Find Help for Porn Addiction Before It’s Too Late
By Dustan Sheehan, Recovering Porn Addict
I’ve made mistakes that I’ll spend my life paying for, and though I can’t undo my past, I want to help others avoid the same path. If you’re struggling with porn addiction or heading down a road you never imagined, know that it’s not too late to change.
Not everyone has a problem with porn. Like alcohol, some people can drink socially, with no problem. Similarly, some people may be able to watch porn without any negative effects. But for others, porn is an addiction that slowly takes over their lives, robbing them of meaningful relationships, self-respect, and peace. It’s easy to get caught in a downward spiral of shame, secrecy, and compulsion. If you’re reading this and it sounds familiar, I want you to know that I understand. I’ve been there.
Addiction is often driven by more than just habit. It’s rooted in deep emotional pain, loneliness, or even trauma. For me, it was a way to numb feelings of shame and anxiety that I didn’t know how to cope with. The more I indulged, the worse I felt about myself, and the cycle kept repeating. Eventually, my addiction took me to places I never thought I’d go, causing immense damage to myself and the people I love.
If you’re experiencing something similar, I’m here to tell you there is hope. You don’t have to live in shame forever. There are people who understand, and there are ways to break free. For me, seeking help was the turning point. I went through an intensive inpatient program for sex addiction, followed by a 52-week intensive outpatient program (IOP) plus an additional 6 months. I have continued doing weekly group and individual therapy sessions for over three years. It has been hard, humbling, and life changing. But you don’t need to hit rock bottom like I did to get help.
Another thing that has helped me immensely was joining 12-step programs that focus on sex related addictions, like Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA). If you’re new to 12-step programs, these programs offer a safe, non-judgmental space to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Whether you join in person or online, these groups provide much-needed support, accountability, and fellowship. If you’re familiar with other 12-step groups, like AA, you’ll find these groups are very similar. They just focus on sex addiction rather than alcohol.
Breaking free from porn addiction isn’t easy, and it takes time. The withdrawal can be brutal — physically, emotionally, and mentally. You might experience mood swings, anxiety, and depression, but that’s all part of the healing process. I went through it, and I can tell you firsthand that it does get better. Every day without porn is a step toward reclaiming our lives and our dignity.
The most important thing to remember is that we are more than our addictions. We’re not doomed to live in the grip of compulsion forever. Change is possible, but it requires action — whether that’s reaching out to a therapist, attending a 12-step meeting, or even entering an inpatient treatment program.
If you’ve gone down a path you never thought you would, there’s still time to turn around. You don’t have to live a life of regret. You can heal, rebuild, and find joy again.
Thank you for reading. If my story helps even one person, it will have been worth it. If you need someone to talk to, reach out to me through Scott at Seeking Integrity. There are people who care, and there is hope.