What Classifies As A Porn Addiction?

Porn addiction can be difficult to identify for many reasons. For one thing, there is considerable disagreement within the psychiatric and treatment sectors as to whether or not it qualifies as an addiction. It’s a complex issue that can be hard to tackle on both a personal and medical level. We’ve put together some of the latest information and news about porn addiction so you can educate and learn more about this ever-changing topic.

Where It Begins

In contrast, behavioral disorders such as substance dependencies and alcohol addiction are relatively easy to identify and diagnose. Even gambling and shopping addictions are fairly obvious, given the immediate and severe upheavals it causes in people’s lives. 

But porn addiction is another matter. Setting aside the differences in opinion among medical professionals, pornography addiction is largely a personal matter. What constitutes addiction for some people may fall within the bounds of ‘normal’ behavior for others. 

This is because sex itself is usually intensely personal for most individuals. Some people are more sexual than others, and they may choose to express this particular aspect of their lives in a way that some sectors of society may view as abhorrent. To better understand this topic, we recommend reading about why porn is so addicting in the first place.

Signs Of Porn Addiction

In any case, porn addiction is a real problem, and the consequences can be quite severe. Therefore, friends and family members need to be aware of signs that their loved ones may be addicted to pornography so that appropriate action can be taken. Here are some of the most common behaviors associated with porn addiction:  

1. Inability to stop. One thing that porn addiction shares with other forms of addiction is the inability to stop harmful behavior. Porn addicts are typically helpless to resist the urge, even if they know the harm they are causing and want to stop. 

2. Desire for more. As with all addictions, the porn addict eventually craves more and more. Even with repeated exposure to pornography, many addicts are never satisfied and spend more time and effort chasing their fix. 

3. Excessive amounts of time spent on porn. Porn addicts spend considerable amounts of time viewing porn and trying to get access to more of it. And when they aren’t viewing sexually explicit material, they often think about it or how to get it. 

4. Lack of interest in sex. Many porn addicts eventually lose interest in having sex with their relationship partners. If they aren’t in an exclusive relationship, they may even stop having sex with a real person altogether. For many, pornography is a more convenient alternative that provides immediate sexual gratification. 

5. Unrealistic demands and expectations about sex. Porn addicts also often develop unrealistic notions about sex. Because so much of what they’re exposed to is on the extreme spectrum, they begin to expect similar behaviors from partners. Subsequently, they may become disillusioned and lose interest in ‘normal’ sex if their partners aren’t willing to go along. 

6. Loss of attraction to the partner. Unrealistic expectations about sex could also translate to a decrease or total loss of interest in their partner. Because porn addicts are accustomed to viewing porn actors as the ‘ideal’, they may lose their desire for partners they subsequently deem as “ordinary-looking”. 

7. Physical pain or discomfort. Viewing pornography repeatedly and for extended periods often leads to physical pain and discomfort. This could result from prolonged masturbation, excessive computer use, or sitting in the same position for long periods. 

8. Excessive spending. Addiction often leads to financial problems. In the case of porn addiction, addicts may begin spending money to access exclusive or more explicit content. As they progress from free porn to paid services, the resulting expenses can significantly burden their finances. 

9. Distraction or apathy. Excessive obsession with porn can cause the addict to withdraw from people or things that they previously enjoyed. As they become mired deeper into their addiction, they may prefer to spend more time in the idealized and make-believe world of porn and shun real-world experiences.   

10. Feelings of anger, anxiety, or depression. The pleasure and enjoyment that addicts derive from their actions are often short-lived. The inability to capture the same ‘high’ from viewing porn plus the constant struggle to relive their earlier experiences could lead to depression, anger, and anxiety. 

The Reality of Porn Addiction

Remember that porn addiction manifests in different ways. The important thing is to acknowledge the harm that pornography is causing and determine whether the person affected can manage their impulses. If the obsession with porn negatively affects the person’s life, consultation and therapy-based treatment may be necessary to curb the harmful behavior.