Pornography
Overview
Pornography is sexually explicit material meant to satisfy curiosity, for sexual pleasure, or for entertainment. For others, viewing pornography is used to cope with boredom or stress, or to decrease feelings of loneliness or depression. Problematic pornography use is feeling compelled to view sexually explicit material in increased frequency or spending larger amounts of time doing so. Technology has increased the access we have to these materials, making it easier than ever to view and store such material at any time.
Symptoms
Below are common effects of pornography use:
- Decreased loving feelings toward one's romantic partner. This can also lead to decreased interest in sex with your romantic partner, or lack of satisfaction in sexual encounters.
- Difficulty becoming sexually aroused without pornography.
- Tension or loss of trust in close relationships with loved ones.
- Objectification and viewing people as sexual objects.
- Being unable to stop viewing pornography, despite repeated attempts to do so. Feeling powerless to resist the urge to view pornography.
- Having cravings to view pornography.
- Becoming upset if others (partner, family, friends, etc.) request you stop viewing pornography. You may be angry, hostile, or irritable when asked to stop.
- Keeping pornography use a secret from others because of guilt or shame.
- Continue to view pornography despite experiencing negative consequences for doing so, such as relationship issues with loved ones, job loss, problems at school, etc.
- Losing track of time while viewing pornography. This can cause pornography to become a priority, and other things, such as homework, work, or family obligations, do not get completed.
- Requiring increased amounts or more explicit pornography to obtain the same satisfaction.
- Feeling anxious, stressed, or irritable if you are unable to view pornography.
Treatment
These suggestions have been shown to help those struggling with pornography use:
- Talk to a therapist, trusted loved one or close friend to make changes in this behavior.
- Individual and/or group therapy is important for most people to make long-term changes in their behavior. Treatment can help you identify what triggers you have, as well as help you develop healthy coping strategies to use instead.
- There are 12-step programs available in the community to help support those struggling with pornography use and other sexual compulsions.
- Make a plan so you are prepared for times you feel the urge to view pornography. You could call a friend, or engage in a different activity, like going on a walk. Urges don't last forever. If you can distract yourself during the urge, it will often go away.
- Become aware of your personal triggers that lead you to pornography, such as boredom, stress, frustration, loneliness, etc.
- Install internet filters or software to help prevent you from accessing pornographic sites on your computer, smart phone, and tablet.
- Change your routine. If you typically view pornography during the day when no one is home, start working in the library, or go workout at the gym. Plan other activities for the times when you typically view pornography.
- If you view pornography after abstaining for a time period, focus on what you can do differently tomorrow to get you back to abstinence.