The Recovering Porn Addict - podcast cover

The Recovering Porn Addict

David Adamson•www.unlockingrecovery.com

Self-Improvement

Since I was a child, I struggled with pornography addiction. Growing up, it seemed like there was nothing that I could do to get rid of this dark secret that I carried with me. The guilt and shame that I felt made me feel numb and apathetic towards the world. After learning about the true nature of addiction and how specifically pornography addiction works, I was able to face my thoughts and feelings that haunted me. Overcoming my internal emotional dis-ease allowed me to find lasting recovery. Tune in as I share my story and the lessons I learned about addiction so that you can find your key to lasting recovery, helping you replace the chaos of addiction with the tranquility of recovery. *Disclaimer*: I am not a licensed counselor or therapist, I am only a professional addict.

Last refreshed: June 25th, 2025 at 11:41 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

8. What to Expect in Early Recovery, Pt. 2

Part 2 of the "What to Expect in Early Recovery" series. In this episode, I discuss what boundaries are important for early recovery, the emotions and fears that I felt and the substitute addictions that I noticed creeping into my life as I tackled my pornography addiction. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pornaddict)

May 03, 2021•37 min

7. What to Expect in Early Recovery, Pt. 1

After hitting rock bottom and wanting to start recovery, what are the next steps? What does early recovery look and feel like? What can you expect in the first few months? This episode is part of a 3-episode series to discuss what early recovery looks like.

Mar 02, 2021•28 min

6. Boundaries

Abstinence from pornography and lust hits is the foundation of a solid recovery. Creating and maintaining boundaries is the main way to achieve that abstinence. This episode answers questions like "What are boundaries?", "Why are boundaries important?", "What does a good boundary look like?" and gives specific boundaries that I follow as well as my recovery buddies. It's important to have both restrictive and constructive boundaries so you can avoid lust triggers and build yourself up into the p...

Sep 03, 2020•30 min

5. What is Porn?

In order to change our lifestyle and set proper boundaries, we need a clear and direct definition of pornography. By analyzing the stages of relapse (Intrigue, Infatuation, Lust, Sexual Acting Out and Binge Relapsing) and the neurological mechanism of addiction, we can define pornography as any activity that gives you a lust hit. This definition is drastically different from my previous, addict’s definition of pornography and is one of the cornerstones of my lasting recovery. Support the show (h...

Aug 06, 2020•23 min

4. Willpower's Not Enough, a Book Review

“Willpower’s Not Enough” is the first book I read in recovery and completely changed my view on my addiction and myself. As the title says, willpower is not enough to recover from an addiction like pornography, but as addicts we keep trying to “white knuckle” our way to sobriety. “Willpower’s Not Enough” provides a wide variety of personal stories to show us that our addiction is just a symptom of deeper problems in our life. The three sections tackle the questions “What is addiction?”, “What pe...

Jul 28, 2020•34 min

3. Secure Attachment Cycle

Looking at addiction through the “Secure Attachment Cycle” helps us understand the “why” behind recovery. Addiction to pornography is more than just a “habit,” it is a coping mechanism for the stresses and triggers in our life. As we go through life and our needs are put at risk, we either turn to trusted friends/hobbies or compulsive/addictive activities and substances. The only way we can find lasting recovery is: 1) figuring out what stresses/triggers are happening now and that we carry with ...

Jul 28, 2020•24 min

2. Perfectionism and Defeatism

A common driver for addiction is perfectionism. When we feel like we don’t have control over our own life and can’t achieve perfection, we seek for something that we can control (in a sex addict’s life, this is lust). When perfectionism drives us, we can develop a defeatist mentality (I’m not going to do it perfectly, so why try?) In this episode, I talk about perfectionism, how defeatism appears in our lives and how to overcome our defeatist mentalities. Instead of giving up when we make a mist...

Jul 28, 2020•21 min

1. An Honest Introduction

My name is David Adamson and I am a porn addict. In this episode, I introduce myself and share my story of how I got to become a pornography/lust addict and the first steps that I took towards recovery. I’m not a professional therapist, just a “pro” at being an addict. After starting my addiction when I was 11, it took me over a decade of painful attempts and effort to finally figure out what I was doing wrong in recovery. The first step? Being brutally honest with myself and giving up what I th...

Jul 28, 2020•26 min

Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android