Escaping Porn Addiction | Eli Nash | TEDxFortWayne 

You never really know you’re addicted until you try to quit...

Sometimes I wish I would have never seen it in the first place.

I would like to acknowlege the bravery and courage of this man standing in front of a group of strangers and talked about his addition publicly.

You can sense the nervousness in his voice. I'm sure over 80% of people especially young men may be suffering from this, but its like a shameful thing that not everyone has the courage to talk about. Thank you man.

This popped up on my recommendations... my FBI agent has my back

Friends, lets pray for each other and quit it for good.

“When you see the problem but you can’t find the solution, you’re the problem” hits very hard on a lot of levels

What makes this addiction so crippling is how lonely it makes me feel. It's difficult to openly talk about it because the guilt and shame is just too overwhelming.

I think the biggest problem is easy access.

Its honestly disturbing how easy it is to access especially as a child.

A week clean here. Prayers to all of you struggling with this. We can kick this habit!

Day 0 for me. But starting now I will fight my hardest to fight this horrible addiction.

The worst thing about this addiction is that most suffer alone and in silence, most often unknowingly.

The fact that this video has over a million views proves that there are so many people out there battling this demon, that nobody talks about.

I can confidently say that I am in one of the darkest points of my life. And its been that way for a very long time. Your talk gives me so much strength, eli. Thank you.

I've been an addict for almost 11 years. I've been suffering from it for so long, and it escalated greatly. The thing I hate the most is the desensitization of it, and you begin viewing things you despise yet the shock factor helps you get off. I put my life in danger several times to try to get laid as a teenager, and my behavior got so out of control. I'm 22 and still an addict, but I'm working hard to fight this, and do social activities every day. To all my fellow people who suffer from this, you got this. You're not alone.

Fun fact: if you got this recommended to you, that incognito tab that you used last night did not work

I’m 6 months strong and I haven’t felt better. I wish someone would take down those websites for everyone

Been addicted since 9 and I’m 25 years old now! I’m going to break this curse. There’s no full happiness that comes from it , psychologically not physically, and important relationships are at risk. Happy lifestyle is at risk I hope everyone stays strong and gets through this dark cloud!

The moment I couldn’t get “ready” for a woman who was a knockout 10/10, I knew I had a serious problem. This addiction is as destructive to your daily life and relationships just as any other one is.

Dopamine lasts a moment Greatness lasts forever

Little did 10 year old me hiding under the covers watching that filth out curiousity for the first time know that i would be igniting the flame that would destroy me for the next 10 years of my life...

I just can’t believe it’s not a recognized addiction or psychological problem even. It’s sad to hear it be so invalidated. But props to this man for speaking up & sharing his story.

I was an addict since the age 11 for years, but by the power of God I have been sober for about 8 years. Many times I have come close to falling back in because of lies of just “I will just look for a minute, or I am just curious about something” But there is no freer feeling being able to sit at a computer and get some work done without crushing guilt and fear that you will do something you hate doing. That freedom is out there guys.

I went back to it after 2 years, the guilt almost killed me.. then a voice inside me said.. you beat the habit for two years.. you can do it again.. I set myself a new goal, I am clean going 6 years. You can do it. We got this.

This man has been living his entire life in post nut clarity

I am astounded by Eli's courage. To face the eyes of judgement from your peers, friends and family! I cannot imagine a worse thing to admit to. This is a real man. Fullest respect Eli!

I remember watching this video a homeless man in New York a year ago. Seeing this brought tears to my eyes as how much better my life is now and this video is still here. Never give up in life. No condition is permanent

Fun fact: I SEARCHED for this video

this comment section passes the vibe check. everyone supporting everyone is great to see

I watched this 15-12-2022.I commit myself to stop this addiction. I will share story 10 years later.

I am now 1 year and 1 month free from this horrible addiction and I have never been happier it was a years fight and i fell more than 50 times but i kept on getting up. Dont give up. Ill be praying for all people who suffer from this.

This is one of the worst addictions for people

Mans got balls, especially to talk about it with his wife in front of him

He's really brave honestly. God bless him and all of you trying to escape this problem.

One of the bravest videos I have ever seen. Thank you so much for showing that it is possible to confront this addiction and thank you for sharing your incredible story

Lot of people don’t accept its an addiction. Leads to: 1. Low Self Confidence. 2. Anxiety, Depression. 3. Irritation. Thanks for Spreading Awareness.

Nowadays with it being a click away at any given time, it can be tremendously difficult. 14 days nofap and I'm gonna beat this

If only i could tell you how much you just did for me! You help, therefore you are truly achieved. I promise to spread this idea where I find it fitting. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thanks for sharing Eli. Thanks for referencing Brene Brown and shame research. Sharing the struggle kills shame. We can all take this lesson to heart.

This guy is one of the bravest person I have ever seen

I’m quitting, starting today.

I’m so glad your subordinate talked you out of the talk…or should I say , got you to do this TedX instead. I needed this.

Eli Nash, we thank you for sharing your story, touching hearts, and changing lives forever.

After watching this video, I've decided to quit as well. Wish me luck.

Been clean for months, just keep yourself busy and find a purpose or cause that keeps you going. Make friends. Loneliness and sadness make you addicted, just like it does for any other drug.

perfect well executed, there is no shame in making way for the healing of countless others, thanks for being a real man in exposing the darkness, respect for you went through the roof.

Thank you for speaking up! Confession is healing!

I appreciate him coming up to speak on this. I’m having trouble with it too. I’m 21 and I just want to quit. It’s been altering the way I look at people and it’s legitimately disturbing me.

30+ days nofap and I can honestly say that there is a tremendous change in me. Confidence, Happiness and Calmness, comes back to me altogether.

I admit that after 26 years, I'm leaving this addiction forever. Started at 15, now I'm 41.

Beyond grateful for his honesty. We all need more of his vulnerability. Just searched this topic earlier actually. Glad to hear many others admit they have similar issues as well. This topic definitely needs more coverage in clinical research. Gonna check out more of Dr. Brene Brown's work.

I’ve been clean for 4 years after 10+ years of being addicted.

I feel disgusted with myself most times after I do it. Sometimes it isn't even as satisfying as I want it to be. But still I continue on and keep doing it.

Thanks for sharing, that was such a brave act to come in front of strangers in a room (and on yt) and talk about a own personal problem/addiction, so inspiring.

Oh my God! When you said "share" I instantly realized what I have never done in my entire life including with my wife of 33 and 1/2 years. Share. I've never shared anything with anybody. Thank you Eli for sharing your story with us.

"Shame is the single biggest cause of most of our psychological problems." I want to explore this statement.

If you fail, don’t let the shame lead you back into it. Realize that everyone fails at some point. “It’s not about how many times you fall down, but how many times you get back up” -Abraham Lincoln

Bro, you don’t realize how universal and shared this issue is. Don’t feel alone man. Thousands struggle with this and thousands have gotten over it like this video explains. You will do it too. Give it patience.

So inspiring and gives me hope for the people around me thank you so much for your courage! This problem does not only affect the user, I can attest to that.

A piece of advice: when you feel the urge to do it, try and find a physically tiring activity to replace that. Just my two cents.

And you feel sense of guilt when you done watching it that you don't feel when you start.

Exposing your addiction openly to allow yourself to be than open and vulnerable is true bravery. Shame is a very powerful tool. I should know, I grew up in a Catholic household. Alcoholic abusive childhood full of shame pounded on me. Screwed my mind up, but I’m trying and fighting to get better at not letting the scars of my past define who I am. Proud of you Eli.

Eli, thank you for being there. You have help me so much. God bless.

1. Uninstall Instagram 2. Work out everyday for atleast 15 minutes 3. Keep yourself busy ( You can work out as long as you want. This 15 minutes is the least you could do.)

A lot of balls you have. Respect

“My story is not only something not to be ashamed of; it might just be something to be proud of.” I’ve recently realized this truth in my struggle with a serious mental health condition, and it has changed my life. I used to be ashamed of who I am, how much help I need, and how much downtime I need. Now I feel like it is the story that makes me a man, and that I should live my life without a thought in my head about what others might think about it. Sometimes the most courageous people are the ones who responsibly handle the nastiest diseases, in the shadows where no one can see them. Heroes who rarely receive the credit they earn every single day. Thank you for stepping out of the darkness and sharing the most vulnerable part of you. You say it is the way to start healing and you are absolutely right 🙏🏻

Been fighting it for so long now… I think it’s time to be more vocal about this addiction and get out of my comfort zone more. Awareness is a key factor in helping us end this terrible addiction.

Sadly, this is a problem that plagues so many young men. It's an extremely hard habit to kick.

Just now I understand why I'm such a miserable person. I'm 18 and I'm not diagnosed with anything but I feel anxiety a lot, I am very shy and anti social unless it's my closest friends or family. I get angry so much every single day. I always lash out at my girlfriend verbally. I really don't like myself. I really want to be happy. I am happy throughout the day at some points but.... I'm not happy. I can't find any motivation within myself. I feel dull. I'm unhealthy, I stopped working out and dieting last year. I always feel tired and weak. This isn't a life to live. I want to get better. I want to improve in every way and find my own definition of success. Please pray for me. I hope that anyone else that's struggling like me eventually finds a way out. Stay strong, this addiction is a killer. We have to kill it.

Thank u so much for this video man. It means a lot to know that I’m not alone as I imagined I was for almost a decade. I’m going to try to talk about my issue w/ loved ones & others to get over my shame

Thank you so much for this video! Your courage, your example!

Seeing how many teenagers and even kids as young as 13 are trying to escape this addiction just breaks my heart. My message to you is: keep fighting it no matter how hard it is, no matter how many times you will fail. With every fail to quit it you will understand how strong your addiction is and you will get more and more scared to realize how it is taking control over your life. I encourage you to read my whole comment. I have an example of a man I knew a while ago. He had struggled with alcohol addiction for decades, this addiction took everything from him: he lost his job, his wife left him, he was carried out by friends every night dead drunk till no one would do that anymore and he would just lay on the street with vomit and pee on his pants. He lost his reputation, his self-esteem, literally everything. I don't know what his revelation was because I met him as a church cantor. But from the moment I saw him singing a chant named "Forgive me, Father" I knew this was a converted man. I never saw someone displaying so much repent on their faces. And every single time he was singing this chant, he had the same expression and tears in his eyes. The most profound sorrow one could ever imagine. I asked my grandma what his story was and she told me that he used to be that heavy drinker that everyone would despise. After a couple of years I had the chance to sit at the same table with him. Everyone was drinking wine, but he alone was drinking water. I knew his story, but I pretended I didn't. I guess it was just curiosity to see if he would confess his old addiction, how he sees that now etc. So I asked him just like nothing: "But aren't you up for a glass of wine, sir?" He looked at me with a look that I will never forget. It was a mix of profound sorrow and determination, then he looked at my glass of wine as detached as we could look at something that doesn't belong to our world anymore and told me with a firm voice: "That was my biggest enemy for years. I will never surrender to my enemy again. I am the happiest man on Earth that I can have this glass of water today here, Miss." And that moment I understood something that I will always use to fight my own addictions and to help others fight with theirs: you will never overcome your addiction until you look at it as an ENEMY. A monstrous, hideous enemy right there, in front of you. As long as you will play it soft, you won't be able to escape it. Unless you are not really an addict and doesn't take a lot of effort to quit. If that man who was so low and completely owned by his addiction could escape it, I think everyone can. It doesn't have to be this extreme like in the case I presented to destroy your life. The thing with addictions is that you don't know how bad and how fast can it evolve and control you without you even realizing it. The sooner you can get rid of it, the easier will be your fight. And although everyone needs encouragement on their path on quitting, please remember that until the moment when you reach absolute and complete detachment from your addiction, your fight didn't end. Your enemy is still there, hidden, waiting for you to be vulnerable....waiting for you to fall again. KEEP FIGHTING!

You will never look back in life and say "I wish I would have watched more"

Thank you for sharing your story Eli. I’m going to use my story to help others as well. God bless 🙏🏼

Thank you Eli. You helped millions.people like you deserve to be acknowledged.Hope you are better now!

I actually cried listening to this tedtalk. I've always been ashamed of my struggle with this. I realized only today that it was an addiction. I never talked about it with anybody because of shame. Especially since I'm a woman. And I'm known by people around me as a religious woman. I personally haven't met anyone who was a girl and admitted to struggling with this like me. I'm 21 now and I've been hooked on this since I was 10. Its so validating and comforting to have someone speak out about the struggle with this and the desire to end it.

Please pray for me I’m a Christian and this is something I’ve been struggling with for the past few years and ik this sin is the one that’s keeping me from really furthering my relationship from God.

Really inspiring video, growing up around technology and having a smartphone from when I was 10 makes access so easy. I've tried quitting many times but never did I think that sharing my struggle could be the most effective tool! Kudos and good luck to you all!

The message in the last moment he gave is really very straight and gallant. I appreciate his thinking about shame. That's really appreciating.

I watch it at least twice a day and feel horrible for it, may God help me on this journey to become clean

I'm at my 39 day. For many days I had the feeling of being overwhelmed by the urge to look again ... Now, the weight and the desire to look have diminished, but the mind begins to tell me that I can look again and stop anytime, but I keep following ignoring my mind. To you, who are also trying to get over it, I say, YOU WILL WIN! BE STRONG!

Excellent, well-articulated, heartfelt talk. Wishing you the best as you continue to walk forward in life - sharing your message, continuing your own healing, and inspiring healing in others.

God bless you for your courage and bravery to share to save others! I pray for more healing!

I’m a addict too. A majority of addicts are men so when people here it coming from a woman they really look down on me. It’s aggravating to hear just stop watching it. It’s definitely not that easy. I’m proud of you for standing up and saying it. I needed this video as a support because I don’t have anyone to talk to and hearing this today made me feel like I was finally with someone who understands.

NoFap GANG WHERE YOU AT LETS GO

Thankful for Eli’s courage in sharing his story

Keep your head up king. I’m on day 36 of my retention journey and it’s helped me clear my head, focus, stay disciplined and really accomplish my goals. Retention helped motivate me to start my RU-vid channel. KEEP GOING 🤲🏽💪🏼

I completed 117 days of nofap and I continue nofap and now it doesn’t feel like a challenge it’s just the way I live now and I never look back, best decision I ever made was giving up PMO

the fact that this is was on my recommended, ya hate to see it

Praying for all addicted ❤ you got this!! You are LOVED AND WORTHY ❤

guy is a trooper, great story and great goal, thank you for sharing, keep up the fight!

It desensitizes us and depletes dopamine... hence anxiety and depression

"Shame is much bigger than addiction."

You have a lot of courage and gutts to talk on this issue. 👏keep moving and growing ✌️💐

Warm greetings from Australia 🦘 A truly heart wrenching and moving testimony. Thank you Eli Nash. 😊❤

This is such a bad/ addictive habit. I know from experience. I’m praying for all in the chat. We can overcome this 🙏🏻

I didn't even know I was addicted until recently.

Absolutely INSPIRATIONAL Eli - thank you and bless you for your courage and humanity brother x

Thank you so much for your courage, for being vulnerable and for sharing your story. Good luck to you and everyone on the journey to recovery.