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Often when an individual is struggling with pornography use, there are accompanying feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, and hopelessness. It is vital to realize that there is hope and that help is available. Addictions can be overcome; unwanted behavioral patterns can be changed; hearts can be transformed.
Ecclesiastical Leaders
It is vital to discuss your circumstances openly with your ecclesiastical leaders and to seek the help of the Lord. Your bishop can help you through the process of repentance, and can lighten the heavy burden you may have been carrying alone. The cleansing of the Atonement can help transform your life, and the power of faithful prayer can help you overcome problems that may seem too difficult to conquer by yourself.
Professional Therapy with a Licensed Mental Health Clinician
(such as a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychiatrist, and so forth)
Individual Therapy can help identify triggers that lead to unwanted sexual behaviors, You can create strategies to interrupt this cycle. Such strategies could include: distraction techniques to stop thinking about pornography; alternate non-destructive behaviors instead of viewing pornography (i.e. physical exercise, listening to music, hobbies); and prevention strategies (fostering new ways of thinking and behaving to prevent falling back into the previous unwanted behaviors).
Group Therapy for the client and/or the spouse can help in the same way as above. Additionally, participating in a group can help reduce the sense that one is alone with such problems. Group members share ideas and support one another. Often things are learned in groups settings that are difficult to learn in any other way (such as how the client is seen by others, how behavior affects others, or learning through someone else's experiences).
Marital Therapy can help repair damage done to the marriage relationship, improve communication, restore trust, increase emotional and physical intimacy, change couple patterns that may be contributing to the problem, and involve the spouse in the process of recovery.
Self-help 12-step group programs often include the use of a sponsor (a sponsor is an individual who has struggled with and has overcome a similar addiction). Such programs can teach the individual how to maintain emotionally healthy relationships, clarify how the problem behaviors developed and how to prevent it from returning. Such programs frequently offer help to family members. This could include helping family members learn more about the nature of the addiction and how they can help their loved one recover.
In the future, BYU hopes to provide a listing of local professionals and clinicians that can assist those struggling with internet / pornography.
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