You’re sure making a lot of bold, definitive statements for “that’s just my opinion bro!” And what I’m trying to say is that, fundamentally, you’re wrong. Further, it’s actually a bit dangerous to say to someone struggling with a very real thing that they just need to have some self control. Don’t rub one out for a week! You’ll be fine!

Psychological addictions have a lot of the same impacts on your life as physiological ones. People employ addiction-seeking behaviors to get what they want. It can be INCREDIBLY difficult to stop. Often times you can’t without psychological help or group support. Hell, psychological addictions can even come with withdrawal symptoms.

All things point towards this being an addiction. What do you lose by extending the empathy towards these people struggling that you do to those struggling with other addictions? It’s more convenient, I suppose, to say that the problem and solution all rest within the other person’s head, nevermind that what’s inside someone’s head is literally their entire existence.

Gratz on quitting smoking, though, any addiction is hard to kick.