Porn Addiction

Porn addiction occurs when an individual’s engagement with content of a sexual nature appears to be spiralling out of control. This may include spending increasing amounts of time or money on sexually explicit content and obsessively thinking about continuing such activities whilst doing other things. This fixation can lead individuals to think about pornographic content (or sex more generally) in inappropriate contexts. This can lead to appearing distracted or ‘distant’ and experiencing issues at school, work, or within relationships.

It can sometimes be difficult to identify the delineation between consistent engagement with and addiction to a specific activity. For that reason, it is important to remember that an addiction suggests a compulsive use or reliance on a behaviour of substance. Failed attempts at cessation of use often accompany this.

Symptoms of an addiction to porn include:

• Spending increased amounts of time watching pornography
• Spending increased amounts of money on content
• Failed attempts to reduce engagement
• Experiencing cravings for sexually explicit content
• Appearing sleepy
• Agitation or irritability
• Sexual dysfunction
• Reduced libido
• Increased expectations of sexual partners
• Reduced attraction to sexual partners
• Feeling distracted thinking about pornography at inappropriate moments
• Reduced attention to self-care and hygiene
• Missing meals to watch content
• Comorbid use or drugs or alcohol
• Being deceitful or defensive

In a small-scale study conducted by charity Dignify, 4,000 Hertfordshire students aged between 14 and 18 answered questions about their porn habits.

• 22% said they had viewed porn on ‘multiple occasions.’
• 1 in 5 said they had ‘a porn habit.’
• 1 in 10 said that they ‘felt addicted.’

A larger report indicated that two-thirds of those between 18 and 21 had seen ‘violent pornography’ before the age of 18.

In 2021, over 36,000 sought porn addiction resources from UKAT – an almost 250% increase from 2020, where 10,500 contacted UKAT for support. The increases were especially high in Birmingham, Manchester and London, but the increases were consistent across the country. [9]

Like other types of addiction, porn addiction can develop in response to a myriad of factors. These factors can be social, psychological or physical and can often be related to:

• Social withdrawal
• Low self-esteem
• A comorbid mental health condition (such as anxiety or depression)
• Conflict in a relationship
• Chronic stress
• Experience of trauma
• High levels of sex hormones
• Hypersexuality following experience of abuse

A study found that young men were more likely than others to develop a porn addiction, also establishing ‘religiousness, frequent internet use, negative mood states, being prone to sexual boredom and novelty seeking,’ as potential risk factors.

There is a risk that, collectively, we do not fully understand the severity of a porn addiction. A porn addiction can have tangible effects on our physical and mental health, as well as on our social and financial wellbeing.

Porn addiction can be treated with a specific targeted approach that tackles both problematic behaviours and potential underlying causes. At UKAT London Clinic, a bespoke treatment programme for porn addiction may include:

• Appropriate medications (such as antidepressants)
• 1-1 therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Group therapy
• Holistic therapy

CBT is the main go-to in instances of porn addiction. It is thought to have a particularly high efficacy due to its situation-specific analysis of the connections between difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

If you or a loved one is struggling with porn addiction and could benefit from help. Contact us today. Our compassionate and experienced team is here to support you on your path to recovery. We provide the guidance, resources, and encouragement necessary to overcome addiction and build a brighter, healthier future. Take the crucial first step towards healing—reach out to us now.