A continually increasing compulsion to watch sexually stimulating, pornographic materials can quickly get out of control, particularly when images are viewed on the Internet, because the Internet has added an aspect of easy, constant accessibility to an already overwhelming problem. While at one time a person who was drawn to pornographic content had to buy magazines or rent videos and may have been limited by store hours or available space to store these materials, now additional pornographic content is as close as the click of a mouse. The problem is made even worse by tools such as social media and smartphones. Today’s devices allow the Internet porn user to store large amounts of material without leaving much evidence for others to discover.
With hundreds of millions of adult websites online, a person with a compulsion to view explicit images has few, if any, limits to this behavior. Compulsion to view Internet porn resembles certain forms of addiction in that it can lead to neglected responsibilities, hiding from loved ones, maxing out credit cards and embarrassment or humiliation if caught. The urge to view pornographic materials may grow in a way that is similar to a drug addict’s compulsion to use drugs. Like a drug addict, the porn addict struggles with the urge to watch more and more extreme pornographic content to get the same feeling of excitement that was originally experienced. A person with Internet porn problems may wish to stop this behavior but feel that he or she cannot.
What Causes Obsession with Internet Porn?
People may turn to pornography to avoid real intimacy with others. By simply being a viewer and not a participant, there is no threat of rejection. Those who turn to pornography are frequently loners who have difficulty establishing or maintaining relationships. Those who are in committed relationships begin taking more and more time away from their relationships in order to spend it on the Internet porn experience.
Pornography is also a way of seeing one’s fantasies acted out. If a man or woman is reluctant or unwilling to ask his or her partner to act out certain sexual behaviors, or if his or her partner has clearly stated that certain acts are unacceptable, it is easy to see others act out these fantasies by simply turning on the computer.
How Internet Porn Problems Are Treated
Obsessive viewing of Internet porn can lead to many serious problems. A porn addict may suffer from broken or troubled relationships, job difficulties or job loss, legal or financial problems and a deep sense of shame and guilt.
Addiction in general is the compulsion to repeat behavior over and over in spite of negative consequences to oneself or others. Although experts disagree on whether porn problems are actually an addiction, a person who is obsessed with Internet porn may not be able to overcome the problem without professional intervention. When a person’s Internet porn compulsion causes the end of a marriage or a career, or threatens to do so, it is time to get help.
For many porn addicts, admitting that they have a problem is one of the most difficult steps to take, because talking to someone else about it can be embarrassing or humiliating. It is important to reach out to experts who are knowledgeable specifically about addiction to pornography and to be honest about the behaviors that are occurring and the difficulties they are causing.
Treatment may be approached on either an inpatient or outpatient basis. While outpatient treatment may be successful in some cases, inpatient treatment provides a safe environment in which access to pornographic materials can be prevented while counseling and support are continually available.
Compulsion to turn to Internet porn is sometimes related to mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. In many cases, Internet porn problems are also related to problems with drugs or alcohol. A mental health professional can evaluate the patient and recommend a course of treatment that may or may not include medication.
Behavior therapy is often very helpful for those with addictive behaviors so that the person can learn new coping skills and better ways to fill his or her time. Therapy may be done on an individual or group basis. When families have been impacted by porn addiction, family therapy may be used to begin the healing process.
Recovery from porn addiction will include learning to make healthier choices and replacing time spent on Internet porn with healthier activities. Support groups, including 12-step groups such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, can make a huge difference in helping the person realize that he or she is not alone and that it is possible to learn to live a life that does not revolve around obsession with Internet porn.