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Many people contact Fight the New Drug to share their personal stories about how porn has affected their life or the life of a loved one. We consider these personal accounts very valuable because, while the science and research is powerful within its own right, personal accounts from real people seem to really hit home about the damage that pornography does to real lives.
We recently received a true story from a Fighter named Daniel that shows how porn can never be a substitute for love, and that life is so much better once porn is out of the picture. Some stories, like this one, illustrate just how harmful porn can be, and just how great real-life feels once it's gone.
Hey FTND!
I can’t tell you all how much happier I am since I’ve stopped watching porn.
I’ve been single a long time and still am, but I’m actually interested in finding something special in a girl instead of just sex. I can’t say enough how much I love what you guys are doing, seeing your page and liking it is what made me quit. I was so unhappy with my life, not being able to find someone.
Just waking up happy every morning is awesome. It’s a drug, no doubt about it. Withdrawals are pretty intense from it, but once you’re through it, you realize how awful the porn industry is. It’s so scary to think about how big the industry is.
I hate how we live in a society that is so accepting of that trash on the internet, everything is so sexual even on TV, in music, etc. Most of my friends don’t agree with my stand on pornography, but I’m still so happy I got out of that life.
Related: It’s True That “Porn Kills Love,” And So Does Shame
I’ve been single a very long time, I found love long ago, but it was taken from me. So I’m just being patient for that right one. Sorry for the vent. Just feels good talking to others who understand the stance on the porn world.
Thank you FTND!! Keep doing what you all are doing, you’ve helped lots of people including myself. I’m sharing you guys to social media and buying your merch. Let me know if I can do anything to help you all out!!!
Thanks again!
–Daniel
Why This Matters
Research shows that watching porn can negatively impact self-esteem, and can worsen anxiety and depression. It’s awesome to see that Daniel is enjoying life so much more without porn.
Regardless of how long anyone has struggled with porn, recovery is more than possible—it is biological. We don’t think porn is worth your time or your attention because research shows how life is much healthier without it. Thanks to this Fighter, we can see how true that is!
No matter if you’ve struggled for five days or five years (or more), we want to offer more resources, give more support, and fight more dedicatedly for love than we ever have before. We want to provide the resources you need if you are struggling, and by shining a spotlight on using personal experiences and science, show that you are not alone and you can get help.
Related: Why You Should Stop Feeling Like A “Bad” Person For Watching Porn
To do that, check out our affiliates at Fortify, an incredible recovery platform specially designed to give users a supportive and helpful community while they break the cycle of going back to porn.
We’ve also designed a thorough and comprehensive platform to help you navigate conversations of all types, no matter the relationship type. Click below to explore now.
Need help?
For those reading this who feel they are struggling with pornography, you are not alone. Check out Fortify, a science-based recovery platform dedicated to helping you find lasting freedom from pornography. Fortify now offers a free experience for both teens and adults. Connect with others, learn about your unwanted porn habit, and track your recovery journey. There is hope—sign up today.
Fight the New Drug may receive financial support from purchases made using affiliate links.
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
This is why Fight the New Drug exists—but we can’t do it without you.
Your donation directly fuels the creation of new educational resources, including our awareness-raising videos, podcasts, research-driven articles, engaging school presentations, and digital tools that reach youth where they are: online and in school. It equips individuals, parents, educators, and youth with trustworthy resources to start the conversation.
Will you join us? We’re grateful for whatever you can give—but a recurring donation makes the biggest difference. Every dollar directly supports our vital work, and every individual we reach decreases sexual exploitation. Let’s fight for real love: