Porn Addiction | Signs, Effects & Treatment

Behavioural addictions, such as gambling, the internet, or porn, are associated with the rush of chemicals the person feels during the activity. These chemicals, such as dopamine, cause intensely pleasurable feelings, but the ‘high’ doesn’t last. This means they need to watch more porn to achieve the same feeling they once did.

For many people, the root of porn addiction lies in mental health. You may be dealing with unresolved mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, or perhaps you have a history of trauma or neglect and you use porn to help escape temporarily from those negative emotions.

Porn addiction can start to develop when a person feels low, stressed, lonely or depressed. The activity may initially fill a void, but when it becomes out of control, it actually causes further problems. It’s common for individuals living with porn addiction to feel shame or guilt after watching porn, which can lead to additional mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.

Unfortunately, the nature of addiction means that by the time you recognise the problem, it’s likely to have already taken hold, making it extremely difficult to give up.

Just watching porn, even regularly, doesn’t mean you have an addiction if it’s within your control. However, if your porn use feels out of your control and you do it compulsively, this could indicate a problem. Indicators of porn addiction can include:

If left untreated, porn abuse or dependency can wreak havoc in a person’s life and impact many areas of their well-being.

Living with an unaddressed porn addiction can interfere with relationships, leading to arguments, distress and relationship breakdowns. It can also impact a person’s ability to engage in a healthy sex life and some people may neglect their jobs or educational commitments with financial and academic implications.

Unfortunately, the stigmatisation of porn and addiction can make it very difficult to reach out for help. However, advancements in the understanding and treatment of mental health disorders mean there is now a better understanding of this condition.

At Linwood House, we recognise that porn addiction is unique to the individual and we will help you to understand the roots of your conditions during rehab treatment. Our porn addiction rehab includes individual and group sessions and alternative therapy options which address the underlying causes of your porn addiction so you can achieve sustainable recovery.

Working with a skilled therapist, you can address these issues and build on your self-esteem and sense of self-worth. Our treatment programmes are based on the 12-Step method which will allow you to work through issues related to your porn addiction while reflecting on your motivation to recover.

Aside from porn rehab, there are other things you can do to reduce your porn usage at home:

• Start by removing all pornography from your computer and phone. This includes saved tabs and search history.
• After that, try creating a strategy for when you have the urge to watch such as engaging in another enjoyable activity to distract you.
• If you relapse and slip back into porn use, don’t be hard on yourself. Remind yourself why you are working on your recovery and what you will gain from a life free of porn addiction.

Nobody should suffer with porn addiction alone so if you or a loved one needs help, we can provide an initial consultation to discuss your concerns in a safe, non-judgmental environment and get you started on the road to recovery.