What is Pornography Addiction
While routinely viewing pornography may be beneficial for self-exploration, sexual education, and even improving relations with your partner, making a habit of this practice—to the extent where pornography affects your daily life—could be problematic for your well-being. Studies estimate that between 86% and 96% of men regularly consume porn. Women consume only slightly less pornographic content
If you’re addicted to porn, you can be so overtaken by the need to consume porn that you may begin to watch it in public spaces like at work or on public transit.
Statistics on porn addiction vary by source, but one study estimated that porn addiction affects approximately 3 to 6% of adults. It is viewed more by young adults, with men viewing it more frequently than women. Use tends to decline with age
What causes it?
It’s hard to say why viewing porn can sometimes escalate into an out-of-control behavior.
You may start looking at porn because you like it, and watching it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
You may enjoy the rush it gives you and find yourself wanting that rush more often.
By then, it may not matter that these viewing habits are causing a problem or that you feel bad about it later. It’s that in-the-moment high you can’t resist.
If you try to stop, you may find that you simply can’t do it. That’s how behavioral addictions sneak up on people.
What treatment options are available?
If you can, consider seeing a therapist to discuss your concerns. They can come up with an individualized treatment plan to help you work through them.
Therapy
If you believe you have a compulsion or addiction, it’s worth seeing a mental health professional for evaluation. This may be especially helpful if you also have anxiety, signs of depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Depending on how porn is impacting your life, your therapist may recommend individual, group, or family counseling.
Be wary of therapists who claim to “specialize” in diagnosis and treatment of pornography. It’s difficult to “specialize” in a disorder that lacks a professionally agreed upon definition or uniformly outlined diagnostic criteria.
Counseling sessions will help you understand what caused the compulsion in the first place. Your therapist can help you develop effective coping mechanisms to change your relationship with pornographic materials.