Porn Addiction!
- Thread starter LeAlex
- Start date
It depends on what you mean by “addiction”. If you are unable to function as a normal person i.e. can’t work, can’t socialize, basically can’t do anything but view porn, then you have a problem. You might have an addictive personality, although this isn’t even a generally agreed thing, and treatment is very experimental.
However, the good news is that it is not in any way like a chemical addiction that stems both internally and from an external source.
I would suggest not going “cold turkey” and stopping porn altogether. Instead, try to develop some control. Pick a time of day when you would usually consume porn, set aside an hour, or half an hour, and declare it a no porn time. If it works, don’t immediately try to expand it. Rather shift the no porn time around to other times of the day. Only if that works, then you might go to two periods during the day, and so on.
The important thing is not to set a goal of never viewing porn at all ever again. That will simply serve to panic yourself and create a mental resistance to what you’re doing. Just set aside periods. The porn will still be there waiting for you, but you control when you consume it. You can even reward yourself by saving your favorite porn as a reward for successfully completing a no porn period.
Porn isn’t your enemy. You are your own enemy. You aren’t fighting porn. You need to develop more self-control.
There is no such thing as “porn addiction”.
I used to believe in porn addiction, but not anymore. Porn doesn’t have any harmful effects on your brain. However, if you skip your work just to watch porn, then it’s bad.
1) Try blocking the porn websites that you regularly visit.
2) Talk to your parents about it. I know how embarrassing it will be, but it’s not bad to reach out for help.
3) Consult a therapist.
I hope it helps.
Personally, I enjoyed it and wasn’t an addict by any means, but it never left me in a great place afterward. I was an introvert and it messed with my ability to interact with people, as I’d have these dirty fantasies in the most casual conversations. It did not leave me in a place of confidence. However, I have for the most part moved on. I’m the kind of person who benefited from a real relationship with a woman, that included sex. That real relationship is infinitely more fulfilling than porn. I can’t imagine porn ever doing that for me. It’s like having a candy bar instead of a salad for dinner. A real sexual relationship with someone you care about is actually quite fantastic. Porn won’t ever be able to measure up in this regard. 100% better without it.
