How to Stop Watching Porn
With the accessibility and abundance of pornography that the modern internet has given us, withholding from diving into the seemingly endless pool of erotic content online may seem like an impossibility. Especially for those that struggle with behavioral addictions in general, porn is a hard one to shake due to the neurological effects that take place when watching porn.
There are a few reasons one may want to cut down on their pornography viewing. Whether it be because of it taking up time in the day, a shift in moral values, feeling like they’ve replaced romantic relationships with pornography, or any other reason for wanting to quit viewing porn, it’s a change that requires driven, personal effort.
An important part of wanting to make a behavioral change is understanding that there’s almost always an underlying root to one’s reliance on the behavior, in this case watching porn. Let’s take a look at how to address these root issues and work on our porn viewing habits.
Contents
What is a Porn Addiction?
What should first be noted about being addicted to porn is that “pornography addiction” isn’t recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, meaning that while becoming increasingly reliant on pornography as a mood equalizer is a common habit, it isn’t more of a diagnosable issue than a gambling or fast food addiction.
These addictions are more considered *compulsive behaviors,” and while not an addiction, they can still reflect similar negative consequences, such as withdrawal when trying to quit or neglecting responsibilities to make time for the habit.
Keep in mind that there are psychological benefits to watching porn, such as destigmatizing diverse sexual material and the demedicalization of female sexuality. Because there is usually masturbation involved when watching pornography, there are also plenty of health benefits that come from masturbation, including improvements to heart health and the immune system.
When the negative repercussions of compulsive behaviors start to outweigh the positive impacts, one should start considering how to make a change in their behavior.
Why Do People Become Addicted to Porn?
When watching porn and masturbating, a number of hormones and neurotransmitters are released in the brain. Some of these boost our happiness levels, such as dopamine, while some help regulate our mood to make us relaxed and help put us to sleep, such as serotonin and prolactin.
Because the shared ritual of watching porn and masturbating can have such a rewarding effect on our brains, it can become easy to rely on it to numb stressors and psychological issues we may be having that can be completely unrelated to sex.
While some may assume that the repeated consumption of pornography is what hooks us to need a fix, this 2014 study concluded that this need for the stimulus porn gives us could be more of a precondition than a consequence of pornography consumption.
How to Stop Watching Porn
Finding and addressing the issues in our lives that are driving the need for a reliance on the hormone hits porn watching brings is key to slowing down consumption.
Loneliness, anxiety, and depression are common causes for this reliance, all of which are very common mental health issues that have a number of coping mechanisms.
For starters, try removing any pornographic material or triggers from your life and distract yourself so you stay too busy to even have the time to watch porn. Delve into your hobbies or find a new one to take the place of your porn-watching habit!
Like any other health issue, it could help to try improving your general health with exercise, eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a routine.
However, mental health issues can be complicated, so if you continue to struggle with compulsive behaviors such as watching porn, and are having trouble finding and treating the root issues, please consult a professional such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
Summary
Pornography is more accessible than ever, and while there are no issues using it in moderation to supplement a healthy masturbation routine, it may become a compulsive behavior due to the mood regulating hormones that sexual activity releases.
If you’re finding it impossible to stop watching porn, there is a good chance you are using it to self-medicate a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression. Treating your underlying issues is key when trying to overcome compulsive behaviors, so try taking extra care of your mental and physical health and reach out to a professional if you see no progress.
And if you’re interested in learning more about what happens to your body during and after masturbation, check out our blog here.
