5Uu80*cdwB#^ wrote on 11 Mar 2022 17:25:
Amazing, Dave M!
Regarding what you wrote: "Still having urges as the images of what I've looked at continues to float around in my head."
This is very understandable. I want to say that what can keep these images in your head indefinitely is if you engage and attend to them. What will help them fade is by letting them wash right out of your thoughts just like they washed in, like a wave that comes and goes. If the image enters your mind, simply think to yourself something like, "Huh, that's an interesting thought. Anyway, moving on now. What's up next in my day?" Or anything like that. Do not engage the imagery. Do not attend to the imagery. Do not ask yourself why you are suffering from such thoughts. Do not think "I'm a bad person because I just had this thought." The more time you spend on that thought, the worse off you are.
If you practice just treating thoughts as something you can either engage or simply move on and let it pass, you will have so much menuchas hanefesh. I have personally witness a transformation in my life because of this realization. If you engage the imagery and attend to it, it will come back stronger and more frequently, EVEN after having stopped looking with your eyes. If you just say, "Huh, that's interesting, but moving on...", you're set to succeed.
Great advice. Obviously easier said then done, but still does not excuse me for implementing. I believe R' Shafier also mentions this technique on his "Fight" series.
9 days clean now.