Porn addiction is defined as the inability to stop looking at porn even when you want to. The obsession becomes so intense that it interferes with work, relationships, and other aspects of daily life. With the widespread availability of internet porn today, it’s easy to see how this could be a problem. PornHub, for example, received 42 billion visits in 2019 – that’s 115 million per day.
Is Porn Addiction Real?
Scientists are debating whether heavy use of pornography constitutes an addiction in the medical sense.
In 2018, the World Health Organization classified compulsive sexual behavior as a mental health disorder. While it does not specifically mention pornography (or any other) addiction, it does mention repetitive sexual activities becoming so important in a person’s life that they neglect their “health and personal care or other interests, activities, and responsibilities.”
In addition, a study of men seeking treatment for problematic pornography use (PPU) discovered that their brains did respond to sexual images.
That lends credence to experts who claim that the same brain activity seen in drug or alcohol addiction – when circuits in your brain associated with reward, motivation, and memory are activated – is seen in those who use pornography frequently.
However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not recognize porn addiction. That is the book that doctors use to diagnose mental illnesses.
Furthermore, some research findings contradict the notion that pornography is linked to addiction. One group of researchers discovered that watching porn did not activate the areas of the brain associated with addiction. In fact, activity in those areas of the brain decreased.
Other scientists argue that previous studies have either been poorly organized or have struggled to define what exactly constitutes an addiction. Furthermore, some say it’s difficult to determine how widespread the problem is, in part because few users believe the habit is a problem.
Signs of Porn Addiction
Whether or not it is an addiction, those who use pornography on a regular basis have intense urges or cravings for sex. When they are stressed, they watch porn. They also have difficulties at work and at home. Some experts believe there is a link between heavy porn use and relationship dissatisfaction.
The definition of how much porn is too much varies. However, most experts agree that if it interferes with your daily activities, you may be watching too much. As an example, suppose:
- Porn becomes ingrained in your life. You forego activities that you really enjoy in order to see more of it.
- You disregard personal hygiene.
- Other activities become less appealing to you.
- You lose interest in social interactions.
- It wreaks havoc on your relationships.
- You relinquish other responsibilities.
- It has an impact on your job or schoolwork.
- You’re looking at it or watching it in inappropriate places, such as work or school.
- Your sex life becomes unsatisfying.
- You have a strong desire for more.
- Even if you try, you can’t stop looking at or watching porn.
- You can’t give up even if you don’t enjoy it as much.
- You’ve been looking at or watching porn for at least 6 months.
Causes and Risk Factors of Porn Addiction
Because porn addiction is controversial in the medical/mental health community, there is no definitive list of causes. However, there could be some hints in the causes of compulsive sexual behavior. Things that can lead to porn addiction include:
- A chemical imbalance in the brain. Chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine regulate your mood. High levels are frequently associated with compulsive sexual behavior, such as heavy porn use.
- Pathways in the brain change. If you become addicted, it may alter the way your brain’s circuits function. When you have an addiction, you will have to watch porn over and over again to get the same level of enjoyment.
- The disease of the brain. Epilepsy, dementia, and dopamine treatment for Parkinson’s disease can all harm the part of your brain that regulates sexual behavior.
- Ease of access is one factor that may increase the likelihood of porn addiction. Porn is now just a click away, thanks to the internet.
- Privacy. It is now easier than ever to watch porn in private. Compulsive behaviors thrive in the shadows.
- Compulsive sexual behavior, such as porn addiction, may be more likely if you have:
- Problems with drugs or alcohol, or family members who have them
- Other mental health issues include mood disorders such as depression and gambling addiction.
- Family strife
- Physical or sexual abuse in the past
Treatment for Porn Addiction and Home Remedies
If you believe your pornographic habits are causing you problems, there is help available. Psychotherapy is the most common type of treatment for compulsive sexual behavior. You could attempt:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy. You’ll work with a mental health professional to identify and address problem areas in your life.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of CBT that focuses on accepting your thoughts and urges while also committing to actions that are more in line with other values.
- The goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to help you become more aware of your unconscious thoughts and behaviors, as well as to learn about your motivations and resolve conflicts.
Medications can aid in the control of brain chemicals associated with obsessive thoughts and actions. They are as follows:
- Antidepressants. Drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder may be beneficial.
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol) (Vivitrol). This medication is used to treat opiate and alcohol addiction. It disables the part of your brain that enjoys addictive behaviors.
- Mood elevators. They may reduce compulsive sexual urges when used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder.
- Anti-androgens. These drugs reduce the effects of male sex hormones (androgens). They suppress men’s sexual desires.
You can also consider joining a self-help or support group such as Sex Addicts Anonymous or Sexaholics Anonymous. They can refer you to mental health professionals who are trained in dealing with excessive porn use in addition to having people who understand what you’re going through.
Complications of Porn Addiction
Not seeking help for a porn addiction can result in issues such as guilt, shame, and low self-esteem.
- Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are all examples of mental health problems.
- Ignoring your partner
- Relationships are being harmed.
- Workplace distraction
- Job loss as a result of watching internet porn at work
- Debt from purchasing porn
- Substance abuse problems
5 Potential Treatments for Porn Addiction
While pornography addiction is not currently recognized as a medical condition, those who consume pornography excessively may experience strong cravings, neglect their responsibilities, and engage in self-defeating behaviors in order to continue their porn use.
According to some researchers, the addictive potential of online pornography is linked to its “triple A” influence: accessibility, affordability, and anonymity. These factors can make it easy to develop a habit of using problematic pornography—and also make it difficult to stop using it.
While pornography addiction has not yet been clearly defined or recognized as a formal mental illness, therapeutic solutions to the negative effects of excessive porn use are widely available.
According to Dr. Rene Sorrentino, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and medical director of the Institute for Sexual Wellness in Weymouth, Massachusetts, “most treatment programs incorporate psychosocial, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and pharmacologic methodologies.”
Continue reading to learn about 5 therapeutic interventions that can be used to address problematic porn use and its consequences.
- Modification of Behavior
Dr. Daniel Sher, a clinical psychologist and sex therapy consultant for Invigor Medical in Washington, recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to become aware of behaviors and triggers (CBT).
“CBT works by assisting a person in identifying, challenging, and changing patterns of thought and behavior that fuel porn use,” Sher explains.
Dr. Sher also employs Motivational Interviewing (MI), also known as “strategic questions,” to help clients improve. “MI guides them to consider the benefits and drawbacks of their addiction and nudges them in the direction of change that will improve their lives,” Sher says.
Mindfulness can also be beneficial. “Science has shown that mindfulness when combined with therapy, can really help a person take control of their urges,” Sher says.
- Group Counseling
Group therapy and healing personal traumas are recommended by Julia Alperovich, a therapist in Sherman Oaks, California, whose podcast “Undressing the Issue” addresses sexual addiction.
“Connecting with others and experiencing emotional intimacy,” Alperovich says, “is a powerful tool in helping a person with this type of addiction.” “Trauma-focused approaches are also useful for investigating how trauma may have affected a person’s sense of safety [while] being vulnerable with others.”
- Hypnotherapy
Venka de Rooij, a psychotherapist, and hypnotherapist in London, has used a variety of novel techniques to assist patients who are addicted to porn. Hypnotherapy, for example, employs guided meditation to induce a trance-like state in which the patient can address deeper issues.
“Clinical hypnotherapy acts by accessing the subconscious to pinpoint the root cause of the addiction,” Rooij says.
- Investigating Alternatives
Rooij also suggests replacing bad habits with more adaptable ones.
“I am a firm believer that if you take away an addiction [or] coping mechanism, you have to give something back to help that person cope in the future when life throws them a curve ball so they do not relapse,” Rooij says.
Jacob Kountz, a therapist at Kern Wellness Counseling in Bakersfield, CA, agrees. “The process of finding something more worthwhile is one of the most effective treatments for treating porn addiction,” says Kountz. “I’ve helped many good people navigate what porn gives them, and together we discover things that are more valuable, which eventually leads to them quitting porn for good.”
Kountz believes that replacing old habits can lead to self-improvement. “Finding something else to do other than hang out with porn develops intrinsic motivation and potential upward mobility in life,” says Kountz.
- Medication
Medication may be beneficial in some cases of excessive pornography use. “Pharmacologic interventions have focused on treating co-occurring psychiatric disorders and targeting hypersexual or compulsive sexual behaviors with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, [or] SSRIs,” says Dr. Sorrentino.
SSRIs, which are commonly prescribed for depression, increase serotonin levels in the body, which is a neurotransmitter that sends emotion-regulating signals between brain cells. “The rationale for using SSRIs is based on animal models, which show a decrease in sexual behaviors as serotonin levels rise,” Dr. Sorrentino explains.
However, therapy may still be the best bet. “In the absence of scientifically validated treatment,” Dr. Sorrentino says, “most clinicians working with pornography addiction strive to understand the maladaptive behavior and introduce prosocial, healthy alternatives.”
At Freeman House Recovery, we understand that sex and porn addiction problems can be difficult to overcome. However, we offer a range of porn addiction treatment options that are designed to help our clients achieve lasting sobriety as well as porn addiction counselling.
We begin with a comprehensive assessment, which helps us to develop an individualized treatment plan. We then provide a variety of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and group therapy.
Our goal is to help our clients develop the skills and knowledge necessary to live a healthy and satisfying life free from addiction. If you or someone you love is struggling with sex or pornography addiction, please contact us today to learn more about our treatment options.
This article was first published at https://www.freemanhouserecovery.com/what-exactly-is-a-porn-addiction/
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