I became addicted and wanted to quit. I'm trying to stay clean from it, but I keep relapsing, and every time I do, I feel guilty and disgusted. I just want to stop because I feel terrible. Do you have any tips on how to quit? I'm still learning English, so I'm sorry if I misspelled anything.

[stray crystal]

what have you tried already to quit?

[rich flax]

Wdym

[stray crystal]

in what ways did you try to quit?

[rich flax]

I just tried to stop thinking abt it and avoid triggers

[coral cypress]

Focus on other works it makes you forget them like the more you focus on something just like relationship with God the more u focus on him the more u avoid triggerimg it or sin
Even if u still failed keep going till u success 🙂

[stray crystal]

I just tried to stop thinking abt it and avoid triggers
ok, that's a start. What's missing in your life does the "self-pleasure addiction" try to fill?

[rich flax]

I need to think deeper abt it

It started when I was trying to cope with sh

And now even that I'm over sh and worse time in my life that habit is still here

I think I just used self-pleasure to run away from reality for a moment

But even though I felt guilt and shame every time I did it, I still couldn't stop relapsing

Every time I tried to quit and focus on other things, there was always one weak moment that made me do it again

[stray crystal]

busying yourself with other activities loses effectiveness over time because the root cause was never addressed. You'll have to get at the heart of why the sh happened. If you can eliminate the source of the sh, then what reason would there be to return to the addiction?

[rich flax]

sh happened because there was a time when I was bullied, but that passed

I don't know why I keep returning to the addiction

[stray crystal]

i'm sorry that you were bullied.

Perhaps one explanation for why you returned to the addiction is because it comforted you during the difficult times, and maybe something in your life is currently also difficult (if not bullies, maybe it's school stress or relationship stress? Could be anything 🤷.).

[rich flax]

It's probably the school stress. During winter break it was easier to stay "clean" from this habit. Few days ago it ended and I have many tests in school, maybe it's the reason

[rich flax]

And thanks for all the help

[stray crystal]

i reward myself with a small chocolate bar for the days I resist my temptation. When I give into the temptation, I don't get to eat the chocolate bar. Over time, I've noticed that my ability to resist is a little stronger. What are your thoughts on using a reward system?

[rich flax]

It sounds great