How to distract yourself when you are tempted?

Looking for ideas in how to distract myself when I am tempted.  Tried reading certain bible versus, playing video game, and staying away from electronic devices.  Feeling like I need more ideas for nights when it is worse. 
 
Try spending less time as possible in bed, at least that's where I'm most vulnerable
Maybe you could try a new hobby, new books, get a part time job or volunteer somewhere.. maybe get a chastity belt? or not
For me physical activity and watching movies is what I like best

Hope this help
 

malando

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
MustardSeedFaith said:
Looking for ideas in how to distract myself when I am tempted.  Tried reading certain bible versus, playing video game, and staying away from electronic devices.  Feeling like I need more ideas for nights when it is worse.
Are you a man or a woman?
 

malando

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
MustardSeedFaith said:
malando said:
MustardSeedFaith said:
Looking for ideas in how to distract myself when I am tempted.  Tried reading certain bible versus, playing video game, and staying away from electronic devices.  Feeling like I need more ideas for nights when it is worse.
Are you a man or a woman?
A woman.
Ok, thanks, sometimes I just have to check because there are males who sometimes come in this section and misuse it. Carry on!
 

Gambitchco

Active Member
MustardSeedFaith said:
Looking for ideas in how to distract myself when I am tempted.  Tried reading certain bible versus, playing video game, and staying away from electronic devices.  Feeling like I need more ideas for nights when it is worse.

How about yoga while listening to music?
 

faenoe

Active Member
Hello,
I have found that coming on here and reading other people's experiences to be extremely useful for getting out of the rut our brains get into. Whenever I feel a tempted, it stays there unless I do something about it. There are two things that make it go away: breaking my streak, or returning to this forum to get out of my own head and remind myself of what my real goal is.
Hope this helps.
 

ShadeTrenicin

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I think this differs from person to person. Besides distracting yourself it can also help to recognize what triggers your urges and create a workaround for the trigger.

Regarding the distraction; that is something that you need to figure out for yourself. Physical activity helps for men since the blood flows elsewhere, but i do not know if that also works the same way for women.
But additionally i've read that doing a really anti-sexual chore like the dishes/ironing etc helps. Going outside and away from electronics. And also having a special phrase you say to yourself, kinda like a mantra.

Personally i use the phrase: "is this the person i want to be? I will only feel worse afterwards, that is not who I want to be". This works for me, but it's different for everybody.

I wish you good luck.

 

Rookie

Active Member
I have 2, being a Christian with a fight against this thing, the first one is "I am not the only one that sees me doing this, He knows about it as well"...that's been a huge deterrent. The other, is if I have a streak going on, currently almost 30 days (might actually be 30 days, I haven't counted in the last couple), I think to myself, "if I cave now, all the progress I did, I have to start over...not going  there". Those 2 seriously help me keep fighting.

And I have all but eliminate the internet in the house. I don't watch any movie that might have not only nudity, but well endowed women...I know my triggers now, and I will want to see them on some sites that show the actresses. So, lately, cartoons only. I don't even look at Instagram anymore, seems the search button only brings me a ton of gorgeous women working out in Lululemons...

Strictly FB, Twitter (and not much of it) online banking and youtube...otherwise, work, groceries, cleaning the house, dad's camp and sleep...oh, and reading my bible a lot more as well.
 
Mustard seed faith , i am a boy of 18 years old and i was struggling for almost 3 months and have given up porn and masturbation for last 7 days and luckily today i found out that what can control my temptation and it is actually songs, especially of chainsmokers, taylor swift and haillee steinfeld . it helped to come back to reality and do my work . I hope this helps you in anyway
 

Artemus

Active Member
I'm a dude, but I've been having success with just relaxing and refusing to stimulate myself. Engaging the thoughts usually becomes a tug of war that ends badly. Changing ones POV helps, I've been motivating myself simply by wanting to explore what happens if I don't give in to the temptation. What happens, what lies beyond me not doing this? The porn for me has been easier to let go of as of late, simply by learning some facts about the performers, like the fact that most P-Stars die by the age of 37, while average people go to 72. They also usually die of murder, overdose or STD's. We also know now that sex trafficking plays a role and its entirely possible the people we are watching are being coerced or forced to perform. Very few enter the porn profession out of desire for pleasure, most come from broken or abusive homes. So knowing all that changes what I've been seeing, instead of pleasure and fun its misery and sadness. Now negative reinforcement of a bad habit will only keep you straight for a short time, we need positive reinforcement to build better habits. Without stimulating myself the porn loses its appeal quickly. Bible verses are great and powerful, but we do have to have the faith that he will deliver or its pointless. Faith leads to freedom.
 

Caravan7

Member
Looking for ideas in how to distract myself when I am tempted. Tried reading certain bible versus, playing video game, and staying away from electronic devices. Feeling like I need more ideas for nights when it is worse.
Hi MustardSeed,

Try my technique R.E.L.A.X, an acronym, I explain it in detail in another post, if you use the search function for "Try RELAX" you should find it. See also the 16 principles of recovery by user Phineas.

Mind you, it's written from a straight man perspective, so you'll have to adjust as needed.
In brief:
Recognize that attraction itself is rooted in nature, don't beat yourself up
Evaluate whether that urge is significant for you and your life, most likely no!, thus think:
"Let go," let it wash over you, don't follow it (take deep breath and RELAX)
Acknowledge that you have a bigger issue (the addiction) and tell yourself "I'm working on it" Of course you have urges, that's to be expected.
Xplore [explore] other ideas and activities: think about something good and valuable, such as a creative project, a friends' gathering, or anything non-sexual really. Better still, get into one of these activities straight away

And also, all obvious but all true:
Healthy nutrition
Plenty of exercise (out in nature a plus)
Plenty of good sleep
Good quality social time (friends, family)

Have a strategy in place before hand. Tell yourself: when I feel a urge I will immediately do [RELAX or whatever you choose]
The immediately part is important. The trigger takes only a fraction of a second.

Best :)
 
D

Deleted member 23018

Guest
Struggling with this too. Not keeping my phone around helps me a lot, but is also pretty damn hard. Too hooked on that thing. And yeah, working out helps, running, socializing with friends.
 

Xanax

New Member
The important thing is to limit your access to the things that tempt you. You can read a book or get outside.
 
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