Breaking the Addiction-Shame Cycle

Excerpt: Breaking the Addiction-Shame Cycle

Course: Freedom From Pornography

Speakers: Brittni De La Mora

Breaking Free from Shame

I remember vividly the shame I felt after leaving the porn industry and attending church. It was a stark contrast to my previous openness. I thought, ‘Everyone here is perfect. They’ll reject me if they know my past.’ These lies fueled my isolation.

The Revelation: Jesus’s Sacrifice and Your Freedom

Then, an organization asked me to share my story. I envisioned it being shown at porn conventions, hoping to help others escape. Instead, it went viral on YouTube. I was mortified, convinced my church would discover my past.

In my distress, I questioned God. But the Holy Spirit calmed me, asking me to picture Jesus on the cross, His suffering for me. ‘Was that enough?’ He asked. ‘Then why are you ashamed of what Jesus died for? Go and be set free.‘

The Power of Transparency

Those words transformed me. I began sharing my past with everyone at church, from parking lot attendants to greeters. I dove headfirst into transparency.

I share this because many of you battle shame. Shame is Satan’s tool to isolate you, preventing conversations that can lead to healing. Alone, you’re vulnerable to the enemy’s lies, convincing you that you’re a loser, that you’ll never escape addiction.

But transparency silences the enemy. He can’t hold you captive with shame when you’ve already shared your struggle.

Rising After Falling

If you’re battling shame, remember Jesus’s sacrifice. It was more than enough. He knows your struggle. Proverbs 24:16 reminds us, ‘Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.’ Falling is part of the journey. The key is getting back up.

I encourage you to be transparent. Like Nike says, ‘Just do it.’ Open up and tell someone you’re struggling. Sharing breaks the power of shame.

Conclusion: Finding Freedom in Vulnerability

Overcoming pornography isn’t just about stopping a behavior; it’s about finding freedom from the shame that binds you. Transparency is a powerful weapon against the enemy’s lies. By sharing your struggle, you step into the light, where healing and restoration are possible. Embrace vulnerability and experience the freedom that comes from truth

If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…

See the outline below and check out other sections from the FFP course.

Take the full small group course to your church community! The first course your church runs is free! Reach out to us here to learn how.

Connect with a Share The Struggle Coach for one-on-one support. Let’s face it, some of us have tried kicking this thing, and we’ve had no luck. It’s time to start looking toward forms of support that can help us see and feel the beautiful life God has in store for us.

Part 1: Stories of Struggle

Session 1: What is the Struggle?

Video: Introduction: Freedom from Pornography

Video: Stories of Struggle with Matthias and Ryan

Video: Healing Prayer to Break Chains

Topics: Early Exposure and Unseen Wounds

Session 2: The People

Video: Brittni’s Story

Video: Humanizing the Struggle

Video: Safeguard your Life from Porn; Warfare Prayer to Break the Chains

Topics: The Broken People Who Make Porn; Taking Action Against Using Porn

Part 2: The Roots of Dependency versus Design

Session 3: How Does This Dependency Begin?

Video: Ripping the Veil off a Dark Industry

Video: What’s in the Search Bar

Video: Exploring Wounds through Attachment Style

Video: Exposing the Lies of the Sexual Revolution

Topics: The Truth about the Industry; What’s Driving Your Porn Use

Session 4: Biblical Roots

Video: Knowing Your Enemies

Video: Rejecting Synthetic for Authentic; Looking for Patterns and Capturing Thoughts

Video: Inner Healing Prayer for Pornography

Topics: Three Enemies; Gypsy Moth Mating Disruption; Inner Healing Prayer

Part 3: Reconnecting and Reattaching

Session 5: Reconnecting With An Authentic God

Video: The Healing Power of the Gospel

Video: Habits for Healing with God

Video: The Three-Part Bible Formula for Freedom

Topics: How God Sees You; Wild Mustangs; Learn the Formula for Success

Session 6: Working On Self

Video: Breaking the Addiction-Shame Cycle

Video: Creating Infrastructure for Healing

Video: The Neuroscience of Addiction; What Porn Does to Your Brain

Topics: Judgement and Shame; Visceral Reactions; Your Brain’s Reaction

Session 7: Working With Others

Video: Practices for Building Community; Relationships of Trust

Video: How to Find Good Accountability

Topics: Communities; Who to Trust; Action Before Failure

Session 8: Healing With A Spouse

Video: Providing Helpful Accountability; Confess the Temptation, Not the Mistake

Topics: Being a Safe Listener; Sharing Safely; Listening Triad

Share the Struggle Courses are topical expert led video courses to help you understand life’s greatest struggles and provide you with tools for navigating them. Moreover, STS courses create a space for you to connect with others struggling with similar things, experience belonging, and encounter God’s nearness in a place of wilderness in your life (pain, confusion, healing journey). Want to start a group at your church? Reach out to us here to learn how.

Here at Share The Struggle we believe Jesus is present with us in the middle of our pain and mess, and it is in that place that we often experience and encounter Jesus most deeply.

We understand the unique challenges faced by Christians dealing with mental health. Our mission is to bridge the gap between faith and mental health support, providing a platform where individuals can find resources, coaching support and guidance, all tailored to their spiritual life and emotional needs.

We invite you to explore our resources, share your journey, and find the support you need to overcome the struggles you face.

Share The Struggle is an initiative of Taming Mustangs, a 501(c)3) Non-Profit