Men mostly get introduced to pornographic content during their teenage years and continue to watch it till a very late age. However, some of them often end up getting addicted to porn. Porn addiction is known to be a mental health disorder which is hard to get rid of. Let us dwell a little bit on it to know more.
Whether you are a man or a woman, we are sure that you must have watched a bit of porn here and there at some point of your life. Hey, we are not here to judge (we have watched too)! However, if you just cannot stop watching porn and always want to watch more and more of it, you might have to think twice. Your excessive inclination towards porn might hint that you are dealing with porn addiction.
Seems ridiculous, right?
How can a man be addicted to pornography?
On a serious note, porn addiction is a truth which is hard to believe. Many men are addicted to porn which is, in fact, a mental health disorder. As we know many of us are not aware of it, we decided to take on this hard topic and talk about it. Let’s have a look below:
What is Porn Addiction?
A bookish defination of Porn addiction can be ‘when a man is emotionally dependent on pornographic content to a point that it starts intervening in his daily life, relationships as well as the capability to function’. It is known to be a hypersexual disorder along with a mental disorder. A hypersexual disorder is an umbrella term which also includes behaviors such as excessive masturbation. The truth is that porn addiction is quite a common mental health issue in men. According to a *2019 study published in the National Library of Medicine, the prevalence of porn addiction might be about 3% to 6%.
According to Dr Moumita Nandy, a clinical psychologist from Delhi, “Porn addiction, much like other dependencies, may have many adverse effects. The known effects suggest that you should limit your consumption of pornography.”
In theory, if you are addicted to porn, you will not be able to stop watching it, even if you want to. Men with porn addiction turn to pornography when they are anxious or facing any other inconvenience. According to a *2015 review article, internet pornography shares basic mechanisms with substance addiction.
Signs of Porn Addiction
There are a lot of men out there suffering from porn addiction and there are certain signs that they might show. Some of these signs or symptoms are:
Not able to stop watching porn.
Wanting to watch more porn.
Wasting most of the day without accomplishing anything.
Losing interest in sex.
Becoming more demanding during sex.
Having unrealistic expectations of beauty.
Having physical pain in the neck, wrist, back as well as headaches.
Financial hardship due to spending money on porn sites.
Being distracted as your mind drifts off to porn.
Being angry if porn isn’t available.
Watching excessive pornography can lead to excessive masturbation which is not good for men in the long run. If you are addicted to porn, it can be problematic for your partner as well. Many men tend to question their partner’s abilities in bed that turns to be a heavy blow to their self esteem.
Dr Nandy says, “Excessive consumption of porn can take up a lot of time which can lead to a loss of control. Along with that, it can strain your relationship with others, especially with your partner.”
Causes
According to a *2015 study, it is believed that the underlying cause of porn addiction can be distress. This means that perhaps the existence of porn addiction could be a major cause of the anxiety that some men experience while watching it. However, there can be other causes of porn addiction as well, which include:
Underlying mental health conditions: A person might use pornography to escape psychological distress.
Relationship problems: Pornography can be an outlet for sexual dissatisfaction.
Unhealthy cultural norms: Ideas about how people should look and behave during sex, the type of sex that a person should enjoy, and similar norms may draw some people to pornography.
Biological causes: Certain biological factors, including changes in brain chemistry when a person views porn, may increase the risk of addiction.
Conclusion
Porn addiction is a real medical condition that many men are dealing with currently. If you believe that you are addicted to porn and want to get rid of your addiction, it will be best for you to talk to a psychologist to either find the underlying issue or to get the right therapy. Pornography addiction in men can lead to a plethora of problems and once diagnosed should be treated immediately.
Keynote
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6352245/ National Library of Medicine