Porn Addiction: How to Get Help and Support

What is Porn Addiction?

Understand what porn addiction is and how it impacts your life.

Am I Addicted to Porn?

Learn the key indicators that show you have a problem with pornography.

How to Overcome Porn Addiction

Understand the best approach to overcoming your pornography addiction.

Do I Need Professional Help?

Knowing when professional help might be appropriate for your situation.

Porn Addiction: How to Get Help and Support

What is Porn Addiction?

Understand what porn addiction is and how it impacts your life.

Am I Addicted to Porn?

Learn the key indicators that show you have a problem with pornography.

How to Overcome Porn Addiction

Understand the best approach to overcoming your pornography addiction.

Do I Need Professional Help?

Knowing when professional help might be appropriate for your situation.

What is Porn Addiction?

If you think you might have a problem with porn, it’s important to start researching as much as possible about the potential problems associated with the addiction. But first, you need to make sure that you understand what porn addiction is. There’s a lot of information circulating the web, which often makes it hard to understand the real mechanisms behind the addiction.

But understanding your problem is the first step to fixing it. To start with, we’re going to take a look at what addiction is – this way you can understand the type of traits and behaviors associated with addiction. Then we will expand on this topic by introducing it to the world of pornography.

What is an Addiction?

In short, an addiction is a dependence (typically on a substance) that also exhibits extreme compulsions and urges to use the focus of the addiction. The obsession with the focus of the addiction eventually becomes so strong that it impacts the rest of the person’s life – in many cases, it ruins the ability of the person to live a healthy life. Eventually, changes in the wiring of the individual’s brain will result in extreme cravings and thought processes that were not previously present.

What is Porn Addiction?

If you think you might have a problem with porn, it’s important to start researching as much as possible about the potential problems associated with the addiction. But first, you need to make sure that you understand what porn addiction is. There’s a lot of information circulating the web, which often makes it hard to understand the real mechanisms behind the addiction.

But understanding your problem is the first step to fixing it. To start with, we’re going to take a look at what addiction is – this way you can understand the type of traits and behaviors associated with addiction. Then we will expand on this topic by introducing it to the world of pornography.

What is an Addiction?

In short, an addiction is a dependence (typically on a substance) that also exhibits extreme compulsions and urges to use the focus of the addiction. The obsession with the focus of the addiction eventually becomes so strong that it impacts the rest of the person’s life – in many cases, it ruins the ability of the person to live a healthy life. Eventually, changes in the wiring of the individual’s brain will result in extreme cravings and thought processes that were not previously present.

In the past, addiction has been seen as a choice, not as a disease. But in recent times, psychiatric hospitals and doctors have started to classify addiction as an illness. There is evidence suggesting that some people are predisposed to becoming addicted to substances and behaviors, while others have less of a chance of succumbing to addiction.

At the end of the day, addiction typically results in severe consequences for the individual who is struggling. Decision making and rationality usually suffer significantly under the stress of an addiction, making poor and destructive behavior much more likely.

Porn Addiction

Porn addiction is considered a reliance on pornography that results in extreme cravings and urges to watch pornography. Many people who are addicted to porn also have a dependence on masturbation. While some people only experience mild urges to view porn, others have a constant need to see the graphic material. This can result in serious problems in an individual’s life – massive amounts of time may end up being reallocated to viewing pornography.

People with porn addiction may also see a sharp or gradual increase in the amount of porn they consume – they may also end up wanting to view increasingly graphic material. This can end up altering the types of sexual interest that an individual has. Just as drugs reprogram the brain to crave and rely on drugs, it appears porn can often ensure that people rely on the graphic material to feel sexual satisfaction.

Is it Really an Addiction?

If you’ve been reading online, you’ll probably be well aware of the debate going on in the scientific community. Many people don’t believe that pornography addiction is real. There are some medical professionals that view it as a real addiction, while others view it as an extreme compulsion. Because there is no chemical substance being consumed, it’s hard to prove that a true reliance is present.

The reality of this is that it’s not particularly important if porn addiction is classified as a true addiction. Individuals who have had a dependence on porn for a prolonged period are well aware of how powerful it can be. If you head online, you will find countless stories of people who have suffered genuine consequences because of their porn dependence. It’s essential that you’re aware of how strong this reliance can be.

Those who suffer heavily from this addiction have often had many components of their life altered or ruined because of their porn consumption. This is proof enough that porn addiction should be taken seriously and approached with a plan of action.

Am I Addicted to Porn?

If you’ve gotten this far into our website, there’s a chance you are nervous that you’re addicted to porn. While there is no official form of diagnosis, there are a few ways you might be able to tell if you have an addiction to porn. In this section of the article, we’re going to take a look at a few of the most common indicators that you might have a problem with porn – check out the section below.

Signs of Porn Addiction

If you’ve read this information, but you’re still confused about whether you need to get the porn addiction recovery process started, it’s important to consider the signs of porn addiction. Porn addiction can occur over a prolonged period, which often means we don’t realize the negative consequences of the addiction. There’s a high chance that you might not realize how much your life has changed since you first started consuming large amounts of porn.

Am I Addicted to Porn?

If you’ve gotten this far into our website, there’s a chance you are nervous that you’re addicted to porn. While there is no official form of diagnosis, there are a few ways you might be able to tell if you have an addiction to porn. In this section of the article, we’re going to take a look at a few of the most common indicators that you might have a problem with porn – check out the section below.

Signs of Porn Addiction

If you’ve read this information, but you’re still confused about whether you need to get the porn addiction recovery process started, it’s important to consider the signs of porn addiction. Porn addiction can occur over a prolonged period, which often means we don’t realize the negative consequences of the addiction. There’s a high chance that you might not realize how much your life has changed since you first started consuming large amounts of porn.

This process can lead you to deny the consequences your porn addiction has had on your life. In this section of the article, we’re going to take a look at the different signs that you have an addiction to porn. While many of these may not be right for your particular circumstances, it’s important to consider them and contrast them against your own behavior. If you see common patterns, there’s a high chance that your porn use is having negative consequences. Check out some of the top porn addiction signs below:

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Strained Relationships

Another sign that you might have an addiction to porn is strained relationships. This can come in two different primary forms. Firstly, you might find that your romantic relationships begin to struggle. This might be because of a loss of libido and interest in sex, or it might be for a multitude of other common reasons. For example, you may find that you end up spending time away from home so you can view more porn. Also, the shame you have because of your porn addiction might result in you withdrawing from your relationship and feeling isolated from your partner.

Aside from romantic relationships, you might also find that friends and family become more distant too. This is also often a product of the shame you feel because of your addiction. But it might also be because someone is aware of your problem and has voiced concern. It is very typical for an addict of any kind to experience some form of relationship strain – this is a pretty clear indicator that your behavior is impacting your life.

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Shame

At the end of the day, one of the primary feelings associated with watching too much porn is shame. Porn users typically report having extremely high levels of internal anxiety and shame. While many people say that pornography users shouldn’t feel less ashamed, as it is only society that is placing the burden on the individual, this shame still has a very profound impact.

If you feel that you have started to develop the feeling of shame, this might be a first sign that you’re watching too much pornography. People often feel shame because they feel they are hiding their actions from their loved ones and friends. Regardless, this shame can have severe consequences and result in long-term mental health issues. Think long and hard about the confidence you have in yourself and whether or not you think your porn consumption impacts it. There’s a high chance it has impacted your self-esteem.

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Lack of Libido

Another common problem that many active porn users experience is a lack of libido. There have been many studies that show those who use porn frequently at a younger age can often lose interest in sex by the time they reach their mid-twenties. The science behind this is not completely clear, but it is often thought that because porn users escalate their usage, they eventually lose interest altogether.

If you think that you have had problems with your libido, this might be due to your porn consumption. Try and think about how your libido has changed in recent years and try and determine if you think your porn consumption might be involved in the timeline.

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Erectile Dysfunction

Those who watch porn often have also masturbated chronically – it can become a real issue in many people’s lives. If you’re someone who regularly watches porn and masturbates, there’s a chance that you might end up having problems with erectile dysfunction. If you feel that you have problems getting erections – and this issue has only developed since you began watching porn – you might have a problem with porn addiction.

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Increase in Graphic Content

Another common sign that you have a pornography problem is if you feel yourself needing more and more graphic material. A common impact of porn addiction is the constant need to increase the graphicness of the porn you consume. This can have severely adverse effects, as many people may end up developing sexual preferences and fantasies that are unhealthy or dangerous. Read more about the effects of porn addiction.

If you think back to when you first began watching porn, and you can notice a severe increase in how graphic the porn you consume has gotten, this might be a clear indication that you have a problem.

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Constant Urges

The first sign that you have a problem with porn is when you begin having consistent urges to view porn. While some people have these urges all day, many may have them less frequently. If you feel that you have an urge to watch porn every day – and that urge typically results in you watching porn – you might have a pornography problem.

These urges can end up being a constant weight on your shoulders. You may feel as though you waste a lot of your mental capacity thinking about porn and craving relief. While this might seem normal to you, it’s most likely having negative consequences in your life.

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Wasting Time

While you might not think you’re losing much time when you watch porn – it can really add up. While many extreme porn addicts can watch pornography for the better half of a day, you don’t need to consume this much pornography for it to impact your efficiency. Think about how much porn you watch a day on average, and relate it to the amount of free time that you have. If you feel that pornography is cutting into your ability to act normally, it’s probably because it is!

How to Overcome Porn Addiction

There is no set solution for overcoming your porn addiction – the method that works for you will depend on your individual traits and the addiction level that you have. In this section, we’re going to take a look at some practical steps you can take to help you better confront this problem. While this isn’t an exact science, it’s a great way to get starting in the right direction.

No matter what you do, it’s important to take the recovery process very seriously – make sure to have a look at all the steps in this section and assess how they might be able to help you better solve your problem.

1. Accept

One of the hardest things about quitting pornography is merely accepting the fact that you have a problem. It can be hard to come to terms with the idea that you have an issue with pornography. People find the subject extremely embarrassing. But accepting the fact that you do have an issue is the first step to ensuring that you quit consuming porn. If you can’t admit you have a problem, you’ll never be able to move forward with your life.

Think long and hard about whether pornography has had a negative impact on your life – be honest with yourself. If it has, it’s time to make some changes.

How to Overcome Porn Addiction

There is no set solution for overcoming your porn addiction – the method that works for you will depend on your individual traits and the addiction level that you have. In this section, we’re going to take a look at some practical steps you can take to help you better confront this problem. While this isn’t an exact science, it’s a great way to get starting in the right direction.

No matter what you do, it’s important to take the recovery process very seriously – make sure to have a look at all the steps in this section and assess how they might be able to help you better solve your problem.

1. Accept

One of the hardest things about quitting pornography is merely accepting the fact that you have a problem. It can be hard to come to terms with the idea that you have an issue with pornography. People find the subject extremely embarrassing. But accepting the fact that you do have an issue is the first step to ensuring that you quit consuming porn. If you can’t admit you have a problem, you’ll never be able to move forward with your life.

Think long and hard about whether pornography has had a negative impact on your life – be honest with yourself. If it has, it’s time to make some changes.

2. Research

The next step in your recovery is to research the illness as much as possible. You should be looking at as many different resources as possible – there is a lot of great information online for those who don’t know much about porn addiction. In fact, our site is an excellent resource if you need more information on this topic.

In addition to reading about porn addiction and its impact on your life, you should also be looking to find online communities that deal with these types of issues. There are plenty of online forums that porn addicts use to help one another overcome their addiction. Being addicted to pornography can often feel very isolating, so it’s nice to know there are plenty of people who have struggled with the exact same problem – porn addiction is much more common than you realize.

3. Set a Goal (Start Small)

Quitting something that we have a problem with can seem extremely daunting. This is why it can sometimes be better to set small goals and achieve them – this is a great way to build confidence and self-esteem when you’re moving forward with your life. For example, when you first quit pornography, don’t set out to see if you can make it a year without viewing porn. Instead, you should set achievable goals – try starting with three days.

Every time you achieve one of your goals, you should grow more confident in your ability to quit pornography. People often focus too much on the big picture, when they should instead be focusing on the little things as they move forward.

4. Seek Therapy

Sometimes it’s best to understand you need help from a third-party. If you think you have a significant problem, you should consider seeking therapy to help overcome the issue. This will be discussed further in the next section of this page.

5. Remove Triggers

Once you think you are on the right track, it’s important to try and remove any temptation that you might have to use pornography. If there were certain times of day or areas of your house that you use to watch porn frequently, you should occupy those times and locations with other activities. It’s often good to develop a hobby or separate interest that can take up your spare time and help you alleviate the boredom that you might be feeling without pornography.

Also, it’s best not to trust yourself – you need to approach your problem seriously. You should consider blocking the pornography sites your frequent on your computer. You should also delete any pornographic material that you might have downloaded on your computer or hard drive – you don’t want temptation at your doorstep.

6. Understand Your Addiction

After you get control over your addiction, it’s important to make sure that you understand it as much as possible. You don’t want to underestimate how powerful it can be if you end up relapsing. As with most addictions or dependencies, the person who is suffering from the addiction often underestimates how easy it is to fall back into the same traps. You don’t want to end up taking ten steps backward because you think you can handle the urges to overdo it.

In the next section of our homepage, we will speak about the role professional help can play in helping you quit pornography and maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle in the future.

Do I Need Professional Help?

If you have a severe addiction to porn, you may be wondering if you need professional help. The reality is that getting professional help can sometimes be the best way to tackle this problem in a serious way. Sometimes it’s best to accept the fact that you need help with your problem – it can be much easier to confront a problem when you have someone by your side. Professionals also have a much better understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Below we will take a look at some of the common professional help techniques you might want to look into obtaining if you have an addiction to pornography.

Therapy

Something you might find helpful is seeking a therapist that you can speak with about your problem. With any major life issue, it can often be productive to speak to someone about the issue and develop an understanding of your own emotions. It can be hard to speak with someone you know or love about pornography addiction – seeking out a professional might help.

Do I Need Professional Help?

If you have a severe addiction to porn, you may be wondering if you need professional help. The reality is that getting professional help can sometimes be the best way to tackle this problem in a serious way. Sometimes it’s best to accept the fact that you need help with your problem – it can be much easier to confront a problem when you have someone by your side. Professionals also have a much better understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Below we will take a look at some of the common professional help techniques you might want to look into obtaining if you have an addiction to pornography.

Therapy

Something you might find helpful is seeking a therapist that you can speak with about your problem. With any major life issue, it can often be productive to speak to someone about the issue and develop an understanding of your own emotions. It can be hard to speak with someone you know or love about pornography addiction – seeking out a professional might help.

Group Therapy

If you feel you would benefit from speaking with a group of people who have had similar issues, seeking out a group therapy situation might be your best option. This can help you relate to other people’s issues and hear concrete stories about how others have overcome their problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the most common forms of therapy for porn addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy. A therapist gives this type of therapy and it typically takes about 16 weeks. It focuses on controlling specific behaviors to try and ensure you don’t relapse into pornography use. It has proved a beneficial form of therapy for porn addiction.

Verdict: Get Started

After reading this page, you should have a much better idea of whether or not you are addicted to porn. If you feel like you can relate to a lot of the problems mentioned on this site, you probably have an addiction to porn. It’s important to stop making excuses for yourself – get the ball rolling. If you want to tackle this head on, you’ll need to be honest and open with yourself about your problem. Denial only makes things worse.

Start researching everything you can about porn addiction and obtain a better grasp of the problem you are suffering from. Check out the various online communities that are dedicated to helping people overcome addiction to pornography.

If you need any additional information, you can find most of it online. Our website also has plenty of information on porn addiction – it’s a great starting spot if you need an introduction to the topic!