Are you addicted to porn?
Are you afraid you might be?

The truth is that porn addiction affects millions of people, both men, and women. Although the number of people who admit to being addicted to porn are primarily men, you'd be surprised at how many women also say they suffer from porn addiction. In this post, we will learn how to stop addiction to porn.

What is Porn Addiction?

Porn addiction, like any addiction, goes through stages - however, unlike most other addictions, the physical effects of porn addiction are virtually invisible, and the psychological and emotional effects are quite subtle at first. In fact, many porn addicts may seek treatment for a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and OCD, as well as physical ailments, stress, other addictions, and finally, dysfunctional sexual performance before anyone thinks to ask about their porn-viewing habits.

More and more studies clearly link issues related to sexual performance, including erectile dysfunction in men in their late teens and early twenties (something that was almost unheard of 10 - 15 years ago), back to extensive viewing of internet porn. It is when they can no longer get an erection or ejaculate, even with porn, that some men start to make the connection between their excessive viewing of porn and other issues in their life. Often this is the only thing that eventually get their attention. (Their partners, if they have partners, may have known for some time that something was happening, or rather not happening!)

This sorry state of affairs is bad news for both porn addicts and partners of porn addicts. Many spend night after night lying in bed next to a partner that never seems to be 'in the mood' for sex. The result can be devastating to marriages, relationships, and the self-esteem of both parties. The secretive nature of most men's porn addiction may also mean that some partners may not know that they are in a relationship with a porn addict, or even if they are aware of their partner's porn habit, they may not make the connection at first either. Or they may not know the extent of their partner's porn viewing. The damage this causes relationships is thus far immeasurable.

The Shocking Truth is That Porn Addiction is a Drug

So What? It's just a harmless sexual release, right?

There is a secret about porn and becoming addicted to it that most people never even consider. The fact is that when a person begins to abuse pornography, that is to watch more and more to increase their fix - just like a narcotic - it isn't just a mental thing.

Believe it or not, if you're addicted to porn, your body is actually manufacturing dopamine to give you a sort of high. This also has the added effect of causing other issues with the body's ability to properly absorb vitamins and minerals.

Porn addiction creates a chemical dependence, just like the abuse of cocaine or heroin. The more you watch, the more hooked you become.
You actually get hooked on porn, just as if you were snorting or shooting up. Considering how large and profitable the porn industry is today - it makes you wonder who understands this best, doesn't it?

How Porn Addiction Screws up Your Life 

Like any overuse of something unproductive, porn can have long-reaching effects. It could be argued, in fact, that porn addiction is worse than a drug because it is attached to sexual desire - the strongest motivation known.

Many people lost jobs, opportunities, friends, and intimate relationships because of their porn usage. Erectile dysfunction, social awkwardness, depression, and other symptoms can also result.

The worst part is that the more a person who's addicted to porn feels bad, lonely, angry, etc. - the more they'll seek out the temporary comfort of porn - and the more shame, guilt, and self-loathing they'll feel afterward.

Common signs of porn addiction include:
- Unable to resist looking at porn.
- More than your average excitement before you look at porn.
- High amounts of pleasure as a result of porn, more like you needed it rather than just simply wanted it.
- Overly preoccupied with porn.
- Watching more than is healthy.
- You try to slow the amount of time you find yourself viewing porn but fail.
- The amount of time you spend online is such it disrupts day-to-day life.
- You find your job, school, social, or home life seriously disrupted by viewing porn.
- You overlook prior engagements due to watching porn.
- You realize that you have a problem but can simply do nothing about it.
- You find it takes more and more porn to reach the same levels of pleasure you did before.
- If you are unable to watch porn for whatever reason, you become increasingly aggravated.

How To Get Rid Of Porn Addiction?

There is no simple cure, no quick fix to getting over porn addiction. However, there is a step-by-step, day-by-day process. It involves daily mental exercise, a concerted effort to focus on other more positive things, and a continuous program of eliminating the chemical processes that help keep a person addicted.

It is entirely possible to beat porn addiction. Getting over porn addiction will:
• Create a sense of self-worth.
• Increase self-confidence.
• Provide the ability to start and maintain quality relationships, from work to friends to romantic.
• Generally result in a healthier body.
• Turn a negative into a positive.
• Eliminate the guilt, shame, and self-loathing that comes from abusing porn.
• Establish good habits, great feelings, and the power to achieve in all areas of life.

To solve any problem, the first step required is to realize it as a problem - the same is the case with porn addiction. If you realize it as a problem, you will definitely seek options available to treat it. Given below are the basic options available to solve this problem. You can use these as well as some other sources as a helping material to treat the problem of porn addiction. These are some ways to quit addiction to porn.

Therapy

Different recovery programs can help you in reducing your addiction; though, you can also receive help from any qualified therapist. Some people think that this problem doesn't need any involvement of therapy, but it can help you in realizing many hidden reasons for porn addiction like lack of self-esteem, emotional pain, depression, and anxiety. But before consulting any therapist, make sure he is a qualified and experienced therapist in addiction's solving. He can help you to identify the cause of porn addiction easily.

Get rid of any pornography in your possession

You can’t wean yourself off pornography. Think of the hidden pornography in your home as a ticking time bomb that will ultimately destroy your family and marriage.

Use your imagination to help yourself

It's often been said that the largest sexual organ is the brain. If you feel genuinely sexy, then rather than dulling your imagination by watching porn, learn to fantasize. You'll spend much less time doing this and can 'direct your own porn' within your mind. It is ultimately more satisfying but strangely less compulsive than viewing porn. 

Go do something more interesting instead!

Ideally, what would you rather be doing with time you've wasted on porn? Working on your career or studying? Perfecting playing a musical instrument? Socializing? Even watching TV can feel more productive.
Time isn't infinite, so rather than spending time worrying about porn viewing or feeling guilty, start focusing on what you really want to do with your time. Suppose someone spent 40 hours viewing repetitive porn (and porn is repetitive). How good would they become if they used those 40 hours to cook or read or write? How informed would you be if you viewed the History Channel for that time? What we put into our heads is just as important as the diet we give our bodies.

Support groups

Many people find strength in talking to others who have the same experience with the issue.
Ask a mental health professional or local hospital for information on pornography or sexual addiction support groups.

Medication

Treatment for behavioral addictions involves talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. But your doctor may recommend medication if you have coexisting conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or OCD.

Conclusion

Recovering from porn addiction (for addicts and/or partners) takes time, courage, and commitment, and it is not easy to do without support. There are some very good websites now that can assist, but the assistance of a therapist who is aware of the nature of porn and sex addiction, one who will take it seriously, can be fundamental to long-lasting recovery. At least, having a close friend or understanding partner (if that is possible) that you know and trust is also important. 

The reason for this is that porn and sex addiction most likely mask other issues, such as fear of intimacy, abandonment fears, attachment disorders, and perhaps even trauma. 

Porn addiction can destroy your life and relationship if you do not pay attention to this addiction. Our experts can help to overcome this addiction. Do talk to our experts and get advice and guidance on all types of addictions.

FAQs

1. What actually constitutes a porn addict? 

Looking at porn is not abnormal for many. In fact, many non-addicts enjoy looking at porn. However, when you find that you are thinking of porn all the time and cannot go without looking at it, you are most likely a porn addict. There is no sure sign of an addict, but there are several common ways that people know. If you think about porn all the time, if you look at people you pass as being sexual objects and picture them nude or have unwholesome thoughts about them, you may be an addict.

2. How can you tell if your partner is addicted to porn? 

One of the most important signs is that your partner is trying to hide something from you. Being on the computer late at night while you are sleeping, using the computer in a private room, or protecting the computer with a password may all be signs of porn addiction. You may notice that if you ask about porn or computer usage, your spouse gets frustrated or upset. These things tend to be very common signs of porn addiction and may be red flags for your own partner.

3. What should you do if you find your partner is addicted to porn? 

That is something that will need to be discussed between the two of you. Treatment should be considered and sought after by both the partner who is addicted and the 'supporting' partner. Both of you will have resulting issues to deal with, and someone who is addicted to porn needs help to find the root issue. Without dealing with this root issue, they may turn again to porn or other means to deal with it.

4. What can I do about my partner who is addicted to porn if he or she will not seek counseling or treatment? 

The most important thing for you to do in this situation is to seek treatment alone or with a supportive friend. Through this counseling, you can pursue your next step. If your partner is unwilling to seek treatment, it shows a disregard or a denial of their problem. You may have to decide whether you will continue with or without your partner from this point.