Eight Additional Commitments of Media Sobriety

Covenant for Adults in Recovery for Pornography or Media Addiction

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(Pastors' Step 3 for Helping Individuals)

While rigid boundaries and guidelines may not be needed for all adults, for adults that are unable to maintain ongoing media sobriety, rigidity is often needed and very helpful. The following is a suggested covenant for those who have had an ongoing issue with pornography or media addiction. It is recommended that adults in recovery sign both this recovery covenant and the Eight Commitments of Media Sobriety Covenant for Adults.

1. Commitment to Have Accountability Partner:  for accountability to be effective, it is helpful to communicate with your partner at least once or twice a week if not daily. See list of suggested accountability questions.
2. Commitment to Have Accountability Software: installed on all computers you use at home, work (if possible) and other locations.
3. Commitment to Recovery Groups: enter support groups, recovery groups and/or counseling if the issue persists. If there are family patterns that may be enabling your addiction, seek couples or family counseling also.
4. Commitment to Close Entry Points: cancel any subscriptions, memberships, channels, access to "900" phone numbers or other points of entry. Commitment to dispose of any media or magazines that are a trigger or to make sure they are beyond reach.
5. Commitment to Learn About Recovery: investigate and pursue resources to learn more about recovery. A full list is available in the Safe Families manual and on our recovery page.
6. Commitment to Have Transparency with Spouse: be transparent on where you are in recovery in general (being honest on general frequency and severity of acting out), but do not use him/her as your accountability partner.
7. Commitment to End Online Affairs:  any online relationship that either could be considered an online affair or is significantly damaging to your marriage. A good guideline is if you would not go to a level of emotional depth and intimacy in communication with someone face-to-face in person, then you should not go to that level of depth online - an online affair is still an affair.
8. Commitment to Avoid Hiding:  Commitment to allow accountability partner (and/or spouse) to review phone bills, credit card purchases, or other applicable records if the issue persists, to avoid hiding the severity of the issue.

I agree to follow the above commitments.

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Steps for Pastors Helping Individuals

Step 1: Immediate Emergency Response

Step 2: Church-based Accountability Partner