“What influences are contributing to my pornography use?” Help for Pornography Users (2019)

“What influences are contributing to my pornography use?” Help for Pornography Users

We may feel trapped in our pornography use, and we may fear we will continue to be tempted. However, we can find hope in knowing that it is possible to overcome even the most challenging pornography problems.

As we seek to make changes, it can be helpful to evaluate the severity of our pornography use, identify triggers that lead us to pornography, and discover influences that may be contributing to our behavior.

Evaluating Our Pornography Use A good first step is evaluating the extent of our pornography problem. When we are honest and realistic about how long we’ve been using, how often we use, and the unhealthy results of our use, we can determine the best ways to move forward. We should be cautious about placing labels on ourselves because of our behaviors. (For more information about evaluating your use, see “How can I tell if I am addicted?”) If we’ve been struggling with pornography use for a long time, using it often, or using more intense material, this may be due to biological, psychological, social, and spiritual influences. Identifying these influences may take time, patience, and effort, but understanding them can help us change.

Our Biological Influences Biological influences take place in the body, especially in the brain, and may include things like: Natural biological drive

Genetics

Brain chemistry

Physical health

Diet

Exercise Health practitioners, both traditional and nontraditional, can be good sources of information and help. Many mental health professionals encourage their patients to disclose their problems and concerns to a medical doctor and get a complete medical exam. A medical doctor may be able to help us identify biological needs we should address, which can help us overcome this challenge. The following video teaches more about biological influences.

Our Psychological Influences Psychological influences contribute to how we think about and view the world, including how pornography affects us. Psychological influences may include things like: Post-traumatic stress

Difficult life experiences

Mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression)

Attitudes and moral beliefs about sexual information

Normal developmental curiosity

Body image

Overall self-esteem

Emotional well-being (such as stress or sense of security) It may not be obvious to us how our psychological influences contribute to our pornography use. It can take some work to understand these influences. It may be helpful to seek advice from mental health providers, family members, and friends. It’s important to find a mental health professional who is right for us and provides a sense of connection. (See “How do I find a mental health professional who is right for me?”) We might also consider books, credible websites, and other resources focused on decision-making and behavior. (See “Outside Resources” Resources [2019]) Be thorough and prayerful in identifying the best help. The following video teaches more about psychological influences.

Social Influences Social influences affect how we relate to and interact with others. These influences may include things like: Social and cultural beliefs regarding healthy sexuality

Relationships with friends and family

Social support system

Social and cultural environment As we seek out and establish healthy social relationships, we can gain strength and courage to change. Everything we experience in daily life and what we learn from peers, our parents, music, TV, and other media can positively or negatively impact our ability to resist pornography. We can evaluate our daily routine, the people we spend time with, and the way we interact with our social world and then identify what changes we may need to make. The following video teaches more about social influences.

Spiritual Influences Spiritual influences include how we see and understand ourselves, others, and the world in relation to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Some examples of spiritual influences include: Our concept and understanding of God

Our relationship with and our feelings about God and Jesus Christ

Our past spiritual experiences with feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost

Our testimony of the Savior and our understanding of His Atonement A fundamental belief that can help us turn away from pornography is believing and accepting that God has the power to strengthen us and help us change. God’s laws lead us to true and lasting happiness. Often, feelings of shame can separate us from the love of God. As we learn to trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can view our mistakes as opportunities to learn, grow, and show God our commitment to keep trying. The following video teaches more about spiritual influences.

Moving Forward Asking ourselves questions about why we use pornography can help us identify and understand our biological, psychological, social, and spiritual influences. Assessing our influences, studying out possible solutions in our minds, and turning faithfully to Heavenly Father in prayer can help us find the answers we need to make progress and find success.