Pornography is consumed by every group to some extent, and that’s not inherently a bad thing. For example, single men say they watch about two hours of porn every week on average, which doesn’t necessarily cause issues. However, some people can also drink socially for a couple of hours a week, while others struggle with alcohol addiction. The same logic applies to porn, with only a few slight nuances. Porn addiction is becoming increasingly common around the world, and some people may not know what to do about it. So, let’s talk about the signs of porn addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Is there hope? Let’s find out.

What Is a Pornography Addiction?

First, let’s ask a question. Is porn addiction even real? Is it really an addiction?

Yes, it absolutely is. Pornography stimulates our brains in a way that releases plenty of neurotransmitters, endorphins, and hormones. This can lead to physical addiction and psychological dependence, much like any addictive substance you can name.

Over time, this can alter our brain chemistry and lead to tolerance. This forces people to consume more to achieve the same intended effect. Again, much like any addictive substance.

With the rise of internet porn, this has become a silently-growing addiction over the last couple of decades. Essentially, if you have access to the internet, you have access to endless hours of pornographic content. 

Moreover, this is a particularly common addiction for younger men, but it is not limited to any specific group. Men and women of all age ranges can become addicted to pornography. So, is that inherently bad?

Is Porn Addiction Harmful?

Can treating a porn addiction really be worth it? Is pornography really that harmful? This highly depends on your circumstances.

For example, if porn is unethically sourced, then it is already harmful before the addiction even begins. Illegal pornography (of any kind) is illegal for a reason, and those consuming it should seek help right away. Even if it isn’t harmful to the consumer, it is certainly harmful to others.

So, what about “normal” internet porn? To be clear, “normal” in this context means consensual, adult porn of any kind. We are not stigmatizing nor endorsing any particular genre within this spectrum.

Unfortunately, normal pornography can still be quite harmful to its consumers. Again, it can alter your brain chemistry, lead to strong dependencies, and interrupt your life. So, yes, porn addiction is something to take care of.

Signs of Pornography Addiction

There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying pornography. Sexual impulses are human impulses. Reproductive stimulation is one of the most basic biological pleasures of humanity, much like how we enjoy eating.

We could all eat rice, beans, and frozen vegetables for dinner every night, get all of our nutrition, and save some money. However, we prefer to eat things that taste good. Conversely, it’s only natural to want to improve our sexual pleasures with greater stimulation, including new masturbation techniques, sexual activities, and even pornography. 

Unfortunately, there is a line between casual enjoyment of porn and porn addiction. Here are some important signs to look for.

Watching Porn Excessively

Okay, let’s define “excessive” porn consumption. There is no clear-cut answer for everybody.

For example, somebody who is at home all day with limited responsibilities may have a different answer than someone working 50 hours a week. This depends on your circumstances.

Still, if you find yourself watching porn for multiple hours a day consistently, this is a concern. Watching 10 minutes of porn in the mornings and evenings consistently is one thing. However, consuming multiple hours and increasing your consumption for the same satisfaction is a tell-all sign of porn addiction.

Thinking About Porn All Day

They say that the average man thinks about sex every 7 seconds. However, this is misleading when you consider that these are typically passing thoughts, not deliberate, lingering ideations. Essentially, there’s a difference between passing thoughts and lasting daydreams.

Therefore, if you find yourself constantly thinking about pornography, which type of pornography you want to watch, or pornography you’ve already watched, it may consume your thoughts. This doesn’t have to be all day, but if it’s a common pattern throughout the day, then you may have a reason to worry.

This is especially true if you feel a compulsive need to periodically take a break and engage in watching porn as a result of these thoughts.

Pornography Interrupting Your Life

On that last note, does pornography ever interrupt your daily life? If you find yourself having trouble getting through your work or personal obligations as a result of your preference for porn, this may be a sign of porn addiction.

For example, if you find yourself taking breaks from work to watch porn on your phone or work computer, this is a cause for concern. This is entirely different from a casual viewer of pornography during free time.

Desensitivity

Have you become desensitized to porn or other sexual stimulation? For example, if you constantly find yourself:

• Increasing your need for stimulation (i.e. By watching more videos in each sitting, etc.)
• Trying to find more extreme pornography
• Increasing your frequency of porn consumption
• Struggling to perform sexually without porn

The list goes on. These are clear signs of addiction for any frequent porn consumer.

Erectile Dysfunction

Until internet porn became the “norm,” erectile dysfunction (ED) among young men was quite rare. However, there has been a rise in recent years of men under 25 experiencing ED, often as a result of porn addiction.

If you are experiencing sexual challenges without the stimulation that porn provides, this is a clear and common sign of porn addiction. This doesn’t mean you can’t perform necessarily, but that you have challenges performing without pornography.

Women and older men may also experience sexual health challenges as a result of porn addiction. However, this could be a result of other challenges. Still, for healthy young adults, porn addiction is a likely contributing factor, if not the direct cause.

However, it’s important to note that this is typically reserved for extreme cases. If you consume porn regularly and experience sexual dysfunction as a young adult, it’s likely caused by porn. You should still talk to your doctor to rule out any possible health conditions.

Losing Interest in Sexual Partners

If you are in a relationship or have regular sexual partners, it’s common to lose interest in sexual activities with them as a result of porn addiction. If you find your partner less attractive or enjoy sex with them less and less, this can be a result of excessive porn consumption. You may notice that you cannot perform or struggle to enjoy sex without watching porn beforehand.

Spending Excessively

Financial issues are common for pornography addiction in the same way as gambling addictions or drug addictions. If you find yourself losing money as a result of lost work or excessive spending on porn, this is a reason for concern. You may find yourself compulsively spending on subscriptions and videos online without thinking about it, and experiencing financial troubles as a result.

Behavioural Signs

Do you feel as though you live a double life? Like you have to lie and sneak around so that your partner or loved ones won’t find out about your frequent porn consumption? Do you feel as though you’re in denial about your porn addiction?

These are common signs that you are addicted to pornography. If this is the case, there are other signs to look for, including withdrawal symptoms. Let’s talk about that.

Porn Withdrawals

Yes, people with porn addiction can experience withdrawals, just as they would with an addiction to a substance. Porn addiction alters brain chemistries like other addictive substances and actions. 

Moreover, you don’t have to decide to quit to experience withdrawal symptoms. You may have already experienced them without noticing. Porn withdrawal symptoms can take hold within a matter of hours for certain people.

Much like other addictions, porn withdrawal can lead to symptoms including:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Aches or pains
• Cravings

The list goes on. However, for more porn-specific withdrawals, it can lead to dramatic changes in sex drives (increase or decrease), sexual dysfunction, and other symptoms.

How Long Will Withdrawals Last?

With any addiction, it’s important to note that withdrawals are only the first part of recovery after you’ve decided to quit. Once they’re over, you aren’t “cured.” It’s essential to keep your expectations realistic when overcoming any addiction.

Instead, you need to get through withdrawals, build healthier habits, and maintain abstinence over the long run. Which of those is the most difficult, do you think? Without question, maintaining abstinence is the hardest, as it lasts a lifetime.

Still, getting through the initial withdrawals is quite challenging. Overcoming cravings and temptations is incredibly hard, but it does get easier over time. For most people, symptoms will peak after two to four days.

However, for frequent porn consumers with long-standing addictions, you can expect withdrawal symptoms to last for up to two weeks. Again, this is highly dependent on how long you’ve consumed porn, how frequently you consume it, how you consume it, and the types of sexual behaviours you engage in while consuming it. There may be other factors that contribute as well, but these are the major ones!

Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope?

If there is one challenge with overcoming pornography addiction, it’s the availability of porn. Similar to the difference between alcohol, a legal substance, and heroin, an illegal substance, porn is arguably the most readily available addictive activity that anybody can have.

This is because you don’t need to go to the store, wait for a delivery or call a dealer. All you need to do is open your web browser. If you spend a lot of time alone, it’s all too easy to relapse, as up to 37% of the internet is pornographic material.

Unfortunately, this can lead people to believe that there is no hope of overcoming their addictions to pornography. However, that is absolutely untrue. Anybody who wants to overcome their addictions most certainly can, as long as they have the right help.

Treatment Options

“Going it alone” is never the most effective plan for addiction treatment and recovery. If you want the best results, then your best option is to pursue porn addiction treatment with the help of recovery professionals.

Behavioural addictions have long been left on the sidelines, overlooked in favour of drug and alcohol addictions. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. You can seek porn and sex addiction treatment just as you would with any other type.

Alternatively, you may find support groups in your area, therapy services that specialize in behavioural addictions, and more. However, these will not stop you from opening your phone or computer while at home. For the best results, an inpatient program without access to pornography is the best option.

The right program will help you overcome your withdrawals, construct a recovery plan, and give you the tools you need for a successful life on your own without porn. You can look into possible treatment methods for more information.

Get the Help You Need Today

So, pornography addiction; is there hope? Absolutely, but only if you give yourself the opportunity. This involves recognizing that you have a problem and actively choosing to improve upon your circumstances, which nobody can do for you.

Keep reading our blog for our latest recovery tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need help along your journey!