Porn addiction: What it is and how to stop it?

Many people watch porn for entertainment or pleasure, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

However, for others, it can be difficult to enjoy porn in moderation, and they quickly find that their consumption becomes problematic. If watching porn goes from an enjoyable experience from time to time, to a craving, you may have a porn addiction.

Within this article, we explore what porn addiction is and look at the measures you can take to stop a porn addiction from taking hold of your life.

What is porn addiction?

Like any other addiction, porn addiction is an obsessive desire to seek out stimulation from porn, even at times that are not considered to be appropriate.

Porn addiction is classified as a behavioural addiction that causes addicts to experience an overwhelming urge to view pornographic content or material, due to cravings that cannot be resisted.

In other words, addicts can’t stop looking at porn, even if they want to. This can have an impact on work, relationships, and other aspects of their daily lives.

Porn is now more accessible than ever before, meaning it is easier for people to consume it, anywhere and at any time. This heightens an addiction, making it more difficult to overcome. If you're unsure if you're addicted, we take a look at how to know if you are addicted to porn.

What are the symptoms of porn addiction?

Behaviours that might indicate you have a problem with porn include:

• Your urge to watch porn keeps getting greater
• You prioritise porn over other day-to-day activities
• You neglect your family, friends, and work life due to your desire to watch porn
• Getting your porn fix gives you a high
• You spend hours perusing online porn sites
• Porn stops you from sleeping
• You become distant from your partner
• You become sexually demanding
• You no longer find your partner attractive
• You are unable to enjoy sex without first viewing porn
• You are unable to resist porn

What causes porn addiction?

Just like other addictive substances, such as drugs and alcohol, many people enjoy porn for pleasure and have no problems controlling the amount they watch. However, for others, it can grow into an addiction.

The causes of porn addiction have been linked to the following factors:

Biological Factors

Research has suggested that biology could potentially play a role in porn addiction. Brain genetics and chemistry have been linked to sexual enjoyment and satisfaction, which could be classed as biological.

Psychological Factors

Psychological factors can also be responsible for the development of a porn addiction. For example, depression, anxiety and bipolar have all been linked to triggering a porn fixation in both men and women. Many people also turn to porn to satisfy sexual urges and relieve sexual tension.

Environmental Factors

Addiction has also been linked to environmental factors. For example, if a child grows up in a home where porn is viewed frequently, research has suggested that this could lead to the development of a porn addiction, especially if they learn to associate porn with the happiness displayed by their parents.

How to stop porn addiction

If you are worried that you have developed an addiction to porn, there are steps you can take to beat your addiction, including:

• The key to a successful recovery is to recognise that you have a problem in the first place. With this in mind, if you think you might have a problem, you should seek the relevant help and support straight away.
• Remove all sources of porn, including any digital evidence of pornography content on your devices. Keeping any porn to hand will simply act as an additional temptation.
• Join a support group to access additional help as you work to overcome your addiction. All groups provide a safe, welcoming and confidential space where you can get better.

Become a counsellor to support people with a porn addiction

If you’re interested in becoming a counsellor to support those dealing with problems in their relationship or with their porn addiction, find out how to become a counsellor or sign up for one of our Chrysalis Counselling Courses.