Porn Addiction Hotlines And Resources

Finding Help For Porn Addiction

In recent years, behavioral addictions have started to be acknowledged, with gambling disorder being added as the only non-substance-related disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Currently, pornography addiction is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), but ongoing research has demonstrated that the compulsion to watch porn has many similarities to substance use disorders. There are no set guidelines for treating porn addiction because it is not recognized by the APA, making it more difficult for people to find help, compared to other addictions. However, there are organizations and communities that offer porn addiction hotlines and resources for those who believe they have a problem with porn.

What Is Porn Addiction?

Millions of Americans take advantage of the seemingly endless variety of porn on the internet, that is free and easy to access. For some, it is part of their personal sexuality or something that they share with a partner. For others, it feels like a compulsion and brings feelings of shame and guilt. Some of the signs that someone may have a porn addiction is feeling like they are unable to stop watching it, even if they want to. Other signs are spending a large or increasing amount of time watching porn, having personal relationships negatively impacted by porn, feeling anxious if porn is not watched, and being unable to stop, despite negative consequences.

Oftentimes, pornography can be viewed and incorporated into sexuality without any issues. It’s when someone starts having problems because of it, tries to stop, and is unable to that they may recognize a porn addiction. Researchers have found that porn can have a negative effect on personal relationships. In one study published by National Public Radio (NPR), it was found that, “married Americans who began pornography were roughly twice as likely to be divorced.” Another study found that, “men who are exposed to porn find their partner less sexually attractive and rate themselves as less in love with their partner.” Porn addiction can lead to unrealistic expectations about sex, leaving both parties unsatisfied and potentially insecure.

Not only can porn addiction cause negative emotions and impact personal relationships, it may also be linked to erectile dysfunction. A 2017 study surveyed men from ages 20 to 40 who went to a San Diego urology clinic for erectile dysfunction treatment. While only 3.4% of them said they preferred masturbating to porn over sexual intercourse, researchers found a relationship between porn addiction and sexual dysfunction. Another study from 2015 found that high school seniors who had a high frequency of porn use had lower sexual desire.

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Porn Addiction Resources And Communities

The emotional toll that porn addiction has on a person can be severe, with feelings of depression, anxiety, guilt, and low-self-esteem. The shame that accompanies this addiction may cause people to keep their problem a secret, which is never a helpful idea when dealing with an addiction. There are a variety of online communities that act as a place for resources and community with others who are dealing with a porn addiction.

Reboot Nation is an online community that offers videos, forums, and advice on how to achieve a life without pornography. Daily Strength is a website that offers an online Sex/Pornography Addiction Support Group to connect with others, as well as providing a list of crisis resources for those in need. NoFap is a community-based porn recovery website that provides forums, articles, and apps to help individuals, “looking to recover from porn addiction, porn overuse, or compulsive sexual behavior.” NoFap also has a paid program where users can join weekly meetings and sign up for weekly anonymous accountability calls. The forum-based website and app Reddit offers multiple communities for people with a porn addiction to connect, at r/NoFap, r/pornfree, and r/PornAddiction.

For those who have tried to stop watching porn but find themselves viewing it over and over again, some community members recommend downloading porn blocking software to act as a barrier and a reminder to stick to one’s goals. These accountability software’s range in price, filtering, and monitoring abilities as some are designed for families while others are designed for porn/sex addicts. Thorough research should be conducted before choosing one.

Porn Addiction Hotlines

If someone’s porn addiction cooccurs with a drug or alcohol problem, inpatient rehab may be a viable option to help them tackle both issues at once. However, when the only problem is porn addiction, it may feel challenging to find professional help. A licensed sex therapist can help individual’s get to the root of their issues and help them discover proper coping mechanisms for stress and loneliness. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists has an online tool to help people find sex therapists in their area. Several hotlines may be able to provide resources for those in need.

Staying educated and informed on how pornography effects the mind and body is key if someone believes they may have a porn addiction. Fortunately, there are porn addiction hotlines, resources, and communities that can provide assistance and connection.

Take back your life from porn addiction and discover additional online therapy options here.