suggestions

[ElderJAR]

What are some things that people can do to occupy their minds and detract their mind when they are being tempted with pornography? I guess I pretty much know the answers, but they aren't as obvious when you're being tempted.

[siouxz72]

Walk away...from the computer...from the magazine...from the whatever. Get up and walk.

[changed]

Sing a hymn!
Get outside and exercise!
Read a book
Cook some food – some really good food
Take a cold shower LOL!

[Tough Grits]

My suggestions might seem simple, but they actually work for some...

1. Say a prayer.
2. Pick up your scriptures.
3. Call a friend to talk.
4. Find somebody to do a service project for or run an errand for.
5. Do that one thing that you have been putting off and setting to the side.
6. Think of all the reasons why you shouldn't engage in pornography.
7. Think of how Satan must laugh and enjoy it when a noble son or daughter of God gets caught in the trap of pornography.
8. Make a list of all your goals in life and in the gospel, then think about how being caught in the web of pronography might jeopardize those plans.
9. If you are married, talk to your spouse. Let them help you in your moment of trial and weakness...there is a reason that they are called a help-mate.
10. Call your Bishop. Yes, he is busy, but most bishops I know would welcome the sacred opportunity and responsibility to help a member avoid a moral/sexual/adulterous pitfall.
11. Have a spouse, family member, or friend set a strict lock-down on allowed sites/content on your computer. Let them be the only ones who know the password. Have them also set a strict content filter on your cable or satellite hook-up, again, where they are the only ones to know the password.
12. Keep a miniature Book of Mormon in your pocket or car at all times. If you feel the need to stop and purchase or rent material of a pornograpghic nature, pull out your "emergency" scriptures and start reading!!

I hope these suggestions help anybody who may be struggling with this terrible disease. My prayers are with you. Though not all of us struggle with this painful addiction, many of us know somebody who does. It is for the benefit of us all to know the warning signs, and to know how to be proactive in combatting this plague.

[Truegrits]

What are some things that people can do to occupy their minds and detract their mind when they are being tempted with pornography?

I think all the suggestions so far are good/helpful...
How about calling a friend?
Even if you have not shared your "problem" with the friend, just talking/being with them would help. Having people around you puts your focus elsewhere.

[deydream]

If you can find someone to report to about your progress, like your bishop, it may help you be stronger. Also, don't let yourself be idle or bored. Don't go near the line, if you feel yourself start to be tempted, stay away from the computer, shut it down. Don't even use the computer unless some one else is in the room with you. If the computer is in a bedroom, take is out and put it in a public place in the house.

Make a long list of anything else you can be doing and then use that list. If you are having a hard time, don't lose hope. Satan wants you to lose hope so he can more easily tempt you and bind you down with his chains. He doesn't care about you, but there are a lot of us out here who do care what happens to you.

[unixknight]

I usually work on a hobby.

[funkymonkey]

Addiction is really hard, especially this one because it's can be hidden so easily.

Having someone in person coach you can really help, especially at first... like a bishop or a counselor. I know guys tend to have a bigger problem than women when it comes to accepting outside help but when it comes to this kind of tempation, outside people to give you the necessary tools to beat this.

Keep the computer in a public area and don't use it when you're alone. Use computer labs on campus with people around if you're in school.

Also, always have the will-power to regain control over your own mind, and be stubborn about it. For the first while it'll feel like you'll be fighting fighting fighting, but it will get easier with time, and don't feel bad if you slip up or if it takes longer to conquer than you thought it would. Sometimes it takes even years.

There are a ton of Ensign articles that talk about coping with this too.

[ElderJAR]

thank you everyone for your suggestions. It has been a good day for me and hopefully they'll keep coming and never cease.

[xXTekXx]

I would say that listening to music is a really good one,as long as it's in good taste. Excersize would help too