What is porn obsession?

Porn obsession has become increasingly prevalent in today’s society. It is a type of compulsive sexual behaviour that involves the excessive use of pornography. This obsession can have serious consequences on an individual’s life, including their personal relationships, mental and physical health, and overall well-being.

Not until recent decades has watching porn become more accepted within society and popular culture. However, research has found sculptures and art depicting various sex acts dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. From sculptures to erotic novels to pictures to videos, porn has evolved alongside society.

Characteristics

Porn obsession is characterized by compulsive behaviour, where the individual will watch porn even if it interferes with their daily life. This obsession often leads to the development of tolerance, where the person will need to watch more and more porn to achieve the same level of arousal as they did before.

Studies indicate that close to 90% of young male adults and 30% of young female adults report regular use of pornography. This figure may actually be higher as women have been found to be more likely to hide or not disclose their porn use. The general age of first porn exposure is also decreasing with the median age reported to be 14 years old. Studies show that the earlier one is exposed to porn, the more likely they are to have higher rates of porn use or porn obsession once older. The majority of people who watch porn will not develop an obsession. However, the 5-10% of the adult population who do develop an obsession often find it difficult to identify.

Signs and Symptoms

Porn obsession is characterized by an impulsive drive to watch porn to the extent that it negatively impacts a person’s life and well-being. Those who have been diagnosed with porn obsession often report watching porn more than 10 hours per week. This screen time is commonly accompanied by cravings, unsuccessful efforts to reduce porn use, declining interest in one’s sex life, relationship issues and depression or anxiety. While moderate use of porn can have positive impacts on one’s sexuality or relationship, porn obsession can lead to lowered self-esteem, erectile dysfunction, performance anxiety and overall dissatisfaction in the bedroom.

How does porn obsession happen?

Many factors can contribute to the development of porn obsession, including genetics, childhood experiences, and societal influences. For example, individuals with a history of trauma or abuse in childhood may be more likely to develop this obsession as a coping mechanism. Social factors like easy access to porn and societal acceptance of porn consumption can also play a role.

We’ve all heard of dopamine. We think of it as a chemical that makes us feel good or gives us a sense of exhilaration. While pleasure is part of the equation, dopamine is most responsible for the ‘seeking’ behaviour within the reward systems in our body.

Dopamine wants us to seek out pleasurable feelings. When we find them, it helps our body to reinforce the experience and keep seeking that pleasurable behaviour or object. This is not always a bad thing; sometimes it means seeking out healthy food or connection with friends. However, when a behaviour like watching porn or using drugs occurs at a high rate, tolerance can develop. This means that the body needs more of the activity to be able to produce the same pleasurable feelings that it had previously. With porn obsession, tolerance does not just equate to more screen time but also to the type of porn that is watched. People may find that they are seeking out types of porn that they would never have thought about watching. The novelty combats the desensitization that they feel to more “normal” types of porn.  This can bring about significant feelings of shame and lead to someone being more likely to hide their porn obsession

Consequences

The consequences of porn obsession go beyond just the individual’s personal life, as it can also affect their work and social relationships. Individuals may find it harder to maintain intimate relationships due to a reduced interest in sex with real partners. They may also experience depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues as a result of this obsession.

Does this sound like you?

As porn consumption has become more accepted within our culture, it’s common to hear the phase, “I’m not obsessed, I’m just a guy.” While porn can be a perfectly healthy expression of sexuality or tool for people, it can also lead to dependence and obsession. As we mentioned before, porn obsession is actually a lot more common than people realise with 5-10% of adult men and women falling into this category. The good news is: counselling has been proven to be highly successful for those wanting to overcome their obsession with porn. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, your counsellor will provide you with strategies and support to relinquish the control of porn in your life.

What next?

If you’re struggling with your porn use and not quite sure whether you might be dependant, reach out to one of the counsellors at Blissful Minds. Counselling is entirely confidential and can provide you with the peace of mind to know that you are on top of your porn use. As with all things, it’s not about labelling whether or not you have an obsession, it’s about improving your overall well-being and providing you support along the way!

At Blissful Minds, we have a qualified Sex Obsession Counsellor to help you navigate the path forward. Please contact us to book in with Elissa. Elissa will help you overcome this obsession to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.