Typical "porn addict"? A young, sexually bored, religious man. But this addiction affects others too, so how do you recognize it and get rid of it?
The mysterious porn addiction
Although you may not remember the past times yourself, intimacy and sex were actually quite taboo just a few decades ago. The ultimate dare then was Playboy magazine, but its content, when compared to the pornographic material one encounters today, is practically reading/scrolling through it for afternoon coffee. Pornography also has certain benefits - it allows people to explore their own sexuality, it can serve as a source of (albeit less than ideal) information, and it is even beneficial for relationships with one's spouse.
Nowadays, more than 90% of men watch porn regularly, and only a few women. However, even in the case of pornography, it can be unhealthily addictive. While the diagnosis of 'pornography addiction' does not exist (at least not yet), experts have coined the term 'problematic pornography use' to describe the compulsive overuse of porn. As of 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers compulsive sexual behaviour to be a mental health disorder - referring to sexual activities that become central to people's lives. How does such a "practice" manifest itself?
The imagined addiction to pornography is similar to addiction to anything else - from drugs to alcohol to cigarettes or nicotine. According to experts, porn addiction is most likely a behavioural disorder, which can also be referred to as 'hypersexuality'. Whatever the label, however, if a person is constantly craving to watch porn, despite all attempts to curb this urge, it is clear that things have gone wrong. Because of pornography viewing, those who are truly 'addicted' can then inhibit their social as well as their professional activities, and this pathological desire to watch the material in question can haunt them almost continuously. Thus, they neglect personal and health care, losing interest in any other activity, and, paradoxically, in real sex.
Who is a "porn addict"?
Finally, as with other types of addictions, experts have already identified specific factors that may serve as a certain "predisposition" in the case of pornography addiction. First of all, there may be certain chemical differences in the brain or its structure, aspects that may contribute to an addictive tendency. In addition, cultural factors - societal expectations about appearance, sex and relationships - can play a role, as can stress or psychological problems. In these situations, watching porn can be a form of 'escape' from reality. But some people may also be driven to (pathological) pornography viewing by relationship problems - and by the desire to satisfy unfulfilled sexual desires.
Zdroj: Giphy
And how often do the consequences of these possible negative influences manifest themselves? So far, the statistics that have focused on pornography addiction are inconsistent - and the results usually vary by source. However, it can be summarised that porn addiction affects approximately 3-6% of adults. Young adults are more likely to be involved - with males predominating. Research even offers the most common profile of a person addicted to pornography: a bad-tempered young man who frequently uses the internet, is pious and suffers from sexual boredom.
How to get out of it?
Whether pornography addiction is indeed a relevant diagnosis (on which there is no consensus yet) or whether everything is different, the truth is that the number of users of various porn sites is growing exponentially. So in the end, it's not surprising that in some cases people actually fall for this stuff, especially if one of the "triggers" comes into play. But the good news is that, as with any other addiction, pornography can be fought and successfully kicked.
Since porn addiction is not an addiction in the pure sense of the word, you can try to get rid of it on your own first. Remove all relevant bookmarks from your computer/tablet/mobile phone, and remove all other pornographic material from your home. Ideally, you should then use anti-porn software on your computer without knowing the password. But of course you will also need to start thinking about what you will do in your 'spare time'. So make a plan, and once you get a strong urge to watch porn, try to engage in other pre-planned activities. However, a support therapy group can also be useful - for example, for people who suffer from sex addiction. And if none of that works, see a therapist yourself. These sessions, for example, can help you understand what is causing your compulsive behaviour. In addition, a therapist can be helpful in finding effective coping mechanisms so that you can change your relationship with pornography step by step.
In the end, however, one thing is true - and this is especially true for people who are worried about their loved ones because of their porn viewing: the truly compulsive and pathological behaviour is minimal. Watching porn is not otherwise wrong; it can serve only to satisfy curiosity, for entertainment or to increase sexual appetite.
