Overview
Porn addiction is a compulsive condition that can have a detrimental impact on self-esteem and intimate relationships. While many other addictive behaviors receive widespread attention, porn addiction is an often overlooked or “taboo” sexual activity can cause significant harm to a person’s physical and mental well-being. And unlike some addictions with limited accessibility, porn addicts may find themselves only a few clicks away from succumbing to the compulsion.
Fortunately, individuals striving to overcome porn addiction no longer have to do it alone. Various experts and licensed professionals have composed manuals, workbooks, guides, and even smartphone apps that can help. A look at the best porn addiction books can provide great resources on where to start as you begin the road to recovery.
Best Porn Addiction Recovery Books
1. The Drug of the New Millennium – The Brain Science Behind Internet Pornography Use
Review: In The Drug of the New Millennium, author Mark B. Kastleman takes a scientific approach to tackling the pitfalls of consuming pornography. Using longitudinal data from clinical studies and over 10,000 families, Kastleman argues that porn alters the brain at cellular level in a manner similar to illicit street drugs. Kastleman then provides a three-step recovery plan for eliminating addiction.
Key Points:
- Kastleman argues that neurology and brain science can prove that porn addiction alters thinking and impacts interpersonal relationships
- Following a three-step recovery program (known as the “three power principles”), Kastleman believes addicts can take a practical path to healing and life improvement
2. Fortify: The Fighter’s Guide to Overcoming Pornography Addiction
Review: Fortify complies research from recovery specialists and therapists to create a basic training program for overcoming porn addiction. As a project from the non-profit organization Fight the New Drug, this book provides practical tools (including a matching smartphone app) to end repetitive habits.
Key Points:
- As a publication from the non-profit organization Fight the New Drug, this book provides a basic training course for ending addiction
- The writers argue that the porn industry uses the same methods as the illegal drug industry to keep people hooked
- Includes the Fortify smartphone app as a practical tool to help end repetitive consumption habits
3. Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success
Review: If you prefer a management-style approach to problem solving, Change Anything is a top pick for you. This New York Times bestseller combines the latest research in psychology, medicine, and business to alter subtle influences and change your life. By including steps and strategies (such as practical incentives), this book is a good way to stay accountable as your life improves for the better.
Key Points:
- Combines the latest psychological, medical, and management research from innovative Change Anything Labs to produce the best steps and strategies
- Includes ways to give yourself practical incentives to stick with healthier habits
4. Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery
Review: While seeing an addiction specialist in person might help, sometimes we need more guidance. Treating Pornography Addiction is an easy-to-read guide to retraining your mind. As the author is both a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and certified sexual addiction therapist (CSAT), readers can feel confident in the research and experience included. The book also contains an assessment tool for identifying and eliminating harmful behaviors.
Key Points:
- Step-by-step guide to retraining your brain
- Based on the research of a certified sexual addiction therapist (CSAT)
- Includes brief assessment tool for evaluating pornography addiction
5. He Did Deliver Me From Bondage
Review: For some people who feel particularly trapped, He Did Deliver Me From Bondage is a classic on the subject of self-recovery. The book uses known principles and ancient texts to correlate with any standard 12-step program. As a supplement for counseling programs, it is also a good source of affirmations against compulsive activities.
Key Points:
- Classic supplement to 12-step addiction recovery programs
- Source of written affirmations to combat compulsive activities
- Includes study guides suitable for individual journals or group settings
6. The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography
Review: A common sentiment among those suffering from porn addiction is that they feel trapped or imprisoned. Take back control with this critically acclaimed bestseller. In this manual, two renowned therapists provide exercises, checklists, and worksheets to help you overcome cravings and have much healthier sex life. It is also a helpful resource for those who need relatable stories on how others have ended their addictions.
Key Points:
- Critically acclaimed bestseller that takes a “manual” approach to recovery – complete with exercises, checklists, and worksheets
- Innovative solutions on how to eliminate cravings
- Guides on how to improve self-esteem, intimate relationships, and overall sex life
7. Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope and Heal
Review: Although individuals with porn addiction often have spouses who try to remain supportive, living with addiction can eventually take its toll. Fortunately, there is hope for those feeling strain within a marriage. In Your Sexually Addicted Spouse, two licensed experts provide information needed to recognize, treat, and heal someone suffering with a compulsive addiction. The book highlights how the spouses of addicted people often suffer traumatic stress and isolation as a result, and each chapter also includes insights on how to heal from damage in the relationship. Finally, the book contains resource lists for contacting available mental health organizations or spiritual counselors.
Key Points:
- Written specifically for the spouses or partners of individuals with pornography or sex addiction
- Includes strategies on how to properly identify types of compulsive behavior
- Provides insights on post-traumatic stress and isolation
- Contains appendices list for contacting health and mental health centers or clergy
8. Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction
Review: What exactly is sex addiction, and how can one heal from its damaging repercussions? If you have ever needed a clear definition to cut through the confusion, Sex Addiction 101 is the reference book for you. Written from the perspective of a chief clinical director, the book explains everything from what sex addiction is to how the disease impacts various subgroups. The manual also contains straightforward strategies on how to turn off negative influences and win.
Key Points:
- Comprehensive reference on how to define and treat conditions like sex addiction, porn addiction, or love addiction
- Contains assessments and perspectives from a chief clinical direction
- Includes data on how addiction impacts various subgroups differently
- Explains how to turn off subtle influences that can result in self-harm
The Bottom Line
Porn addiction can have a debilitating impact on self-worth and interpersonal relationships. But with the right steps and resources, you can overcome the pain of this condition and thrive in the bright path of recovery.