How To Get Rid Of Porn Addiction

With easy internet access, porn has emerged as a major source of entertainment across the globe. Did you know that porn sites generate more traffic every month, as compared to the combined traffic of Netflix, Amazon, & Twitter? Data also reveals that more than one-third of all internet downloads are related to porn. Globally, porn is estimated to be a USD 97 billion industry.

Watching porn occasionally may be okay. However, you may have a problem if you have started to crave porn or watch it for extended hours. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has not yet classified ‘watching porn’ as an addiction, but that could change in the future. Things like gambling disorder have already been classified as behavioral addiction and something similar can happen with porn addiction. Studies have shown that brain maps of people watching porn are quite similar to people with substance addiction.

Porn addiction can create problems such as relationships issues, low self-esteem and reduced sexual satisfaction. Porn has also been linked to premature ejaculation in specific cases. Porn can be detrimental for your professional career as well if you have started watching porn in the office.

The good thing is that killing your craving for porn is relatively easier than other addictions such as smoking. Here are some things you can do to get rid of your porn addiction.

Delete all porn – You need to delete the entire collection of porn that you may have on your devices. This may be a tough decision, but you have to do it if you want to get rid of your porn addiction.

Install anti-porn software – You can ask one of your close family members of friend to install anti-porn software on your devices. This way, you will no longer be able to access porn online.

Write down your problems – Take some time to write down the problems you are facing due to your porn addiction. After this, write down the things you are doing to get rid of your porn addiction. These notes will be a reminder and act as a guiding light.

Identify triggers – Try to identify triggers for watching porn. For example, many people watch porn when they have nothing better to do. If you are aware of the triggers, it would be easier to avoid watching porn.

Pursue other healthy interests – Try focusing on other interests that you may have in life. This will help reduce your craving for porn.

The above steps should be sufficient to help you overcome your porn addiction. However, if you are still unable to control your craving for porn, it would be better to consult a therapist. In addition to counseling, the therapist may also prescribe certain medications if you are experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).