5 Reasons Why Porn Use Increases During Christmas

Christmas schedules get very busy this time of the year. However, it also is a time to relax enjoying family and friends.

While the slow-down that Christmas brings is welcomed by many, a change in routine can also provide easy access for temptation. In response to that temptation, an unguarded person may end up using the time to pursue inappropriate things – such as porn.

The King’s Example

Consider King David in 2 Samuel,

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”

David altered his routine for a time so that he could rest and relax. But 2 Samuel 11:2-4 highlights how detrimental this was to him.

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.”

David let his guard down! Many times, our enemy comes at us full force during times of what we perceive as rest. Taking time to rest is essential, but wisdom is knowing the plans of our enemy.

Being Proactive During The Holidays

Recent Google Search Trends show that porn viewing spikes during the week of Christmas, equaled only during mid-summer. Additionally, the days following the holidays are often higher in porn consumption as well.

Related Article: What Does Proactive Accountability Look Like?

Did you know that Americans are most likely to consume porn on December 27 – only two days after celebrating the birth of Jesus?

So, what drives this peak in online traffic during the holidays?

There are a variety of motives, but we are going to share five triggers that people tend to experience during the holidays.

Five Triggers During The Holidays

Trigger 1: Free Time

Those extra days off from the office may feel like paradise, but they can also become an extra source of temptation. With no one watching and a lack of accountability, the situation can quickly become ripe for those struggling with sexual addiction.

In Episode 2 of the Conquer Series, a cinematic video series that helps men break free from porn, viewers are asked:

“Why is it that so many Christian men who love the Lord can’t stop their behavior? The entire battle for purity takes place within eight inches of grey matter—your brain. Knowing where the battle takes place is crucial to every man’s victory.”

When the brain is given time to decompress and relax, it can be a wonderful time of rest… but watch out! It can also be a time for powerful temptation to enter our lives.

Trigger 2: Family

How can a family be a trigger for viewing porn? For many people, family time is a wonderful experience. Yet for others, family time increases stress.

For some, family members have been sources of past abuse that can trigger sexual thoughts and feelings.

Related Article: How Past Hurts Fuel Porn Use & Where To Find Hope

Session three of the Conquer Series identifies these issues as your sexual triggers, including your arousal template and trauma profile (the wounded areas of your life). If family time is a major stress or temptation, it is important to be aware of it and prepare for it.

You may not be able to avoid all unpleasant interactions over the holidays, but bracing yourself for this potential trigger offers hope. In addition, you may need to recover with a quick call to a trusted friend. This will help defend against the emotional low and vulnerability that may occur after a difficult family meeting.

Trigger 3: Feeling Tired

While Christmas can offer a time of rest for some, for others the holiday season is exhausting. There is always one more gathering to attend, another present to buy, or food to prepare.

These activities may be positive, but the results sometimes are not.

Counselor Floyd Godfrey of Family Strategies Counseling Center notes,

“Addiction is wired into the limbic area of the brain, so when you’re tired, you’re more susceptible to slips. Plan ahead to avoid getting sleep deprived. Rest when you need to so you’ll have the mental energy to fight temptation toward pornography addiction.”

Related Article: This Is Your Brain On Porn

Trigger 4: Loneliness

Not everyone has family and friends to visit over the holidays. Those who feel alone are especially vulnerable to temptation.

Related Article: How The Loneliness Epidemic Is Linked To Porn

The combination of additional time alone and feelings of loneliness can drive a person to seek satisfaction in negative ways, including consuming pornography.

Session five of the Conquer Series refers to intimacy disorder as the root of sexual bondage.

If true intimacy with God and one’s spouse is not accurately addressed, this lack of intimacy can express itself through other means, including increased pornography usage.

Related Article: 10 Signs Your Partner Is An Intimacy Anorexic

A Conquer Group offers positive ways to discuss issues of intimacy without resorting to porn.

Trigger 5: New Devices

Let’s face it: Christmas gifts often include new electronic devices. These devices lead to more time using them, including the use of pornographic images and videos. For example, the day the first iPad was released, porn consumption in America increased by nine percent. Searches for virtual reality porn also experienced a huge spike at Christmas.

As a parent, you must be especially careful when providing new smartphones, tablets, or other devices to your child. Take time to discuss and train your child on how to use devices safely as well as how to respond to inappropriate images and content. Help them understand that they can come to you and talk about it when this does occur.

In addition, you should have additional accountability software installed. There are many accountability systems to help protect you and your family members in this area.

Related Article: Which Accountability Software is Right for Me?

Defending Against Christmas Porn Temptation

In addition to the tips shared above, experts have noted three steps to help defend against pornography during vulnerable times such as Christmas.

Related Article: 4 Tips To Conquer This Christmas

1. Rest

To defend against temptation during times when you are tired, plan as much as possible for adequate sleep and rest. Simply put, when you are more rested, you are stronger against temptation.

2. Redeem The Time

Extra free time does not need to be left to temptation. Look for opportunities to invest your time in ways that make a difference in the lives of others. Plan an activity with your family or volunteer at a local community event for the less fortunate. As session five of the Conquer Series challenges, the best way to fight temptation is with a battle plan. Failure to plan is planning to fail.

3. Accountability Group

Most of us increase our chances of success when we have a friend, guide, or coach in the process. Chances for success increase exponentially when you have an accountability group: The more men you can go to when you need a lifeline, the better. As our schedules get busier, it’s even more necessary to have multiple people in your support system.

A great place to find this is in a Conquer Group, which is a group of men who are holding each other accountable and using the Conquer Series. It’s a discipleship guide to help them grow on the path to sexual integrity.

Daily communication with one or more of the men in your Conquer Group can offer the ongoing encouragement and guidance needed to face your temptations this Christmas season.

Related Article: 4 Triggers To Be On The Lookout For This Christmas

“Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

The Plan

The Conquer Series includes Biblical principles and daily practices to help men conquer porn and walk in freedom.

You can join the millions of men in over 100 countries who have learned to move beyond “not watching porn” to start living a transformed life.

Start your journey to freedom at SoulRefiner.com.