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“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Addiction can be a a slippery slope which may cause severe harm to those who spiral in it. Let’s understand that addiction doesn’t have to be a life-long struggle for them and that a cure is possible. Alcoholics anonymous pioneered the 12-step program for addiction recovery which has now reached about 74% of treatment facilities and organizations. This model has become highly prevalent among the mental health community and reached a large number of people combatting addiction.

This program works o the principle that those seeking recovery need to surrender their addiction to a higher power (could be spiritual or religious based on the individual’s beliefs) and start the process of the healing and gradually decrease the use of the chosen substance. These can be achieved by attending recovery meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous and likewise. People can share their experiences of addiction with each other and provide mutual support while following the 12-step program together.

The 12-step model includes the following:

1. Admitting powerlessness over the addiction

2. Believing that a higher power (in any form) can help

3. Deciding to turn control to the higher power

4. Taking a personal inventory

5. Admitting to the higher power, oneself and another person the wrongs done

6. Being ready to have the higher power correct any shortcomings in one’s character

7. Asking the higher power to remove those shortcomings

8. Making a list of wrongs done to others and being willing to make amends for them

9. Contacting those who have been hurt, unless doing so will harm the person

10. Continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when one is wrong

11. Seeking enlightenment and connection with the higher power via prayer (if one’s belief allows) and meditation

12. Carrying the message of 12-steps to others in need

This program offers support, encouragement and hope to those seeking recovery. This program can be used with other treatment methods like individual therapy, mindfulness, residential treatment programs, family therapy and so forth. It’s important to understand that one may not go sequentially through all steps and might go back and forth from them. This is okay as recovery is a process and takes time, patience and resilience. If meetings are not available in your area, you can also try to adopt these steps on your own with the support of a trusted friend, relative or mentor.

Remember, recovery is possible and you are capable of it. Have faith in yourself and your strength to overcome your powerlessness to the substance and reach out for support and help. You are not alone and there are people who want to be there to support you through this journey of healing.

The beginning of puberty brings many changes in a teen’s life. Our hormone levels shoot up, our bodies undergo various changes which are all a signal that we’re going through a transition from teen to tween, and consequently, our curiosity about sex and sexuality increases. Like any other addiction which disrupts our daily lives, watching porn too has become an addiction, especially in teenager boys. Porn depicts a world where relationships mean nothing and the only thing that matters is immediate sexual gratification. This leads to the viewer’s brain being rewired to expect many misconceptions like:

• Relationships are separate from one another
• Bodies of men and women should be sexually exaggerated as they are in porn

The latter one may also lead to shame about one’s own body as well as failure to be excited by the bodies of others.

Below are a few steps which you can take to find if you do have an addiction to porn, tips to understand the issue and change your habit.

1. Acknowledging your addiction

Have a look at these symptoms and answer yourself to get a clearer sense of how much addicted to porn you are:

• Despite trying to leave this habit, you cannot stop watching it
• You get angry or annoyed if you are asked to stop using porn
• All or part of your porn is a secret from your family and friends
• Despite its negative consequences, you continue to watch porn
• You have wasted a lot of time as you've been absorbed in porn

2. Identify your triggers

A trigger is anything that drives you to watch porn. It could be a certain moment in your routine, like going to sleep, or a scantily clad actor on TV, etc. Once you know your triggers, you can replace them with something that will divert your attention until the urge goes away. For instance, if you see a pop-up that drives you to watch porn, switch to something like playing your favourite video game immediately. You might not be able to avoid the pop-up completely, but you can start replacing porn with a habit that’s less harmful. Just make sure that you don’t spend much time merely avoiding.

3. Cut your sources

Removing the sources where you watch porn is also helpful. Scratch the pornographic DVDs, magazines and other tangible sources in a way that they cannot be recovered. If you watch porn online, then use browser extensions or other software that will limit your access to such sites. Internet sensors like StayFocused or Net Nanny might also help.

4. Focus somewhere else

Try to build up a new hobby or habit to replace the time you waste watching porn. Don’t let the time you would spend watching porn stay empty else it will be even harder for you to resist it. Consider which activity or sport do you talk about a lot and then shift your focus towards it.

If you still have a problem dealing with porn addiction, you can chat with our experts or send an email to expert@teentalkindia.com.