Treatment For Porn Addiction

Porn Addiction

Porn addiction is the compulsive need by an individual to consume pornography and pornographic material. It can cause intense impulsivity and cravings, deprecating behavior, pain, and even interfere with a person’s ability to function in their professional and personal lives. As of 2021, porn addiction is not officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) or the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders as a mental health disorder or problem like a substance use disorder. Still, it affects millions of people worldwide. According to a 2019 study published by the National Library of Medicine, about 3 – 6% of people have an addiction to pornography.

Treatment For Porn Addiction

Porn addiction is challenging to treat because of what researchers call the “triple-A” impact. Porn’s accessibility, affordability, and anonymity make it easy for users to consume its content compulsively. As time spent and frequency slowly increase, it may be years until a loved one or the individual realizes there is a problem. Still, there are several ways of treating the behavioral disorder. Below are a few treatment modalities used to treat porn addiction.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an excellent way of exploring what led a user to develop a porn addiction. Also known as supportive talk therapy, psychotherapy can help a patient understand their relationship with porn. There are many approaches to psychotherapy, like individual, group, and family counseling. With the help of a mental health specialist, an individual can learn to identify what led to their maladaptive behaviors and unmet needs. Over time, as a team, both patient and counselor can develop strategies to help the individual manage and overcome their addiction to porn. Psychotherapy is also effective for treating two disorders at one time, also known as co-occurring disorders, like substance abuse coupled with depression.

Behavior Modification 

Behavior modification is a form of treatment that helps patients replace maladaptive behaviors. It is a psychotherapeutic intervention that focuses on the principles of operant conditioning. Research shows that it has long-lasting effects and can help individuals achieve milestones in therapy. Depending on a person’s goals over time, they can learn to manage and even stop watching porn obsessively. A popular form of behavior modification is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). According to the American Psychological Association, CBT can be more effective than medication and other psychotherapy. 

Support Groups

Support groups are an excellent resource. During the peer meetings, individuals with the similar goal to be free of porn addiction or similar conditions offer their insights, experiences, and encouragement. The group members support each other by providing nonprofessional assistance. Through a community effort, everyone can achieve long-term recovery from their disorders. Studies show that peer support services significantly improve participants’ self-efficacy, personal views, and feelings about themselves. Over time, they can lead to a significant improvement in risky behavior prevention, harm reduction, and interventions. A few examples of support groups for porn addiction include Sex Addicts Anonymous and Porn Addicts Anonymous. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Sometimes porn addiction is caused by an underlying issue. It is common for people with the condition to have a co-occurring disorder. An excellent resource to help tackle the problem is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT’s are a combination of FDA-approved prescription medicines with counseling or behavioral therapies. It is an effective treatment for many substance use and psychological disorders. Alone, medication does not sustain a patient’s recovery, but it is an excellent resource in combination with other therapies.

A Holistic Approach

Holistic treatment involves a whole-body approach. It combines traditional therapy with complementary and alternative medicine. The goal is to improve health and wellness by viewing the person as a whole rather than just the disease. Practitioners that specialize in this form of therapy offer various techniques like:

• Hypnosis
• Patient education on lifestyle changes
• Spiritual Counseling
• Personal training
• Acupuncture
• Homeopathy
• Massage therapy
• Naturopathy

The main goal in holistic treatments is to encourage patients to take responsibility for their well-being. In time, dedicated individuals can change their behaviors for the better and achieve long-term recovery success. 

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Find Treatment For Porn Addiction

Though porn addiction is not officially recognized as a medical condition, there is no denying that it is a debilitating problem. Excessively viewing pornography can cause significant consequences. The controversial disorder can interfere with an individual’s daily life, relationships, and ability to function. Fortunately, several forms of treatment are available to anyone struggling with the condition, including licensed therapists available online.

If you or a loved one are in the grip of a porn addiction, there is help available. Do not wait another moment to get support. You can find more information on online therapy options here.