Addiction - Sexual, Porn
Sexual addiction, especially pornography addiction, is becoming more and more rampant. Once seen only in mature or adolescent men, it is now becoming increasingly common among both genders and throughout the lifespan. Sexual addiction is the most difficult of all addictions to overcome - though it is so very common. For that reason, specialized resources are provided here.
Other relevant resources can be found in the "Addictions, General" section.
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Best Books on Sexual Addiction
These are our favorite books on healing from sexual addiction:
- The Drug of the New Millennium - The Brain Science Behind Internet Pornography Use, by Mark B. Kastleman
- He Restoreth My Soul: Understanding and Breaking the Chemical and Spiritual Chains of Pornography Addiction Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, by Donald L. Hilton, Jr., MD (LDS)
- Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction, by Patrick Carnes, PhD
- Clean Hands, Pure Heart: Overcoming Addiction to Pornography Through the Redeeming Power of Jesus Christ, by Philip A. Harrison (LDS)
- Putting on the Armor of God, by Steven A. Cramer (LDS)
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For more books on additional topics, please visit our Best Books Catalog.
Handouts on Porn / Sexual Addiction
(All in PDF format)
1) Understanding Your Addictive Cycle: A 4-Step Model. A model designed to help addicts understand the repetitive nature of their pattern, and to learn how to interrupt it.
2) Thought Distortions Associated with Sexual Addiction. A list of destructive thought patterns that fuel sexual addiction, so these can be replaced and overcome.
3) Thought Distortions - Definitions. A more detailed list defining the various thought distortions associated with sexual addiction
4) Relapse Analysis Worksheet. To promote learning and self-understanding after a relapse, to reduce its recurrence.
5) "How Did I Get Here Again?" - The SUD's. How the SUDs - "Seemingly Unimportant Decisions" - can derail recovery; using the power of personal choice productively.
6) Why Is Porn So Incredibly Addictive? Insights from Mark Kastleman about 4 hormones that get activated by porn.
7) Coping Strategies Menu. Identifying coping strategies in 4 areas, to prevent additional relapses.
Defending Against Pornography
The internet is a marvelous tool, allowing us within seconds to access information, contact people around the world, and share our ideas with others. But the internet has also, within a few short years, become the primary avenue for distributing pornography and other sexualized media. Our laptops, cell phones, and other internet-ready devices have become a 24-7 resource, delivering all kinds of material with just a few clicks and perhaps a search word or two. How can we protect ourselves and our families against the infiltration of pornography, and the tremendously addictive potential of this increasingly prevalent problem?
-- Defending against pornography has two faces --
- First, to help those already addicted to porn to escape its enslaving influence; and
- Second, to fortify ourselves and our families against exposure to it.
It can be useful to describe this process with an acronym: DEFEND:
| D - Discriminate |
| E - Educate |
| F - Filter |
| E - Exemplify |
| N - Neutralize |
| D - Delight |
Promoting Respect Handouts (LDS)
These handouts were used in a recent class about promoting respect in marriage, and neutralizing pornography and pornification of our culture. They are all in PDF format, for easy download:
| Handout 1: Promoting Respect (Quotes from LDS leaders) |
| Handout 2: Defending Against Pornography, In All Its Forms |
| Handout 3: Porn and Media: (Why they can be so addictive and powerful) |
| Background Article 1: "Ye Are the Temple of God" (Bednar, 2000 - Importance of Our Bodies) |
| Background Article 2: "Things As They Really Are" (Bednar, 2009 - Discerning Cyber-Counterfeits) |
| Background Article 3: "Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan" (Bednar, 2006 - Need for Couple Time) |
LDS Articles on Sexual Addiction
For many years, LDS Church leaders have been prolific in warning against the ravages of pornography and sexual addiction. For decades they have taught that besides the personal devastation - emotional and spiritual - that this behavior engenders, it also generates incalculable heartbreak in marriages and families, as well as in society at large. The list below is by no means comprehensive, but represents some of the more recent talks on this subject by LDS leaders.
Favorite Articles:
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Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Tragic Evil Among Us,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 59–62. "Pornography is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful." |
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Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” Ensign, May 2005, 87. "Let us all improve our personal behavior and redouble our efforts to protect our loved ones and our environment from the onslaught of pornography." |
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Thomas S. Monson,“Pornography, the Deadly Carrier,”Ensign, Jul 2001, 2. "Pornography, the carrier, is big business. It is evil. It is contagious. It is addicting. May I suggest three specific steps in our battle plan..."
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