Hey Snowflake,

It is really inspiring to see someone come back to GYE after so many years! There are 6 constant mitzvos in the Torah. One of them is ''lo sasuru'' and it is a mitzvah we always must fulfil every second of our lives. I would like to say that every second you own a filtered device you are fulfilling this mitzvah. I know for myself when I fully filtered all the devices I own my challenge changed dramatically for the better.

I wish you much hatzlacha and that you should only know good from this day forward!

Thanks REM,

I second your words in your thread. It's very nice to receive feedback in our threads. We get a valuable self-esteem boost. And when you say it, it really is shocking how much time has been. B"H a lot of learning, clean streaks, a few falls, and then my recent situation. Still, were it not for GYE, I wouldn't have made it clean before for so long. Thank you for your kind words.

B"H a week clean. It's been a while since I made it this far.
Things were so automatic, that the way out seemed impossible.
Every now and then bad ideas pop up, but I try not to reason or discuss it with the Yetzer, I just try to change topics as fast as possible. Also I'm always thinking about something meaningful to do. I'm avoiding boredom at all costs. I'm also trying to make a point of coming here everyday or almost everyday and then Reading about other people's struggles, replying in topics and participating in the chat.
Thank you all again for the invaluable support!
Let's make it to 90 days and beyond

You seem BH very focused. Have you ever spoken with anyone here? If you think it boosts self esteem when someone replies to a post, imagine the boost that comes from speaking with a "real" person.

Hey HHM,

As a matter of fact I have, through the phone. It was an amazing experience. But it was only once or twice. Maybe I should do it more often.
Food for thought.

Day #8
Still clean B"H.
Every now and then, some small frustration comes and the YH comes to me like a drug dealer. I just try to shun him and not engage at all. I think what really got me the past few times when these events happened was the unfiltered phone. It's like the famed "bottle in the fridge" dilemma. If the alcoholic knows there's alcohol in the house, now matter how hidden it is, he'll find it. Its a conforting thought knowing I can't have it, even if I want to.
I got the cold now, so it's actually good. Keeps me busy lol.

Snowflake wrote on 18 Feb 2020 14:53:

Hi I waned to point out that filters on their own are only part of the solution. What happens if you have access to a device without a filter, or if you know how to bypassing your own filter? Also controlling your environment is tricky for masturbation, since you can’t filter yourself...

On the other hand, urge management alone is not enough either. The habit of visiting certain sites might be so ingrained, that it is done almost automatically without thinking, and before you know it, the site is open... But when you control your environment, such surprise situations become uncommon. Even the weakest filter will give you a short delay before you can access a  porn site, just enough time to catch yourself and use an urge management technique to deal with the urge.

By including both of these areas in your battle plan, you’re increasing the chances that your plan will be successful with Hashem's help.

Keep up your great work!

Thanks for the feedback David.
You're right, you need both the filter and the environment.
I'm indeed a little bit concerned if my filter is easily bypassable. Should I investigate the concern further? I fear learning how to bypass it and actually go for it. Although perhaps it's better try it now, that I'm sober, and willing to put up another fence, then risking staying with an easy filter. Right now I'm using qustodio, for free. And I have the password. Although I fear that if I give it to my wife she might just ask why. She knows half the story about my struggle. She knows about the M, not the P. Perhaps I will just give the password to my brother. He knows of my struggle.

Day #11
Erev Shabbos, so much to do, little time to think about unkosher stuff, which is great. B"H clean so far. I slipped a bit these days, looking at some innapropriate TV shows. B"H nothing explicit, but definetely not kosher.
My main triggers are really my emotions. In my childhood I've learned to supress them. But now I can't anymore. When I'm sad, I'm sad, when I'm angry, I'm angry. Problem is I'm more of a silent sufferer kind. I don't communicate my feelings. That makes me prone to acting out, as a relief. I'm going through some very personal stuff right now which now and then triggers those feelings. I try and reassure myself, acting out will only make my personal problems worse. And indeed, in these 11 days of not acting out, my life has definetely improved. More sleep, less depressive, etc etc.I was so anxious about my personal problems, that I was somatizing some feelings. I'd scratch and itch my hands until they were scarred. I couldn't sleep or eat properly. I was acting out on a daily basis. It's amazing how removing the acting out part of the routine, suddenly eliminated all these horrible symptoms. Sure enough, my problems are still there, and I try to find healthier outlets, like sports and other fun activities. I think not acting out is also allowing to look at my personal problems from a sober perspective, which leads to better judgement.
Have a great Shabbos everyone!

Day #16
B"H still clean. Can't really believe I'm making this far. Just a while ago I couldn't keep a day clean.
The thought of acting out has definetely crossed my mind quite a few times, but just as quickly I dispelled it. The real trick is to try to disengage asap and get yourself busy. Arguing with the YH is pointless. It will just drag you down the hole.
Something I'd like to point out is, getting more involved in your judaism, particularly in something of outreach is a very good remedy.
This Shabbos I've read the Torah, and that kept me engaged in a short-term goal for a while (preparing the kryah) and also I've received some guests at home. They left when Shabbos was almost over. We've talked for hours and it was all very pleasant.  All the while the urges were non-existent.

Day #21

B"H clean so far. I've been reading Dov's quotes and I really liked one where he talked about the sin of M and how that doesn't stop people from comitting it. In summary, he said that M happens to be a sin. But even if it weren't it would be assur and bad all the same to us. A  great example he gave is alcohol. It can be even a mitzva, in Purim or Pessach, but for the alcoholic it's completely assur. Because for him, alcohol destroys his life. The same with lust by us. Lust happens to be a prohibition. But unfortunately, Yiras Shamayim alone hasn't stopped us, hence the 12 steps and all the tools here. It helped me understand that lust is bad for my physical and mental health, and I alone can't stop it, no matter how much mussar I read (not saying one shouldn't read mussar). I need outside help and need to be constantly reaching out so I don't let it invade my life.
When I was lusting, I wasn't sleeping, eating, or even relating to my family in a healthy way. When I gave up lusting, everything turned for the better.

Day #25
B"H still clean, something unimaginable just a while ago. Sometimes the YH whispers in my ear: "just a little lust, here try it", and I try to evade the thought as quickly as possible, without second thoughts. It's the little insidious thoughts we have to be careful about. The YH never starts full-fledged. It gives  a gentle knock on the door first. I try to be on guard and never let the first sip in. Hope to keep it that way. The gedarim have been working too so far. I mamash try to not violate my gedarim, even if I have no urges. Like going to the bathroom and using the phone. If I go in, either the phone stays out, or very much out of reach in the bathroom. (I fear leaving it in the workplace while in the bathroom due to theft concerns). I sometimes do something funny such as a "heker". I put toilet paper or something on top of my phone, like to remind me it's off limits.

Just wanted to share the obvious but whatever. Studying more Torah has been a very good helping hand. To be honest, I feel it's a two way street. Precisely because I managed to stop lusting, I feel more free and motivated to study Torah. Studying Torah, as the sages say, is a great tool to subdue the YH.
A Gut Shabbos and Freilech Purim!

Snowflake wrote on 06 Mar 2020 13:17:

I would like to second Snowflake's words. 
Torah study is the spiritual fuel we need to fulfill our potential. Just as food strengthens a famished person, Torah study strengthens us spiritually, providing us with the determination we need to stand up to the yetzer hara. It automatically strengthens us in many areas of our observance, and it reinforces the levels we have toiled to acquire so we don’t lose what we worked so hard for. These are some benefits of Torah study.

In Mesillas Yesharim (Chapter 5), the Ramchal elaborates on the importance of Torah study for fighting the yetzer hara:
Hashem, Who created the yetzer hara in man, is the One Who created Torah as its antidote, as our sages said (Kiddushin 30b), “[Hashem says,] ‘I created the yetzer hara and I created its antidote, Torah.’” Now, it is obvious that if the Creator did not create any cure for this wound [the yetzer hara] other than this antidote [Torah], it is impossible for man to be healed from this wound in any manner other than with this cure. Any person who thinks he will be saved without Torah is making a mistake.

You must know that your learning is incredibly precious. The difficulty and discomfort makes your Torah study hundreds of times more valuable than it would have been had it been easy. Hashem is immensely proud of whatever learning you can muster. It’s worth much more than learning all day without difficulty.

It's also a good idea to find ways to make yourself feel successful through your learning. You might consider setting a realistic goal to accomplish something impressive, such as finishing a masechta or a number of perakim. Doing well in shiur will also help you feel successful. If you understand and become involved in the action by asking good questions, you will taste success and learning will be fun. If this is difficult, find someone to learn with you and help you get there. No matter what happens, you must set yourself up for success in learning because the more you succeed, the more you will enjoy it.

Thank you DavidT for the very encouraging words! I love the Talmud and I do indeed want to finish more massechtos. I'm very into dinei mamonos. Right now I'm studying Bava Metzia. It would be better to have a chavrusa and I think I'm finding one for a once or twice a week session. But for the bulk of the study, I listen to OU's Rabbi Elephant series. It's really amazing. In 40-50 mins he gives the pshat, some rashi, some tosefos, rishonim and a vort every now and then. Needless to say I do pause the shiur and go back many times, so I make sure I get it. I also try to go with the Artscroll every now and then to help solve my questions. I have a long commute (40 mins each leg) so I have plenty of time to listen to Daf Yomi shiurim (I don't really do a daf a day, I listen to the shiur and go at my own pace). I kinda feel it's on one hand wrong to "feel proud" for my Torah learning or for wanting to finish massechtos and holding small syum events (I actually do that lol) but I feel that if it's a way to have me study more Torah, why not right? Mi toch shelo lishmo bo lishmo right?
In fact, I actually think it's the YH that tells us to stop studying, since I'm doing it for gaavah. Who cares if it's gaava right? It's better to even admit it and study every day than just not study it at all and pretend I'm a tzadik.
And indeed like you said, I feel Torah nourishes me. Helps me fight the big fight.

Snowflake, your posts are great. The idea of a heker is great and is not silly at all. Reagrding being proud of your learning, of course you should be and you should make siyumim too. If you become too haughty, don't worry, someone will tell you.....

HHM thanks for the feedback!
Haha I hope so, although on the other hand I'm pretty shy and not so outspoken. But I must admit I like being complimented.

Day #30
B"H one month clean! Yay!
I feel like I'm facing a much bigger challenge than when I was single, as much as logic would dictate opposite . Even more so now that I have 2 kids which demand a lot of attention and are sometimes a source of arguments. Being married means having a ton of responsibility and entails a variety of triggers connected to the challenges inside a marriage. Just a while ago I had this simple solution to all my issues. Act out. But now that I don't have this option, I'm forced to face the problems in marriage and life in general. That's great, but at least in the beginning, incredibly difficult. On the other hand, I feel like leaving the acting out part behind has really helped me face and solve my issues. I'm feeling much lighter and happier overall. I just need to be careful not to let my guard down. I actually feel like, my life was out of my control, and only now I'm taking it back. The acting out was definitely something in the way, like a drug, preventing me from thinking about my real issues and working them out. 
I'd like to thank Hashem and the GYE community in general for all the support!

BTW: Interesting fact. My first day was Tu B'Shvat and today, 30 days later is Shushan Purim. B"H special dates... I feel like Hashem's giving me a sign...

Hey Snowflake!

It is really incredible to see your journey! What I find so special about your posts is how clearly real they are. You acknowledge the challenges and are working on the solution. I have seen for myself and other how that is the secret to overcoming these challenges. 

Please keep coming back to post and giving us chizzuk! 

Keep up the amazing work and know Hashem loves you!

Hey guys,

Sorry for not coming back. Took some courage to come back here but I figure if I don't, I'll never get out of the pit.
After some ins-and-outs, falls and short streaks, I've finally taken a rather rough step which I had been avoiding so far, but which I think it's very important. I've installed a good filter and created a very complicated e-mail and password for it and threw the login details away. So no going back now unless I factory reset the phone.
Of course, all filters are somewhat bypassable and one can sometimes look at the very least to some level of improper stuff if one really wants it. In the end, I'm the one who has to change. But at least it's much more difficult to go to the shmutz now. Just a while ago it was very easy, just login to the filter and disable it. So that's it! Hope to keep you posted with good news!
Today is day 1 again.