Pornography addiction has become increasingly a concern in the media these days. What happens when it gets out of control? At what point does it become addictive? How can someone struggling with porn addiction get help? In this interesting and informative article a leading English therapist addresses this issue and what can be done about it.
Nowadays, addiction to pornography is gaining more and more attention in the media. From teens whose school work is seriously affected, to celebrities in the public eye, it is a subject worthy of further research.
The Internet offers endless possibilities for viewing pornography with the click of a mouse. What happens when you see snowball online porn get out of control? When does it become addictive? How do I get help?
Porn addiction has not been recognized by the American Psychological Association as a psychological disorder (as are many other addictions), but a greater focus is now being given to this issue and more and more people are seeking help in this area.
The criteria for identifying porn addiction are very similar to those of other addictions. Does reading, watching, thinking about, and / or viewing pornography interfere with your work, personal life, relationships, social interactions or family life? If you answered yes to this question, you could become addicted to pornography.
What are some of the problems that make porn addiction more problematic than they have been in the past?
Accessibility
It’s easier than ever to access pornography. Prior to Internet pornography, a person had to physically enter a sex shop, adult video store, or purchase adult magazine. A certain level of personal disclosure is required – taking a magazine, video or DVD to the cashier means that you will be identified as a consumer of pornography, which certainly deters some from consuming it in the first place. Now, with a quick Internet search, anyone can have access to practically unlimited porn – much of it for free – in the privacy of their own home.
Early exposure
Whereas in the past access to this kind of thing would be rare and difficult to obtain, with Internet children having a good chance of being affected from an early age. According to a recent study, completely 42% of children have been exposed to Internet pornography before the age of 18.
Tolerance
Some experts believe that tolerance is built when it comes to addiction to pornography, much as tolerance is built with addiction to alcohol or other substances. The need to view pornography appears to increase with the number that addicts see. With approximately 420 million different pornographic websites available, the Internet offers a practically unlimited supply.
Get Help
As addiction to pornography becomes more prevalent and receives more attention, our understanding of it grows. Our ability to effectively treat these problems increases as our understanding of their nature develops. One possible way to view porn addiction is to view it as a form of sex addiction. Currently, there are several helpful and effective ways that it may be treated. In addition to 12-step programs such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, and Sexual Compulsives Anonymous, there are a number of recovery programs, both on and offline that offer help with this addiction. Individual therapy is also available. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy can be of great help for those looking to manage this addiction.
If you, or someone you care about, is having trouble with pornography, help is available. Given the right type of help or therapy, this is a problem that can be overcome.