Written by:

Nicki Hari

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

August 27th, 2024

 

Porn addiction

There are few topics more divisive than porn. Some people see it as a harmless pastime, some as a healthy part of relationships, and others believe it objectifies, encourages misogyny and promotes unrealistic body images. No matter where the truth lies, there is no question that porn addiction is a real problem that affects millions of people worldwide. In fact, porn addiction has become so prevalent that it’s been dubbed the “new drug” of the digital age. So, if you’re struggling with porn addiction, know that you’re not alone. It’s time to put aside the shame and stigma and take the first step towards recovery.

Porn addiction - hooked on porn

What is porn addiction?

Porn addiction is a behavioural addiction that involves the compulsive and excessive use of pornography despite negative consequences. It can involve pornographic magazines, films, webcams and other media but the majority of pornography is now accessed through the internet. In fact, while porn addiction has likely existed as long as porn has, the internet has made pornography more accessible than ever before, leading to a huge increase in porn addiction rates.

Porn addiction is a progressive condition that usually develops over time and can eventually become uncontrollable. Once you are caught in its grips, porn addiction can cause enormous mental distress, affect your relationships and create unhealthy expectations about sex, love and intimacy.

Why is porn addictive?

At its most simple chemical level, when someone watches pornography, their brain releases dopamine, the most powerful pleasure neurotransmitter, which makes them feel good for a short period of time. Over time, the brain becomes tolerant to these dopamine levels, so the person needs to watch more and more porn to feel the same level of pleasure.

Eventually, this excessive porn consumption reaches the point where they become so dependent on it that they experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression and irritability if they try to stop watching porn. It is when this physical dependence coincides with simultaneous psychological dependence borne out of certain underlying issues that porn addiction becomes a seemingly inescapable condition.

What are the underlying issues that lead to porn addiction?

There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing a porn addiction, including:

    Age
    Young people are more likely to develop a porn addiction perhaps simply due to the fact so many young people watch it. In fact, 80% of teens between the ages of sixteen and seventeen watch pornography for an average of two hours a month.
    Underlying mental health conditions
    The link between mental health issues and addiction has been long established with both conditions often fuelling, triggering and intensifying each other.
    Early exposure to porn
    People who are exposed to porn or sexual experiences at a young age are also more likely to develop a porn addiction.
    Unresolved trauma
    Unresolved trauma is also a common cause of addiction with sexual abuse, neglect and PTSD all potential triggers.
    Excessive porn abuse
    People who consume excessive amounts of porn are also more likely to become addicted as their tolerance builds quickly and they require more and more to satisfy their needs.
    High sex drive
    Individuals with a high sex drive or sex addiction may likewise require frequent satisfaction and may turn to porn on a regular basis which increases the risk of porn addiction.
    Lack of real relationships
    People who lack real, meaningful relationships may become addicted to porn in lieu of real-life intimacy or sex.

Am I addicted to porn?

Recognising the signs of porn addiction early is crucial in getting the help you need. However, porn addiction signs can be hard to spot because watching porn has become so common and because many people do not want to come forward out of embarrassment.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to identify the symptoms of porn addiction:

  • Do I have trouble controlling my urge to watch porn?
  • Have I tried to stop watching porn, but failed?
  • Do I feel guilty or ashamed after watching porn?
  • Do I spend a lot of time searching for new porn to watch?
  • Has my porn use negatively affected my relationships, work or school performance?
  • Have I given up things I used to enjoy because I am preoccupied with watching porn?
  • Have I spent a lot of money on paid porn websites or cam shows?
  • Has my pornography use caused major changes in my sex drive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it could point to the symptoms of porn addiction and require professional porn addiction help.

What are the effects of porn addiction?

The effects of porn abuse and addiction can be far-reaching and can affect every aspect of your life. Common effects include:

  • Difficulty with sexual intimacy
  • Loss of interest in real-life sexual partners
  • Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection or orgasm during sexual activity
  • Decreased satisfaction with sexual experiences
  • Objectification of partners
  • Shame, guilt and anxiety related to porn use
  • Isolation from loved ones
  • Social withdrawal
  • Loss of productivity at work or school
  • Financial problems due to excessive spending on porn or related materials
  • Reduced self-esteem and self-worth
  • Loneliness
  • Depression

How is porn addiction treated?

Porn addiction treatment is most effective in an inpatient porn rehab centre like Banbury Lodge. Staying as a resident with us for the duration of your rehab treatment, you will have no access to porn, will be able to focus solely on porn recovery and will undergo a comprehensive programme of therapies. Our porn addiction therapy programme is effective both in overcoming porn addiction and in addressing the underlying causes to prevent relapse. Our therapies include:

  • Individual therapy: One-on-one therapy with a licensed therapist can help you identify the underlying issues that contribute to your porn addiction and develop coping skills to deal with triggers and cravings.
  • Group therapy: Group therapy sessions allow you to connect with others who are going through the same struggles and provide support and encouragement to one another.
  • Motivational interviewing: Motivational interviewing is a type of therapy that helps people resolve ambivalence about quitting porn and motivates them to make positive changes in their lives.
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to porn addiction. This will enable you to develop healthier thoughts and behaviours and leave porn abuse and addiction in the past.
  • Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT): DBT combines CBT techniques with mindfulness and emotional regulation strategies to prevent underlying emotional issues triggering porn addiction, enabling you to take back control.
  • Holistic therapies: Holistic therapies, such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy can help people with porn addiction address underlying emotional issues and develop healthy coping skills to replace pornography.

Porn addiction - group therapy

What are the benefits of porn rehab?

The benefits of porn rehab are numerous and include:

  • Comprehensive treatment for porn addiction
  • A safe and supportive porn recovery environment without distractions
  • The opportunity to connect with others who are going through the same struggles
  • The chance to rebuild relationships affected by porn addiction
  • Knock-on benefits for mental health
  • The opportunity to build healthy habits and routines that support long-term porn addiction recovery
  • The chance to learn new skills and strategies for maintaining sobriety after leaving porn rehab

How to start porn addiction treatment

If you or someone you love is struggling with porn addiction, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Banbury Lodge can provide you with the support and guidance you need to overcome your porn addiction and restart your life. Our porn rehab programme has helped many people overcome their addiction and make huge changes that have benefitted their mental health, relationships and overall well-being. Get in touch with us today to find out more.

Frequently asked questions

Does porn addiction treatment include detox?
No, porn addiction treatment doesn’t include a detox stage because there are no chemicals that need to be cleared out of your system. However, you may still experience porn addiction withdrawal symptoms as you adjust to life without pornography. These symptoms can be very uncomfortable and can make relapse a real risk. This is why porn addiction recovery is always most effective at a centre like Banbury Lodge where you can receive professional support.
How long does porn rehab take?
There is no one size fits all duration of porn rehab because everyone has their own underlying causes and responds differently to porn addiction treatment. That is why Banbury Lodge offers different-length porn addiction recovery programmes to suit everyone’s unique needs.
Can under-eighteens undergo porn addiction treatment?
Yes, Banbury Lodge is one of the UK’s only porn rehab centres to treat clients from sixteen years old upwards. This is very important because so many young people are becoming addicted to porn in recent years and require professional help.
Is porn addiction a mental disorder?
Currently, porn addiction is not recognised as an official mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, many mental health professionals and addiction specialists recognise porn addiction as a mental disorder that requires comprehensive treatment for both the symptoms and causes.
close help
Who am I contacting?

Calls and contact requests are answered by admissions at

UK Addiction Treatment Group.

We look forward to helping you take your first step.

0203 553 3757