No More Surfing for Sex or Porn: 10 Tips for Controlling Your Internet Use

If you’re like many sex addicts; the internet is a dangerous place to be.

Online, temptation is everywhere, access is immediate and your actions are totally anonymous - and for sex addicts, this makes for a dangerously seductive cocktail of opportunity.

If you’re like most people, however, getting offline for good isn’t really a viable option, so you have to learn strategies to limit the temptations of the internet and techniques to overcome the urges that will surely emerge as you browse a web full of triggers.

Here are 10 tips recommended by the people at Sex Addicts Anonymous for controlling yourself when you have to go online.

10 Ways to Control Your Internet Use

1. If possible, especially if you are newly in recovery from sexual addiction, take a complete break from the internet for a while. You don’t have to abstain forever – only for as long as it takes you to build up a base of abstinence and a bit more self control.

2. Erase all sexual images, bookmarks, passwords, emails and anything else related to sexual connections or pornography from all your computers and hand held devices. There is no good reason to hang on to any of this stuff so this is an easy one and it’s something you can do right now.

3. If you have the support of a non sex addicted loved one, you can use their assistance at times when you have to go online for some purpose.

Make an agreement with this person that at times when you have to go online you will call immediately before signing on and you will call immediately after logging off – to report back that you did not engage in any sexual activity while online.

Entering into this voluntary accountability agreement can help keep you focused on your task while online and shore up your resolve to avoid temptation.

4. Move your computer to an area of the house or office where it is visible to family or co workers at all times. By reducing the privacy of your environment you reduce the frequency of opportunity.

5. Use your real full name in usernames and email addresses. By avoiding anonymity you avoid behaviors that you do not wish affiliated with your identity.

6. Install software which filters search results to block websites with sexual content.

7. Avoid going online when you are alone.

8. Allow a trusted friend or family member to have remote access to your computer and ask them to check in at random points of the day. This way, you never know when someone else may be viewing what’s on your monitor.

9. Tape a prayer or affirmation to your computer that reminds you of why you seek to maintain your abstinence

10. Make a spiritual connection, through prayer, mediation or other means before logging on.¹