Understanding and Treating Porn Addiction
Today’s world, with its ever-growing access to the internet and all sorts of tech gadgets, is seeing a rise in cases of pornography addiction. Now, with such content being just a click away, anytime and anywhere, tackling this issue has become even tougher.
Therefore, how do you know if someone needs professional help? What kind of treatment options are out there? Here, we will shed some light on porn addiction, the journey of withdrawal, and the various paths to recovery.
When to Get Porn Addiction Help
Although watching pornography is not unhealthy per se, knowing when to stop and seek help is the key to maintaining a quality lifestyle. Some signs of addiction include excessive use, a feeling of loss of control, and an escalation in content extremity. Guilt, anxiety, and depression may appear before, during or after the activity. Moreover, if watching porn becomes a priority over the real world and starts negatively affecting daily life, personal relationships as well as mental health, it is probably the right time to consider professional help.
In other words, excessive use that interferes with everyday responsibilities or changes perceptions and expectations regarding sex points to an addiction. That is why frequent consumers should monitor the patterns of their porn use and how it impacts their lives.
Withdrawal from Porn Addiction
Akin to a substance addiction, being addicted to pornography hinges on the brain’s reaction to dopamine. This “feel good” hormone is released while you are watching such content, increasing the desire to relive the pleasurable experiences over and over again. That’s what often drives you to use porn more intensely.
However, that also means that stopping this activity can lead to withdrawal symptoms, both physical and psychological. Physical symptoms can manifest as:
- Insomnia
- Loss of libido
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headaches
On the other hand, psychological symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Stress
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Apathy
- Poor focus
- Sense of loneliness
- Intense desire for porn
Additionally, in the absence of porn, people tend to seek other dopamine-inducing activities. Unfortunately, attempting to reach the same “high” often leads to other addictions such as gambling, gaming, shopping, or substance abuse.
Addressing porn addiction treatment
Admitting to pornography addiction and seeking help might seem like a terrifying prospect, especially because it’s often shrouded in stigma and taboo. However, this first step is often the most important. One way to go about it is to talk to your General Practitioner (GP). They will assess your condition and symptoms before referring you to a porn addiction specialist.
Alternatively, there are private providers that specialise in addiction treatment. They often employ seasoned addiction and mental health professionals and offer a safe, judgement-free environment as well as complete confidentiality.
When it comes to choosing the right treatment for you, it really depends on how severe your addiction is and what you personally need to aid you in your recovery. We offer you a few options:
- Inpatient treatment
This means you’ll stay at a facility for a while and receive intensive help
- Day treatment
This is slightly different where by you’ll go for sessions every day but
get to sleep in your own bed at night
- Outpatient treatment
If those don’t fit your needs, then this option is another route where
you’ll have regular meetings but won’t stay over at the facility
During your first assessment, we’ll explore all of the above options to determine what best fits you. We’ll use this information to create a bespoke treatment plan that’s just right for your recovery journey.
Navigating the Path to Recovery
In porn addiction treatment, you’ll dive into a mix of individual and group therapy sessions. These sessions are your chance to really get to the heart of your addiction. It’s all about pinpointing what sets off your need to watch porn and deciding on solid strategies to beat those urges.
Often, porn addiction ties back to issues you haven’t dealt with from your past, like old traumas, tough times you’ve gone through, or feeling low about yourself. In individual therapy, you get a private space to talk about and work through them. It’s a big part of healing completely.
At our facility, we tackle porn addiction with the 12-Step philosophy. This famous approach, started by Alcoholics Anonymous, blends the journey to recovery with your spiritual side and your own drive to change.
Here’s the thing to remember: you’re not in this porn addiction battle alone. There’s no need to keep quiet and struggle by yourself. Reaching out for help is the first, massive step on your road to getting better. It’s about taking back control and stepping towards a brighter, healthier future.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
tiny matters compared to what lies within us
FREE Addiction Assessment
If your or a loved one are struggling with addiction, we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to offer compassionate help.
Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
We’ll also help you to book your free addiction assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within only a few days.
We understand that taking the first step can be the most difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement.
Professional and compassionate help is just a phone call or click away.
