All your daily inspiration can be found in Sex and Porn Addiction Treatment and Recovery. Used here with permission of the author. Click on the book cover image to purchase the book on Amazon.

It is impossible to understand addiction without asking what relief the addict finds or hopes to find in a drug or addictive behavior.

As addicts, we use addictive substances and behaviors not to feel better, but to distract ourselves from our emotional discomfort. It works too. Addictive substances and behaviors can trigger Highly distracting Neurochemical reactions – primarily the release of dopamine (happiness), along with adrenaline (excitement), oxytocin (love and connection), serotonin (emotional well-being), and various endorphins (euphoria). This reaction produces feelings of pleasure, excitement, control, and most importantly, distract and Emotional/psychological escape. Over time, we learn to cope with stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, etc. by recovering from addiction, rather than turning to people who may be able to support us emotionally. When we do it repeatedly, this choice becomes a pattern and then an addiction.

today’s task
Make a list of your most powerful emotional triggers. Ask your therapist or sponsor to help you develop non-addictive ways to cope with them.