Pornography can indicate a healthy sexual appetite. However, if you find yourself watching it frequently, you may develop a pornographic addiction.
While a porn addiction may appear to be innocuous, it may be harmful to your overall health. People who are addicted to pornography frequently use it as an unhealthy coping technique for stress or as a substitute for having a healthy sexual life.
If you’ve realized you’ve got a problem with how much porn you watch, here are some recommendations to help you quit, as well as indicators of porn addiction and treatment alternatives.
Signs of a Porn Addiction
A porn addict is someone who has an overwhelming need to view porn at any time of day and in any location, especially when it is not deemed suitable.
Here are some more indicators of a pornographic addiction:
- Even when you want to quit watching porn, you find it difficult to do so.
- You feel a great deal of remorse or embarrassment about how much time and money you spend watching porn.
- You begin to disregard your career and personal relationships in order to view porn.
- It’s impossible for you to enjoy sex or other sexual activity without resorting to pornography.
- You’ve noticed that watching porn has become a hindrance to your regular activities.
There has been considerable debate about whether or not porn addiction is a true addiction. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that people have real problems with pornography. If porn addiction is neglected, it may have harmful effects, just like any other addiction.
How to Stop Watching Porn
If you think you might be dealing with porn addiction, below are some tips to help you to stop.
Understand Why You Are Giving It Up
You don’t have to be addicted to porn to make the decision to stop watching it. You may be acting in this manner for religious or ethical reasons. You can be doing so because it’s causing a wedge between you and a love partner, or because you just don’t want to view porn anymore.
Understanding why you’re giving it up can help you stay accountable whenever you’re tempted to watch it.
Accept That You Have a Problem If There Is One
If any of the indicators of a porn addiction outlined in the preceding section apply to you, you may have a porn addiction.
Many people keep their porn addiction problems hidden because they are afraid of being judged by society, but you are not alone.
Get Rid of the Porn
Any tangible or digital proof of pornographic content in your life qualifies. You’ll need to get rid of all of that type of information. There’s no reason to keep anything, including ancient porn mags that may have emotional significance.
Once the content is readily available around you, it’s easy to slip back to old habits. On your phone, television, and other devices, you should install filters that block pornographic content and sites.
Get an Accountability Buddy
This could be a close friend who you trust or even an app on your phone that reminds you of how long you’ve come in your recovery journey and why you are doing it.
Join a Support Group
You will remember that you are not alone if you join a support group. It also makes it easier to rehabilitate if watching porn isn’t simply a habit you’d like to break but an addiction.
These groups provide a secure, anonymous, and judgment-free environment for you to talk about your problems with pornography and hear from others who have had similar experiences.
COVENANTEYES are great resources to find tools and advice to help anyone who struggles with porn. Click here to learn more about this recovery platform.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up If You Fall Off the Wagon
It takes a long time to quit a habit or recover from an addiction. Unfortunately, you may find yourself reverting to old behaviors while on that trip. Don’t waste any time beating yourself if this happens.
Do your homework, experiment with new coping techniques and therapy alternatives, and get back on track.
Avoid Triggers
If certain things make you want to view porn, stay away from those triggers. For example, if you always watch porn on the computer in the evening, don’t log on at that time. Also, make a strategy for how to deal with a trigger if you can’t prevent it. It’s useful to think about a healthy activity you’ll perform instead, as mentioned above.
Replace Watching Porn With a Healthy Habit
A trusted way to rid yourself of a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit whenever you begin to feel the urge to indulge in that bad habit. For instance, going for a run when you feel the familiar urge to watch porn is a great way to healthily distract yourself.
try tracking your online presence that prevents you from watching porn
Remain Grounded
When you want to watch porn, think about how porn negatively impacts your life. What loss and/or damage has this addiction caused you? Consider journaling about what you’ve gone through, how you’re coping, and what you want from life outside of addiction.
