You may have heard that as many as half of all the websites currently in existence are devoted to adult content. While this is widely considered to be a myth, it’s true that the internet has made it easy to create, view and distribute pornographic material. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that a portion of the population suffers from porn addiction. Let’s take a closer look at some common porn addiction symptoms as well as the impact that they may have on a person’s life.
Table of Contents
- 1 Porn Addicts Would Rather Watch Porn Than Be with Their Partners
- 2 Porn Addicts Get Antsy When They Can’t Consume Pornographic Content
- 3 Pornographic Material Is Never Out of Reach
- 4 There Is Never a Good Reason Not to Watch Porn
- 5 Physical Pain Isn’t Enough to Stop an Addict from Consuming Adult Material
- 6 Porn Can Change a Person’s Expectations About Sex and Relationships
- 7 Addicts May Spend Large Sums of Money on Pornography
- 8 Addicts May Lose Any Ambition That They Once Had
Porn Addicts Would Rather Watch Porn Than Be with Their Partners
Over time, the human brain will rewire itself so that a person gets more pleasure from watching porn than that individual does from having intimate relations with a spouse or partner. Therefore, addicts may find that it’s hard to achieve any level of sexual arousal while spending time with their partners, which will likely result in reduced levels of intimacy. Eventually, addicts may decide to completely ignore their significant others in favor of watching adult films on their phones or computers.
Porn Addicts Get Antsy When They Can’t Consume Pornographic Content
The way that individuals react when they are unable to watch adult content may offer some insight into whether they suffer from porn addiction. Those who are addicted to pornography may become irritable or angry if they go more than a few hours without seeing a naked body or watching people having sexual intercourse.
These are the same traits displayed by alcoholics who go more than a few hours without a drink or smokers who go more than a few hours without an injection of nicotine. Therefore, individuals who lash out at their spouses, colleagues, or others because they haven’t gotten their daily porn fix may need to seek professional help.
Pornographic Material Is Never Out of Reach
Those who are dependent on porn may choose to avoid withdrawal symptoms by ensuring that porn is never more than a few feet away. In some cases, this may mean carrying a phone, tablet, or other devices that allow them to watch adult films while in their cars or home offices.
However, some people may keep adult magazines or other forms of physical media in their cars, offices, or wherever they happen to be. It’s not uncommon for porn addicts to store obscene materials on their company phones or computers if they think that doing so will make it easier to access or conceal what they have.
There Is Never a Good Reason Not to Watch Porn
To a person who is addicted to porn, there is never a bad time to watch an adult film or look at some naughty pictures in a magazine. Of course, this often means skipping out on family functions, showing up late to work, or missing out on other events that are critical to developing healthy relationships with others.
This may result in an inability for an individual to retain a job or advance in his or her career. It’s also possible that a parent may lose custody of a child because that individual simply isn’t capable of being a reliable caregiver. Those who are currently in a committed relationship may find that their significant others may choose to leave them because of their content consumption habits.
Physical Pain Isn’t Enough to Stop an Addict from Consuming Adult Material
Spending too much time looking at a computer screen can result in eye strain, blurred vision, and chronic headaches. As most people sit at awkward angles while using a computer, porn addicts may also be at a higher risk of neck, back, or leg pain.
The act of masturbating may result in hand, wrist, or arm discomfort, and this may be especially true for those who do so several times a day. Furthermore, the skin around the genital region may become red, swollen, or painful to the touch because it is rubbed too hard or too frequently.
Finally, individuals may find that it becomes painful to have an orgasm or that they are sore for several hours or days after having one. This is often caused by overworking the muscles that are responsible for allowing this to happen.
Porn Can Change a Person’s Expectations About Sex and Relationships
Watching any amount of porn may have a negative impact on a person’s view of sex and relationships. However, most people who consume small amounts of adult content generally understand that what they are watching is a fantasy come to life. Furthermore, they tend to understand that the performers on the screen have a variety of tricks that they use to get through especially difficult scenes.
However, those who consume excessive amounts of pornography may assume that it’s normal to have multiple sex partners at the same time. They may also assume that their partners enjoy physical pain during sex or that it’s acceptable to penetrate someone without warning or without that person’s consent.
Addicts May Spend Large Sums of Money on Pornography
These days, it isn’t difficult to find free porn, and if you know where to look, it may not be difficult to find free content of decent quality. However, those who are addicted to adult content may not have a problem with spending hundreds of dollars per month on content that they might not be able to find online.
Individuals who are dependent on adult content may pay extravagant sums of money for exclusive content featuring their favorite performers. They may also pay large sums of money to have sex with those performers or for others who will allow them to imitate what they see on the screen.
When left unchecked, a dependence on porn can leave a person without the means to buy food or pay for other essentials. Those who are deeply in debt may steal from their friends or family members to keep themselves above water financially. Ironically, some people turn to prostitution as a means of getting out of debt or to bankroll their lifestyle.
Addicts May Lose Any Ambition That They Once Had
It’s not uncommon for porn addicts to spend many hours per day watching adult content. In some cases, they may not even realize that they have spent an entire afternoon or evening doing so. For many people, the prospect of sitting in front of the television all day may be an appealing one. However, the thought of spending many days doing little more than watching people have sex may be less exciting.
For those who feel as if they have no control over their porn habits, knowing that they are accomplishing so little can bring about feelings of hopelessness. These feelings may get worse as they see relationships with friends and family members slip away or they see others around them progressing in their lives.
At some point, a person may simply pretend as if they aren’t missing out on anything by spending their days inside watching porn. However, adopting this attitude may simply make the problem worse and lead to greater problems in the future.
If you believe that you have an addiction to pornography, it may be in your best interest to speak with a mental health professional. This person may be able to help you pinpoint the root cause of your dependency and help you develop strategies to create a healthier attitude toward sex and relationships. It may also be a good idea to speak with your doctor if your adult content consumption habits have led to physical injuries.