When most people admit being addicted to pornography they probably mean Internet pornography, though other forms may be relevant too. Internet pornography is perhaps the biggest addiction today, which is however not considered serious, as the addicts generally don’t show any problematic symptoms.
The progress of pornography addiction is extremely high with access to Internet. This is because Internet provides a huge amount of unlimited pornography, with varying levels of graphic content. It has been estimated that about 43% of all Internet users view porn. With 4.2 million websites or about 12% of all websites, pornography on the net is a huge business. The pornographic industry revenue is larger than that of technology enablers like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Apple etc. Also, these tech giants share a considerable percentage of the porn revenues.
Worldwide pornography revenues for the year 2006, exceeded $97.06 billion. However for an individual, Internet porn addiction reaches newer levels in a quick time. Even before the individual could realize the changes on himself, he would be browsing at things he would have never expected.
The problem
The addicted individual would constantly seek a higher level of porn. As an individual views porn content at a particular level for a certain amount of time, he would gradually desire a higher and more extreme content. As the addiction increases, higher level and more explicit levels of content are sought.
Pornography viewing would always lead to sexually gratification acts like self-stimulation and self-satisfaction, from where it can get worse. Pornography addiction has several symptoms. Concerned about others discovering one’s discreet porn interests, a feeling of shame and guilt after using it, and longing for it when not available, are some of the problematic effects associated with Internet porn.
Pornography usage soon slips out of control, whereupon any efforts to quit or limit it; would be difficult to materialize. Pornography addiction can lead to a neglect of responsibility or become less focused in one’s work or studies. Lost jobs, failed marriages and broken families are some of the effects attributed to Internet pornography. When the usage becomes extreme, it may even lead to emotional barriers with people you love and can also lead to loss of relationships.
The withdrawal syndrome
Porn addiction provides a sense of satisfaction associated with the production and release of chemical substances by the brain and the body. An important aspect of pornography is the withdrawal effect, they experience in the absence of porn. Accessing pornography consistently would provide sexual arousal to the addict, such that when they are away from accessing porn for a considerable time, they suffer withdrawal symptoms.
These symptoms drive an addict desperately to seek porn, and the addict acts inappropriately to satisfy his needs. Sexual addiction or porn addiction may therefore be defined as a condition in which any sexual behavior is associated with a recurring failure to control that behavior and its continued practice despite significant negative consequences. Another notable aspect of pornography is its association with sexual violence. The FBI reports have identified hard-core pornography as a common interest among serial killers. About 87% of child molesters are hardcore pornography addicts.
Cocaine Vs. pornography
Though people might consider themselves as porn addicts, there are no established standards to diagnose or measure the level of addiction.
Some specialists also disagree with the term ‘addiction’ and would prefer the term ‘compulsion’. According to Mary Anne Layden, the co-director of the Sexual Trauma and psychopathology program at the Cognitive Therapy Center of University of Pennsylvania, porn is the most concerning aspect to psychological health today.
Layden adds that the Internet is a perfect drug delivery system because one is anonymous, aroused and has role models for these behaviors. To have this drug pumped into one’s house 24/7, for free, and children know how to use it better than grown-ups – it becomes a perfect delivery system for a whole generation of young addicts who will never have this porn drug out of their mind. Layden feels that pornography addicts would have a tougher time recovering from their addiction compared to cocaine addicts, as it is possible to get the drug out of the system for cocaine users, but it is difficult to remove pornographic images from the brain, where it would lie embedded forever.
The way out our for all
To get away from pornography addiction, you need to have a strong will to achieve, so that there is no half hearted efforts. A very strong desire to change and a commitment to the process are vital for recovery. No programs can bring about changes to an individual when the individual is not committed to the change process.
Low self-esteem might often be prevalent, which require to be carefully dealt with, to ensure that it doesn’t induce you back to addiction. Always think positively and highly of yourself, viewing yourself as a transformed person. It is important to understand the cause and effects phenomenon and realize that porn addiction is only a symptom or effect and not the cause. It is therefore important to work on the cause. You have to identify the people and places associated with biggest temptations for viewing porn and are to be extra cautious when confronting these. It helps to schedule and plan your transformation like any other aspect of personal development.
Targets need to be set like ‘wont be viewing porn for a week’, ‘for 10 days’ etc. Early confidence and promising signs are evident when such small goals are realized. A personal environment suitable for deaddiction is crucial like for instance doing away with Internet connection if it is responsible for addiction development. We need to understand and be cautious of the fact that the call of Internet porn is blatant, which makes us ignore the call of the buggle.
