Causes, effects and how to overcome porn addiction

Pornography is a common pastime for consumers. Hence it’s safe to say that there will always be porn addiction as a result. However, porn addiction is a controversial issue as some experts have suggested that it’s not a real condition.

Pornographic contents are widely available on the internet.  In 2019, the popular site PornHub recorded 42 billion visits – as in 115 million a day. According to WebMD, studies estimate that between 86% and 96% of men regularly consume porn. Women consume slightly less pornographic content.

Watching pornography may be a beneficial routine for self-exploration and even improving relations with your partner. However, getting addicted to the practice will definitely cause problems to your general well-being. This is why it’s important to take your time to read this piece to understand everything you need to know about porn addiction.

Table of Content hide 1What is porn addiction? 2Signs of porn addiction 2.11. Spending excess money on porn 2.22. Inability to stop viewing porn 2.33. You’re often distracted 2.44. You’re angry when you don’t watch porn 2.55. You make unrealistic sexual demands 2.66. You lose interest in sex 2.77. You become less attracted to your partner 2.88. You often lose track of time 2.99. You neglect yourself 2.1010. You’re in pain 3Effects of porn addiction 4How to overcome porn addiction

What is porn addiction?

MedicalNewsToday defines porn addiction as a person becoming emotionally dependent on pornography to the point that it interferes with their daily life, relationships, and ability to function. It is a compulsive sexual behaviour that the World Health Organisation (WHO) added as a mental health disorder in 2018.

Porn addiction is similar to other sexual behavior disorders like excessive masturbation and cybersex. A person who is addicted to porn will be so overtaken by the act that he or she will not mind watching it in public places, including at work and in transit.

Signs of porn addiction

Below are the top 10 signs of porn addiction:

1. Spending excess money on porn

One of the tell-tale signs that you’re addicted to porn is the amount of money you spend consuming the content. The more porn you watch, the higher the desire to get more quality content. These contents are usually not free, forcing you to spend money, including forgoing more important needs, to fulfill your desire to acquire more porn. An addicted person is ready to spend top dollar for premium subscriptions.

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2. Inability to stop viewing porn

You can’t stop watching porn, no matter how much you try. The more you resist, the more you return to your devices to watch. Before you know it, you’ve spent so much time on the internet without knowing when you’ve even started.

3. You’re often distracted

You may find yourself thinking about porn when you’re in the midst of family, friends, and colleagues. In fact, it’s so bad that you’ll likely excuse yourself from the group to go watch porn. You find your mind drifting, affecting your communication with people around you.

4. You’re angry when you don’t watch porn

Like every other addiction symptom, not watching porn can make you throw up some weird behaviours. Anger is one of them. You’ll just be angry for no apparent reason. Your body will be peppering you all the time, and you’ll lash out at everybody, including your partner and children. People around you will be wondering what is wrong with you. They don’t know that it’s because you’ve not taken your usual “dose” of porn.

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5. You make unrealistic sexual demands

Being addicted to porn may cause you to develop some unrealistic ideas about sex. You want your partner to kill themselves to meet up with your unrealistic sexual desires simply because you’ve viewed it in porn. You forget that these porn stars have some training and your partner doesn’t.

6. You lose interest in sex

Ironic, isn’t it? One would think watching porn will boost your desire for sex. But the opposite turns out to be the case. You’re so used to getting sexual satisfaction through watching porn that you’re no longer interested in having real sex. You become unresponsive to romantic advances from your partner, causing him or her to view you as distant or even uninterested when they try to engage with you sexually. Even when you agree to actually do it, you may need extra stimulation to get you in the mood.

7. You become less attracted to your partner

Your partner doesn’t look like your favorite porn star, so you lose interest in him or her. Your expectations or beauty standards are tied to the people you’ve been watching in porn. This can create an intimacy problem between you and your partner, and you will contribute to them getting low self-esteem.

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8. You often lose track of time

You spend so much time watching porn that you’ve neglected more important activities. You don’t even care that you haven’t accomplished much as of late. Time is passing by, and it’s not your business because you’re addicted to porn.

9. You neglect yourself

Watching porn can make you forget to take good care of yourself. Every time, you’re in front of the screen, and you don’t remember to get up and brush your teeth at least. You spend hours surfing the internet for the next interesting porn video while neglecting that you have a life outside.

10. You’re in pain

This can be from the repetition of certain physical movements for long periods. It could also be from the strain that comes with excessive computer use. You frequently feel pain in your wrist, neck, and back or might experience headaches. If that’s you, it’s a sign that you should think about stopping porn consumption.

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Effects of porn addiction

• pornography use can lead to changes in the brain, similar to people with substance or gambling addictions.
• It affects intimacy between partners.
• An addicted person cannot get sexual satisfaction except through porn.
• Loss of interest in a partner and other activities.
• An addicted person is often isolated, preferring to be alone to continue watching porn.
• Distraction is a common occurrence.
• Porn addiction is a hypersexual disorder that leads to mental health issues like mood swings and even substance abuse challenges.
• It affects the daily functioning of a normal human being.

How to overcome porn addiction

If you’re addicted to porn, and you want to stop, take the following steps:

• Accept that you have a problem.
• Know why you’re giving it up. It could be for religious or ethical reasons.
• Get rid of any porn materials you have.
• See a therapist or any person that can help you.
• Have an accountability buddy. An accountability buddy is a person you trust who can guide you through overcoming your addiction. He or she will hold you accountable for every step you take in your journey towards overcoming porn addiction.
• Join a support group if there is any in your area.
• Replace watching porn with healthier habits and hobbies such as yoga, hanging out with friends, learning a skill, etc.
• Don’t give up if you relapse. Trying to break away from the habit will take time, and you might find yourself jumping off the wagon from time to time. If that happens, don’t waste time beating yourself up about it. Continue your journey towards freedom. You’ll get there someday.

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