What's the Point?

When you're choosing to do the right thing, and it's painful and lonely...

...everything seems empty and futile.

The happiness you felt a few days ago may as well have been last year.

Mourning; a list

Listening to the podcast by Blazing Grace ministries, I heard a good suggestion by one of the hosts/counselors which was to list out and mourn the things you missed. Then you can forgive and heal and even be thankful for the ways God's taken the bad and used it for good in your own personality. (note to self ---explain this better)

• Dad didn't come to my army basic-training graduation
• He wasn't there for me in the formative teenage years (sex talk, etc.)
  
• He didn't affirm me, pat me on the back or listen to me
  
• He didn't defend me from teasing and taunting in the family
  

He didn't teach me much about life or being a man.

resetting the thermostat

The book "Saying Goodbye to Stubborn Sin" has a good analogy of habits and addictions. Our thermostat gets set too high, and we can't live with the same "temperature" (of boredom, anger, horniness, whatever) as we used to.

Resetting the thermostat isn't as easy and finding it and turning the dial a little tho. We can only reprogram it over time by changing our actions. Little by little it gets easier and the pressure is eased. It's like if you've been failing a course all year, trying to bring up your average isn't easy. If it took you a while to entrench that habit/addiction, it'll take time to dig it out and get rid of it.

There's a lot of metaphors here, but if you dug yourself a hole, you gotta stop digging, decide to do an about-face, and start filling the hole in! That sounds like work (frustrating work)... and it is.

Connections and Sparks

Listening to some podcasts from Blazing Grace, I heard the phrase, "connections" and it reminded me of how that's what I wanted from my Dad, and looked for in all relationships ever since.




I even stepped over the line once as a Samaritan volunteer. There was a particularly cleverly manipulative caller who I allowed to trick me into an uncomfortable situation. I respected the people and the organization way too much to not think seriously about the encounter. I learned more about myself from this situation than anything else for a year before or after. Why did I find it so hard to be firm against her manipulation? Now I can see that the connection had a huge draw for me.

It's easier to find a loud and quick connection through the eyes in all the sexualized stuff on the internet and the rest of the media all around. It's tempting to go for the "easy" and quick rather than the strong and deep.

I know God is the answer but I hesitate... Do I not trust Him? Am I angry and sulking? It's so easy to get distracted and move on to something else. All the while my life is ticking away.

I could keep zapping myself with images and bolts of counterfit stuff, going 'round and 'round with emptiness and numbness. The connections aren't working though. They seemed to be fine, but there's no avoiding that there are negative side effects.

To get anywhere, I need to get up and leave behind the stuff that seems so easy and familiar, stretching out for something more subtle and elusive.

Attitude, emotions and reality

One of the first glimmers of hope and light that cracked through this porn/masturbation was the idea that I might have a very longstanding problem connected to "trapped emotions". This was the beginning of a long and winding journey--the way I react to negative emotions, the way I see myself and the way I see God.

Trapped emotions do go back to the start of my problem.

So I don't want to squash and deny my emotions.
But how do I process them in a healthy way?

Experimenting means I sometimes end up spending too much time wallowing in my pain.
Embracing the sadness and pain has a ring of truth and reality that seems to be "Good News" even to the Church itself. But there's gotta be a time to move on.

Moving on, isn't that just squashing my emotions again?

Attitude!

That's a helpful way to look at it. I can watch and change my attitude, while learn my way through these messy confusing emotions.

Check and adjust your attitude. Conquer and rule your attitude, without squashing or denying those emotions. Yes there is sadness and pain. Yes it's a part of you. But you are in charge and your attitude decides how much space to give to your feelings and when to listen to them and when to say, "okay, time to look ahead".

Thanks to Russ from Attitudes of Sexual Integrity for so much help and support in this process.

Childish Ways

I heard about "self parenting" from the guy who first introduced me to the concept of "trapped emotions".

I've not been able to find much about it on the internet, but it seems like a kid who's left to raise himself to some degree comes up with his own boundaries and self-imposed rules. Not ideal. I can remember bragging and joking that "my bedtime is 2am, unless I'm having a good time"--that was on a school night.

Is it because I'm letting out these teenage emotions that I'm justifying giving myself what I want (orgasm, food, etc.) now? I've never seen myself as having any succeses with discipline, but otherwise this self-parenting is hitting me like a L.S.D. flashback because it's buried down there with all these emotions. Taking away the drug of Masturbation is exposing it all again.

Wrong Drug for the Pain

So, a BJ is great, but it doesn't address the pain. A lunchtime quickie is wonderful, but it doesn't make me better. Of course an emptier one-sided orgasm is definitely of no use.

A great singer/songwriter named Samantha Murphy said in one of her interviews that before she could give up smoking, she had to learn to sit in the middle of an empty room alone and in pain, and just experience it. That's been very helpful for me to hear.

Two Confessions

I confess that I've been giving into eating junk food to ease the pain of me not having my porn/masturbation drug. There, I've said it here. Next I need to say it to someone who knows me and is close to me. I think my wife is more understanding of my problem with porn than she is with food!

Got a "No" for the last 48 hours. Maybe my attitude contributed to it. But last night I knew she didn't want to, and selfishly thought if I push it I'll feel bad knowing it's wrong. With porn I could pretend "she" wanted it as much as me. The naemless/faceless beauty always seemed so keen. But with my real relationship, my much-better bride and lover, that was not the case.

So I made the right choice to roll over. I was so tired, so sleepy after working in the backyard most of the weekend. Still, I wanted IT more than sleep. When I rolled over I felt these emotions wash over me: anger, resentment, sadness. I wan't sleepy anymore.

My mind is telling me that I should feel good and have an orgasm even out of context of a loving and intimate time with her. I've sorta brainwashed myself with all these images of instant and always ready bj's.

Choosing to masturbate doesn't work because it leaves me empty and sets off a chain reaction of guilt and pain.

Pushing her to pleasure me or let me use her to "maturbate" is wrong as well. I don't want to use her as one of those male sex-aid masturbation things. She's not a receptacle for my needs. Besides, it delays the hard work of facing my loneliness or pain or frustration, making it harder to face it next time. It isn't good for our relationship because it's using her and is kinda bringing her into my masturbation life. I can kid myself that maybe as I get turned on touching her that maybe, maybe she'll get turned on and we'll make love "properly". But I know she doesn't want to give out really.

Third and last choice. Not feeling good. Not having an orgasm. Triggering the anger and sadness and maybe missing the orgasmic feelings that help me sleep nicely. One thought that came from the last time I made this, the good third choice is.....

"I will never experience an orgasm easily again."

I mean never again quickly.

The porn movie where a rich guy sits around all day with one of his love-slaves taking turns blowing him... That was so unhelpful. Wanting a BJ in the middle of the day, a quickie is just B.S.

The kids are upstairs playing and I know they'll be happy and they won't disturb us downstairs. That's plenty of time.... to masturbate. Problem is, it's not enough time to make love. My brain goes crazy trying to rationalize a way to hope and manipulate and wish this isn't true.

Red Lizzard the Parasite

There must be a good analogy of a parasite that attaches itself to someone invisibly.

Then as it grows, the fact that it's stealing your life starts to show.

A really smart parasite will monitor itself and try to stay under the radar.

But when you declare war, when you go under the knife to get this parasite removed....

Then the parasite knows it's war. It pulls out all the stops and does anything and everything it can to get you to leave it alone.

I am not aware of unrealistic expectations toward my wife in our sex life. But now that I've declared war against this parasite, I'm wanting more and more from her. While porn was allowed to live in it's own little box, the lies were nurturing and growing unseen.

I don't believe that I really have screwed up my sexual expectations, but it's like the Japanese knowing they were about to loose the war, so they pulled out all stops and sent out the kamikaze pilots. It's too late for the addiction to try to stay under the radar. The war is now raging. I'm not gonna give up and I'm not gonna accept anything but death of this parasite. Yeah, I stumble and I get tired. I'm gonna give my kids some leadership show them a life of sexual freedom.

Taking a Little Less

Last night was a "No". I was getting frustrated with just going thru the motions and thought it was time for a break. I was laying there thinking, "It sucks that we don't do it in different places, different times, and that she never thinks of dressing for sex".

See I had accepted that it made sense to not make love tonight, but the whiney teenager just found something else to complain about. I was able to see this at the time, which is another vast improvement.

So today I thought, what would be the Biblical reverse attitude here? The attitude boils down to:

• selfish (selfless)
• taking (giving)
• holding on (letting go)
• and wanting control (yielding).

Black Hole

This addiction is really a bottomless pit.

I'm pushing, wanting demanding so much.

When she doesn't want to, when she's not "in that place"


I lower my standards and try for whatever I can get.

At this point, I'm going down the road of selfish and putting sex where it shouldn't be (like a drug).

Because after I've been graciously given an orgasm, I am left feeling guilty (cause I know I shouldn't have "taken" it) and I still feel cross and empty--now the excuse is that she, "Didn't want me".

So, lovemaking is there to make me feel wanted, but when I can't have it properly and I push for "the act" I'm still not feeling "wanted".

This doesn't really make any sense.

Normal/Healthy vs. LongTerm Side-Effects

All the trendy teaching about masturbation echoes how it's harmless, normal.

I remember Dr. Ruth giving a caveat I've heard plenty of times, "as long as masturbation does not effect relationships with people".

Well, it's taken me decades to see that my habitual masturbation does effect my relationship with my wife. These effects never showed until I tried to stop! As long as I had the option of taking matters into my own hands, our sex life and communication was great. But under the surface there was a growing and strengthening thing which burst out of me into our love life, and all aspects of our relationship.

As long as I didn't try to kill it, things were fine and seemed normal. Now that I'm crucifying it, it is lying and screaming and kicking like a spoilt selfish brat: "What about me!" "I want!" "I need!" "Me, Me, Me!".

God is good and things are better than ever. Problem is expecting it to be easier or faster.

GOD!!! Why?!!!

Why does me gaining weight hurt my chances for lovin',
but me eating right and/or losing weight not seem to help?

Why does me being "bound" usually screw up our chances to be close...
but me being "free" not have much affect on our intimacy?

Anything less than perfection knocks down the jenga tower,
but a good move, getting it right, still often results in nothing.

And is this painful place the only place where I can find healing? Is all the rest of my life just treading water?

Porn Exposed

Just listened to the XXXChurch.com podcast where they interviewed Ron Jeremy. Great the way they are friends with this guy. They disagree on many things, but accepting him and listening to him can make more differences (even eternal ones!) than winning any argument ever could do.

============================================

If they interview me for their show, what could I offer to others going through fighting this addiction? What have I learned? Can I bring any insight to anyone? Hmmm.... (stay tuned)

1 John 2:17-19

Spending some time on their site, listening to three different people in the "industry" really is a good way to view the girls as girls (someone's daughter, someone's sister) rather than meat.

It kinda breaks the magic of the fantasy when you think of the girl going home to her crappy apartment and trying to raise her daughter as a single mom, with the pressures of the addictive and exploitive environment. Plus porn has been shifting to more and more shocking and abusive stuff. Not titilating, not even about sex, more about humiliation and misogynism. Helps when wanting to stop needing/liking it and "hate the sin".

unraveling a few more threads...

...of the lie. little by little.. eventually....

Weird how I can want to hold on to my anger more than let go and enjoy real "proper" intimacy. Last night I was still cross about her not wanting to make love (for two nights running!). This was another day, but rather than moving on I felt it necessary to let her know that I'm not quite happy. How childish! I'm not supposed to dictate how she feels and acts towards me. I have no right to manipulate her into behaving the way I wanter her to!

For me, porn has given me an appetite for sexual stuff without the emotional work. Sometimes, especially when I'm angry, I just want to feel good without having to be real or get close. It's strange cause that's really what I want most: proper intimacy. But I kid myself thinking that I just want the orgasm and prefer the cheap version of sex.

It's Only....

...sex!

another revelation (or as the cool kids are sayin' "Epiphany")...

It's only a breast/vagina/rear!

Last night we "did it" and I was still cross. This helps to invalidate the lie that sex makes everything alright. Then today I came home for lunch. I was expecting nothing, but we made up, she came over to me and put her arms around me. Did she sense that I was relaxed and not expecting anything? I don't know but we started kissing and ended in bed upstairs!


This is the lunchtime quickie I've dreamed of!
She came, it was great.

But... It wasn't worth dying for. It didn't cure cancer or end hunger or make all my problems go away.

.. But it was really nice! (^;

Graphic Update

So things continue to get better. I've almost forgotten how many days it's been since we "did it"--which is a milestone in itself. I think it was two nights ago.

It was great how easy I found it suggesting we go to sleep tonight. I was a bit cross this morning, and a little angrier when the phone rang and a friend asked her to have one of their kids. I felt angry and left out, as if everyone elses demands are fine, jealous that I didn't have all her energy to myself.


So the silly graph shows that things are still getting better. It also shows how my perceived acceptance and occurrences of us making love are almost identical.

Porn says you can enjoy 100% desirability and sexual satisfaction, with no effort on your part!
You can get an orgasm with very little work, but it costs money for the porn and you get "infected" with these harmful lies. How I wish I hadn't dug a twenty five year hole that is now so hard to climb out of and not fall back into!

But, it's worth it. I am thankful that I've been somehow given a determination to not give up and not quit--ever... regardless.

Things are really improving. When in a situation that a mere month ago would bring irrational and strong obsessive thoughts, now I have those thoughts, but I can dismiss them easily and I see them as absurd (like everyone else!) finally!

Breakthough!

.. a word spoken so many times in Christian circles, it ecapsulates so much of what we pray and hope and wait for.

Well, praise Him!

Being at the church weekend together may have something to do with it, but

1) I suggested we go to sleep last night (rather than "do it") and I felt "okay" (instead of tortured or angry or dejected).

2) I haven't been angry seeing her naked in the morning, bending over at various times, etc.

3) I've still thought about how I'd like her to blow me; still wanted her rear in the morning, but it's just not been SUCH A BIG DEAL!

So, feelings do change, the battle isn't forever! Keep on keeping on. Keep on persevering through times when it seems like nothing's happening, and eventually it does get easier!

Hurray! (If it goes backwards and gets just as hard again, I hope I'll be able to hold on the memory that it does get easier, gaining confidence and ground from this time enjoying this freedom.

I AIN'T GIVING UP! I'M FREE , & IM GETTIN' FREE!

Sunday, 3:30am

It occurred to me, last night I think, that an orgasm doesn’t really make the pain go away. It fends it off for about a day.

I’ve been forgetting that I don’t need it every day. I used to know that, but I’ve slipped back into being angry, appalled and exasperated—keeping count of the days missed and wanting to cash them in.

I want sex when I want it, full on, an expression of her complete desire for me. On the other hand, I want it detached and physical only. I want the orgasm without any effort or cost to myself. It’s screwy, if she gives me the latter, then I feel cheated and “Ah Ha, she is just going through the motions, I knew she didn’t want me”. So I want it at a purely physical level, but then I don’t as well.

So there’s this lie that I’m not wanted, not loved. When she gives me sex but is obviously not into it, the lie shouts out. The lie used to shout out when she didn’t want sex and wouldn’t get into it. I think that’s improved. I’m still cross the next day, but it’s not so difficult to go to sleep at least.

I feel unloved, alone. I feel God is nowhere and I am without value.
I felt something like this twenty years ago when Mom & Dad divorced and they weren’t around. I used masturbation to numb the pain and give “good” feelings to cover up the bad ones. The flaw is that the stuff about being useless and unloved never went away. All I got is a “bad habit” (or addiction) to go along with it.

So, fighting this stuff, what’s improving? Sleeping is usually better. When I can’t sleep it’s usually not connected to the anger of her not wanting to make love. The moment of rolling over and going to sleep isn’t so bad either. I’m usually not seething with anger any more. The actual idea of not getting it doesn’t solicit this overpowering anger either. Even if we haven’t done it in 24 hours, often I can engage with conversation at mealtime and joke with the kids and stuff.

I was really obsessed with getting an orgasm. In the changing rooms at the swimming pool, in the morning in a few spare minutes… So many inappropriate times and places I would seethe and simmer and boil thinking, “She could give it to me here and now” Then I’d get stuck on the fact that she wouldn’t. I’d with that she would, think about the possibility that she would, fantasize and go ‘round and ‘round about it, getting hotter and angrier and more withdrawn all the time. All that has changed. We went swimming the other day & I thought, “Last few times we were here all I could think about was sex. Now that seems silly”.

Evidently God loves me. My Dad does, as best as he can. I want to see him as just another man, flawed and imperfect, doing his best and sometimes getting it wrong.

Somewhere I must have thought that if I performed better, was “perfect” in some way… I’d be able to impress him and get his approval and love and acceptance and affirmation. This seems kinda “manipulative” in and of itself. Is it? Anyway, of course I was never perfect, but instead in a twisted weird way I have been measuring everyone else against perfection. Expecting it, judging them against it, being disapproving and stuff. Maybe perfectionism is all about control. I don’t know how to have a free and flowing relationship of love and communication between myself and my Dad (or Father God). So I try to make a system, rules, procedures or “steps” instead.

I’m not really so clueless in relating to people. Lucy and I relate pretty well.

So, what’s worth talking over with Lucy? Telling her about these improvements? Telling her it’s okay to roll over and go to sleep (again).

Maybe I need to make a verbal thing, more than just a conscious effort to remind myself that God and I can relate better than me and Dad did/do.

a Little Logic, please

Okay, every time I want it & don't get it, I'm really touchy about her walking around naked, bending over (like when she blow-dries her hair). The rubbish going through my mind is, "How appauling that she's doing this AND it means nothing. How unbelievable that she's NOT meaning, "Come on, I want you". As if it's torture on two counts... 1) she's not interested sexually. 2) she's rubbing my face in the fact that some of my strongest sexual images aren't sexual in real life.

I've conditioned myself to see a "her" bent over and get turned on and cum. I DEEPLY associate the naked female form with sexual arousal. WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!

So, when I hear the shower running and think, "She's naked, but not the least be available" I need to think a little logically. When she bends over, but is not thinking of me or sex... I need to think about it sensibly. Every time is not a sexual signal. But, hey.. There are sexual signals. Once or twice a month all the planets line up just right... We're "in sync" and she really does want me. Isn't the real thing better than just an orgasm mechanically following the sight of her rear or nakedness?

So, yeah, it hurts that it's less often that you want. It sucks that these bogus associations exist. Gotta move on though. This crap is destructive & you don't want to loose the very very good stuff that you've got.