Porn Addiction Signs

Michelle Pugle
·6 min read

Traits in Other People and Questions to Ask Yourself

Medically reviewed by Aleesha Grier, PsyDMedically reviewed by Aleesha Grier, PsyD

Porn has always been a controversial topic—but is consuming porn addictive? There are some signs, such as negative effects on relationships and employment. It is typically treated with therapy.

This article is for anyone wondering if their porn use is crossing the line into addiction and for anyone wondering if someone they care about is experiencing porn addiction. Read on to learn the signs, risk factors and causes, and where to find support for yourself or someone else.

<p>Carlos Barquero / Getty Images</p>

Carlos Barquero / Getty Images

Signs of Porn Addiction in Someone Else

Many people can consume porn without experiencing addiction. Others will experience unwanted or adverse effects from porn consumption. Here are some signs to watch for in someone else.

Behavioral Effects

It can be hard to tell for certain that behavioral effects are linked to porn addiction in someone else. For example, someone may find ways to consume porn that aren’t always obvious to others.

Behavioral effects of porn addiction may include:

  • Isolating, including staying home from events and social gatherings

  • Being secretive about their devices including cell phone, laptop, tablet

  • Neglecting relationships and responsibilities

  • Denying impact of porn on self and others

  • Lying about or denying porn use

  • Job loss due to repeat absences, distracted performance, or consuming porn during work hours

  • Continuing use despite experiencing negative effects

Emotional Effects

The emotional effects of porn may be even more difficult to see in others. Some examples of emotional effects of porn addiction may include:

  • Experiencing discomfort, craving, or unpleasant feelings when trying to stop

  • Feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment about use

  • Feeling like porn use is problematic and interfering with everyday life

  • Using porn as a way of coping with emotions or as an escape mechanism

Sexual Effects

Sexual effects of porn addiction vary. Research findings are conflicting. Some common examples are:

  • Feeling performance pressure or performance anxiety when having sex with a partner

  • Sexual or erectile dysfunction

  • Spectrum of sexual changes from having less partnered sex to engaging in paid sex or having more sexual partners

Do I Show Signs of Porn Addiction?


More research is needed to fully understand the effects of porn addiction. Some studies suggest consumption of pornography is associated with the following:

  • Lower self-esteem

  • Lower sexual satisfaction

  • Poorer relationship quality

  • Lower sexual quality and sexual intimacy

  • Feeling guilt, shame, and/or regret around porn consumption

Some questions to consider when evaluating your porn use include:

  • How do you feel before and after consuming porn?

  • Have you tried to stop consuming porn without being able to?

  • Are you avoiding responsibilities and obligations in favor of consuming porn?

  • Has porn become a problem in an existing relationship?

  • Are you engaging in risky use (such as using porn during work hours or in public spaces)?

Related: Is Masturbation Addiction Possible?

How to Address a Porn Addiction

Research on how to address an existing porn addiction is lacking. What studies do exist have limitations, meaning it’s hard to draw conclusions about most effective treatments or how to cope.

Psychotherapy

Several types of psychotherapy may be useful for someone experiencing porn addiction. These include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help with behavior-based changes

  • Psychodynamic psychotherapy that explores unconscious processes and is insight-based

  • Interpersonal or family and couples therapy

Anonymous Groups

There are many support groups and programs to choose from if you are looking for peer support and understanding for porn addiction. They are all based on the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, the original "anonymous group."

Examples of anonymous groups of value for porn addiction are:

Medication

There are no approved medications for treating porn addiction per se. However, some research suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants) may have some benefits for managing behavioral addictions, including sexual addictions.



Takeaway

Other medications may be used to help relieve symptoms associated with porn addiction or comorbid (co-existing) conditions, including:



Related: How Long Do Antidepressants Take to Work?

Understanding What Porn Addiction Means

Porn addiction is problematic porn use as defined by a person continuing to watch, read, or listen to pornographic content despite experiencing negative consequences.



Takeaway

Porn addiction is not an official diagnosis in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is the standard classification of mental disorders that mental health professionals use in the United States.



However, porn addiction is considered a behavioral addiction. Behavioral addictions are defined by loss of control, impairment, and risky use.

Causes

Causes of porn addiction are not clear. This is because there isn’t enough evidence-based and empirical research about porn addiction to draw conclusions.  Still, some theories exist.

'Supranormal Stimulus'

Nobel Prize winner and biologist Nikolaas Tinbergen coined the term "supranormal stimulus." The theory is that porn stimulates the brain’s reward system beyond what human ancestors typically encountered and experienced, making it possible and plausible for someone to develop an addiction.

Pornography use causes activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which is a similar response as when a person is financially rewarded for something.

Compulsivity Model

The compulsivity model sees porn addiction as more similar to an obsessive-compulsive disorder than addiction. This model explains porn addiction by dividing it into an obsession (i.e. repetitive sexual thoughts) and a compulsion (i.e. watching or consuming pornographic content).

Related: Compulsive Behavior

Negative Effects


The compulsivity model further links the obsession-compulsion to anxiety and distress. Someone may engage in stress-inducing behavior to relieve stress momentarily, only to experience more negative emotions afterward.

Risk Factors for Porn Addiction

Researchers link the rise in online porn addiction to three factors, considered the “triple A influences," which are:

  • Accessibly

  • Affordability

  • Anonymity

Risk factors across cultures include:

Related: What Having an Addictive Personality Actually Means

Support and Help for Porn Addiction

Support and help for porn addiction is available. Working with a healthcare provider, mental health professional specializing in porn addiction, sex therapist, recovery coach, or relationship coach (if applicable) are all options. The following online resources are also available:

For Another Person

Supporting someone with a porn addiction can be challenging, especially if they do not want help or do not agree that they have a problem. While you can provide resources and support, you can’t do the work of recovery and managing the behavioral addiction for them.



Takeaway

If someone else’s porn addiction is interfering with your quality of life or relationship, you may consider seeking support from trusted friends, family, and trained professionals or support groups.



For Yourself

If you’re experiencing distress about your porn use, consider using the resources above to find support for yourself. You may need to try several paths to recovery before finding what works.

Read Next: Defining the Role of a Sex Therapist

Summary

Porn addiction is not an official diagnosis, but it does have real impacts. As a behavioral addiction, porn addiction is associated with personal, relationship, and even career problems. Help and support are available from trained professionals and peer groups.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.