Written by on April 9, 2022

Porn Addiction: Signs and symptoms that you should be aware of

Today

Why Porn Addiction Happens

Contrary to popular belief, porn addiction doesn’t happen because you’re watching too much of it. In fact, that’s only the side effect. Like any other addiction, this can sneak up on you, and you’ll find yourself hooked before you even know it. So, what’s the catch? It’s all in the chemicals our brains produce.

 

Some people naturally have addictive personalities, making them more prone to addictions. However, the main character in this story is dopamine. The release of dopamine gives us feelings of pleasure that we all know and love. Plus, you get a sense of reward too, and your brain releases dopamine when you orgasm.

 

With porn being so readily available, all kinds of people use it as a tool to enhance their solo sessions. So, the majority of people who fall victims to porn addiction are those that don’t have a partner to satisfy them. A lot of people struggle with this without even knowing it! So, to help you out, let’s talk about some signs of porn addiction you should look out for.

You Find Porn More Arousing Than Sex

If you don’t have sex for a long time, it’s easy to forget how it feels. Even if you’ve experienced the best sex of your life, it can all feel like a distant memory. Instead, you need something real that you can feel every day. Why? Simply because the dopamine rush feels so amazing, and that’s the reason it’s so addicting. Well, what do you do if you don’t have anyone to satisfy you currently? You satisfy yourself.

 

Porn offers a variety of categories, kinks, and fantasies for you to explore. This is how you can get to know your sexual desires better, too. So, once you find something you enjoy watching, it’s only natural to stick to it. This becomes a problem when you stop viewing sex the same way. Your favorite porn allows you to reach the high you’re chasing much faster, so sex becomes a mere afterthought. In fact, the idea of sex becomes so irrelevant to you that you don’t even look seek it out anymore. This can prove to be a real problem when you do end up in a relationship.

You Need Porn to Get an Erection

When you do get into a relationship, it’s only natural for your partner to seek intimacy. If sex is still arousing to you, that’s great! This only means maybe you’re not too far gone in this pornography addiction. 

 

However, what happens when you can’t get an erection? This is when you and your partner start looking for ways to make it happen. One of the ways to get aroused is by watching porn together. If that seems to work, but your partner’s advances don’t, it’s a sign you may be heading towards having a porn addiction.

 

Again, this all relates back to the fact that porn just offers so many options and things for you to look at. You’re so used to being aroused by BDSM, for example, that vanilla sex simply doesn’t do it for you anymore. If your partner isn’t into kinky sex, the whole relationship can fall apart because of the lack of sex and intimacy.

 

However, needing porn to get an erection once or twice doesn’t need to be alarming. Other factors like stress, for example, can affect your ability to become erect. So, you still may be in the safe zone.

You’re Losing Interest in Sex

On the other hand, maybe you are having sex regularly. But does it feel the same as masturbation while watching porn? Well, there have to be some differences. Let’s say your partner’s into the same things you are. With this in mind, you wouldn’t really need porn to arouse you. Unfortunately, these feelings don’t last long if you’re addicted to viewing porn. You may not feel like you need to watch porn, but you can still start losing interest in sex.

 

Sex can be quite tiresome because you have to put a lot of effort into it. In sex, it’s not all about you — you have to please your partner too. When it comes to porn and masturbation, doing the deed is pretty straightforward. You put your favorite porn on, and you don’t even need an extra pair of hands to help you orgasm. 

 

This state of mind is what makes you crave sex less, and you’re not the only one to feel this way. People often reach for things that are easier to achieve, and the same applies to sex.

You Isolate Yourself

The last sign of porn addiction we’ll mention is isolation. Hanging out with friends and participating in our favorite activities make us feel good. Many would say that there’s nothing that can replace the feelings you get when you do things you love. 

 

Well, people that don’t have a healthy relationship with porn may disagree. When you’re addicted to porn, you’re feeling good every single day. That’s because you’re constantly masturbating, chasing orgasms, and forcing your brain to produce dopamine. Naturally, you won’t feel the need to socialize or do anything other than stay at home and watch porn. This sounds problematic because, well, it is.

People who are addicted to viewing porn argue that this addiction offers a superior level of comfort with minimal negative effects. Even though they’re not engaging in sex, they’re still orgasming and feeling good. So, all of this seems like they’re not lacking anything. However, after some time, more negative effects of this addiction start to surface.

 

Being around people and having hobbies and interests is essential and good for your overall health. The constant influx of dopamine prevents you from doing all that. Luckily, this addiction is something you can definitely manage and get rid of.

How You Can Manage It

Unfortunately, quitting porn is easier said than done. It’s easy for others to tell you to simply not watch it, but there’s always something more going on that causes this addiction. There isn’t a single answer to how to manage porn addiction, but there are numerous treatment options.

 

These treatment plans always include seeing a therapist. They’ll be able to figure out what’s causing you to become addicted to pornography. From that point, your therapist will help you deal with underlying causes and give you tools to manage your addiction. Additionally, you can seek treatment centers or support groups, depending on what you feel more comfortable with.

 

Being addicted to pornography has negative effects, but it is manageable and treatable. All you need to do is find the right therapist and begin your recovery journey.