In the subject of addiction, pornography tends to be one of the most misunderstood and taboo topics, particularly because it can be difficult to recognise when porn consumption goes from being a normal habit to a problem.
PornHub says Australia ranks eighth in the world for porn consumption, and while it’s hard to pinpoint how many people have an addiction, a 2019 ABC study found that 54% of young men and 20% of young women were worried that they were watching too much of it.
Porn is more accessible than ever, and addiction seems to be steadily on the rise. But the good news is that pornography addiction is very treatable once you recognise the signs and symptoms, and are ready to commit to overcoming it.
What Exactly Is Porn Addiction?
Pornography addiction is when you or someone is dependent on the dopamine hit that comes from watching the videos. This dopamine hit gives you feelings of pleasure and reward, and you may feel an intense urge to watch porn more frequently in order to recreate this initial rush.
Just like addictions to drugs, alcohol, or gambling, porn addiction can alter the brain’s structure and function – particularly when consumed by young people. The initial dopamine rushes wear off eventually, so individuals resort to watching more porn or more extreme material to recreate the feeling.
Porn consumption can then become out of control and have a damaging effect on a person’s everyday life, work, and relationships.
Is All Porn Consumption Bad?
No. Moderate porn consumption, which doesn’t affect your daily life or romantic relationships, is normal, and many individuals can enjoy healthy relationships while watching occasional pornography.
The problem lies when watching habits get out of hand and lead to an addiction.
You may recognise that you have a problem with pornography if you are spending a lot of time watching it and it is affecting your productivity, thoughts and feelings, relationships, and sex life. It’s important to remember that porn addiction and masturbation addiction – while often intertwined – are not always the same thing.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Pornography Addiction
1. Spending a lot of time watching porn
Watching pornography may be taking up a large portion of your day, often prohibiting you from completing daily tasks.
2. Hiding how much you’re consuming
Lying to your partner or friends about the amount of porn you are consuming, or finding yourself sneaking off to other rooms to get your ‘fix’ are red flags that your habits are becoming an addiction.
3. Feeling out of control
Feeling an uncontrollable urge to watch pornography and an inability to stop, even if you really want to. This can lead to feelings of shame, depression, and anxiety, which becomes a vicious cycle where you continue to watch more, and feel worse.
4. Consuming porn in risky settings
You may be taking big risks to watch pornography, such as watching it at your workplace or during social occasions with family and friends.
5. Withdrawal symptoms
If you’re unable to consume pornography, you may experience withdrawal symptoms like anger, irritability, and impatience.
6. Your romantic life is affected
Pornography may take priority over your relationship, or you may find it difficult to meet romantic partners due to increased isolation and dependence on porn. Porn addiction could also result in lower levels of commitment and more cheating.
7. Loss of interest in real sexual encounters
Pornography creates unrealistic expectations for sex which can lead you to become dissatisfied with real sexual encounters. You may also feel like you’re losing attraction to your partner because they don’t match the explicit content you’ve been viewing.
8. Struggling to perform sexually
Porn addiction can cause erectile dysfunction, a lower libido, or an inability to get pleasure from real-life encounters.
9. Unhealthy ideas about sex
Porn does not reflect real-life sexual encounters and exposure to extreme material can create dangerous attitudes about consent, violence, or risky sexual activities.
How to Break Free From Porn Addiction
The first step to breaking a porn addiction is recognising that you have a problem and seeking help.
Professional help from a counsellor or psychologist will help to identify the root of your addiction and provide personalised guidance and coping mechanisms to help you overcome it. Even if you’re not ready to talk in a professional setting, speaking to someone in your life that you love and trust can help to break the spell, provide some relief, and reduce the shame and secrecy that often surrounds porn addiction.
There are also strategies you can put in place at home, like changing online privacy settings so that you can’t access pornography or limiting the time you spend on your phone – especially when you’re alone. While these strategies can be effective (especially with the help of a loved one), professional help can help you to achieve long-term recovery from addiction.
How Counselling Can Help Porn Addiction?
Counselling will identify the underlying causes contributing to your addiction, and develop personalised strategies to help you regain control of your life and cope with triggers, temptations, and challenges.
Counsellors and psychologists approach addiction therapy with sensitivity and empathy, and can also provide relationship and family counselling to resolve conflicts and promote stronger connections.
Our professional addiction counselling services at the Centre for Human Potential in Brisbane aim to help individuals struggling with any level of addiction. We offer both in-person appointments and online sessions with English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese-speaking psychologists and can also provide relationship counselling. If you’re ready to take the first step on the road to recovery, contact CFHP on 07 3211 1117 or use the enquiry form on this page.
