A Member of Duvid Chaim's Phone conference shares his "Excuses List" his addiction uses to FOOL HIM into believing he is still in control of his "lusting":
If I am the only one awake at 1 AM, it's not hurting anyone
If I fantasize, it stops me from real-life acting out
Everybody flirts anyway
It hurts to hold back/I need to release tension
It's just too hard to stop/I've been doing it too long
It's not a betrayal of love
I just want to check my email
It won't happen today
I won't happen again today
It won't happen before our phone meeting
I feel so great after the meeting, it won't happen afterward
I can use the internet by myself, I am not weak willed
No one will know
Acting out does not affect my tefilah
Acting out does not impinge on my love of life, positive attitude, simchas ha'Chaim
I am not holy enough to fight back yet, one day I will be there
It just feels so good
I need it
I will change tomorrow, just not now
I am in control
I have a better plan
I have a better plan
I have a better plan
I am the director, I can make anything happen when I want
I am normal
I am not an addict, I'm not like him, I'm not like them. If I'm an addict, people will look down on me
I will go through the 12 steps and THEN be in control
It's not the worst addiction out there
I am strong enough to stop
I, I, I.
What's your "excuse list"? We can identify the way our addiction fools us and learn to pre-empt it!