Pornography is oftentimes seen as dirty, promiscuous, or disgusting to some; however, many adults around the world watch porn regularly. The addiction to porn, which is a subset of sex addiction, includes behaviors that are done frequently. These behaviors negatively impact one’s life. Research shows that somewhere around 40 million adults in the United States visit pornographic websites on a regular basis. Many people feel that there are healthy, and unhealthy, dosages and types of porn to partake in. Pornography is considered taboo in many cultures. Moreover, it can be seen as cheating to some married couples.
Habit or Problem?
So when is your porn habit a problem? By definition, the viewing of pornography becomes excessive when it is no longer considered healthy. It starts to have a negative impact on the person’s life. When watching pornography interferes with normal behavior or responsibilities, there may be an addiction. Also, more time is spent watching it or searching for new types. Furthermore, when the person develops a tolerance to certain types of pornography, they may have a porn addiction. They may need new and exciting types.
Those with a pornography addiction feel emotional distress, or withdrawal, when not watching porn. Additionally, they compulsively masturbate. This addiction can negatively affect your relationship, as it can become more difficult to become sexually aroused by your partner. Your sexual behavior may change with your partner. For example, you may become more aggressive or dominant during sexual intercourse. People with a porn addiction oftentimes “chase a high” when watching pornography as well.
Instant Gratification
Pornography addiction stems from instant gratification, or the reward system, which makes you want to do it over and over again. Porn is known to be especially addictive. It brings us down to one of our very basic needs: sex. Moreover, people may have a genetic predisposition to impulsivity or sensation-seeking behavior. This includes behaviors such as masturbating to porn. Those with anxiety, depression, or other addictions have a higher chance of becoming addicted to pornography.
There is treatment for pornography addiction, although it is not widely practiced, due to patient embarrassment or humiliation. There are many types of treatment, ranging from individual and couple’s therapy to twelve-step programs. They focus on the recovery of both sex and pornography addictions. There are no FDA-approved medications used to solely treat pornography addiction. However, there are medications to treat disorders associated with the addiction, such as depression. Research of different medications has revealed promise in finding medications to treat this addiction, but no single medication has been approved yet. There are medications that can assist with unpleasant side effects of porn addiction. Examples include naltrexone, a medication used to treat withdrawal of alcohol or opiates, as well as anti-androgenic medications. These medicines decrease sexual urges.
Treatments and Options
Having an addiction to pornography can make you feel ashamed, embarrassed, or depressed. There are treatments for the addiction, such as twelve-step programs or couples therapy. These are often the best course of action for this specific type of addiction. Pornography is a completely normal thing to partake in, in healthy quantities. If you feel that your pornography use is a problem, there is help.
