I’VE CONFESSED THIS 1000 TIMES | KAIROS GLOBAL | PILOT ISSUE | 2017

Author : Jobin Joy

Intro : It's a kind of addiction that involves the

release of neurotransmitters, such as

serotonin and dopamine, inside the brain!!

When I was younger, my friends encouraged me at the age of

12, 13, and 14, to watch pornography. I wouldn’t do it. I’d

turn away, saying that it is wrong. But when I was 15, things

changed. I still remember the first porn video I saw on myfriend’s TV. Ever since then (I am 31 now), I have been addicted.I am married and have children. I am pretty stunned. I amdefinitely afraid of going to hell because of this addiction. I confess this sin every time I go to confession. I am afraid of confessing this anymore because I might do it again.”

The above was shared during a Question & Answer session on Catholic Answers. It shows how much the present generation is affected because of pornography addiction.Our society is yet to realize the severity of this new form ofevil. There is a great need to fight against this, and spread

awareness about this.

Did you know that pornography addiction is very similar to alcohol or drug

addiction? Pornography addiction is a kind of addiction that involves the release of

neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, inside the brain. All addictions

affect the decision-making ability of the person. In the case of pornography addiction, the

brain is flooded with serotonin and dopamine. This repeated rush of neurotransmitters

changes the brain’s reward pathway, ultimately changing the viewer’s brain chemistry

and leading the person to have an increased appetite for pornography. In the worst

case, it can even cause physical damage to the brain. Many recent studies are available

regarding this pornography addiction (http://theporneffect.com). Unlike the case of

alcohol or drug addiction, the drugs serotonin and dopamine are created inside the

body itself. Our society has many ways to treat alcohol addiction and drug addiction.

Pornography addiction also needs to be treated in a similar way. More awareness and

initiatives need to be developed to address this addiction

If you are addicted to pornography, please do not condemn yourself, or become

hopeless! Addiction develops over time, and so the healing will also take place over

time. Healing requires time and effort. More often than not, individuals will need the

help of an accountability partner, as this fight cannot be fought alone. One should

remember however, that many have been delivered from the worst of addictions when

they placed their trust in God, while at the same time, looking to friends and family for

support. Don’t give up hope! To give up on hope is to give up on God. God’s mercy is

infinite! Our sins are nothing in comparison to his infinite mercy and love.

God has created us with a desire for love, touch, and intimacy. He has entrusted us

with all that is good. With that, he also wants us to be responsible for our neighbor and

ourselves. In Genesis, when God entrusted everything to Adam, he also wanted him to

be responsible. There might be lots of reasons for each of our addictions, but freedom

from addiction involves taking responsibility. One of the first steps to freedom from an

addiction is to read up about it, and be aware of your weakness. A great place to start is

by listening to Catholic speaker Matt Fradd, and downloading the mobile app ‘Victory’,

created specifically to help people with pornography addiction.

FIghting the addiction is always a struggle. We need to recognize and remind each

other that our fight against addiction is also an opportunity for an outpouring of

God’s grace. Where sin abounds, there God’s grace abounds much more (Romans

5.20). Our temptations and struggles with addiction are actually opportunities to

choose good over the evil. Choose Christ by fighting against, and rejecting, day after

day, this modern sin of pornography. Through our struggles we are being purified, in

order that we may be ready to meet our loving and caring God in Heaven. Let us look

forward, surrendering our addictions and weaknesses into the hands of Christ.

God, help me take responsibility of my actions, and fight against my weaknesses.

Help me to see my struggles as opportunities to choose good over the evil.

Guide me in the right way, so I may be delivered from my addictions and weaknesses

Jobin Joy hails from Kottayam in Kerala,

India. Currently he is doing his Doctorate

studies at Texas A&M in the United States.

He has been part of the Jesus Youth