It started as a photo here, a video there. It seemed harmless. Maybe you even convinced yourself it was healthy. But over time, this seemingly harmless practice spiraled out of control. Now, your life centers around your next opportunity to watch porn—and keeping it a secret from those closest to you. You stop hanging out with friends or family, opting to rush home to your computer instead. Hours pass while you surf the web, yet you hardly notice. Your relationships, work, and sex life are all affected by this habit-turned-addiction. Where do you go from here? With professional treatment, you can regain a healthy relationship with sex and break free of the cycle of addiction and shame for good.
Pornography Addiction
Understanding Pornography Addiction
If pornography is interfering with your work, relationships, and daily life—yet you feel powerless to walk away for good—you may be addicted to pornography.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pornography Addiction
If pornography is interfering with your work, relationships, and daily life—yet you feel powerless to walk away for good—you may be addicted to pornography. Hiding your pornography use, rushing home or skipping out on social activities to return to your computer screen, and spending an inordinate amount of time watching or thinking about pornography are all signs of addiction. If you’ve tried and failed to quit watching pornography on your own, it may be time to seek professional help.
Many people are surprised to learn that pornography can be just as addictive as an illegal substance. That’s because it’s not just the images that are addictive—it’s the rush of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that are released while watching pornography that is addictive. As the brain connects pornography with that powerful dopamine surge, an individual will find it increasingly difficult to resist the temptation to return to pornography for another “high.”
Some people argue that pornography is relatively harmless, but in truth, a pornography addiction can have devastating consequences on one’s life and relationships. As addiction escalates, it can lead the addict to act out sexually in order to experience the scenes they’ve seen online or imagined in depth. It can also lead to legal trouble when an addict stumbles across child pornography; even downloading child pornography can lead to serious legal repercussions. Pornography addictions also affect the addict’s family and romantic relationships. Loved ones can struggle with feelings of shame and inferiority, and addicts can struggle to experience intimacy and form connections with a significant other.
Much like a heroin addict can’t simply quit heroin without professional help, pornography addicts can’t simply quit this addictive practice. This doesn’t reflect a lack of self-control, but a real, chemical dependency on the “high” of a dopamine surge experienced while viewing pornography. Many pornography addicts find it difficult or impossible to overcome this addiction on their own but are able to successfully recover in an inpatient treatment program.
Talking therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, have been proven to be effective in treating a pornography addiction. Experiential and holistic therapies can also serve as part of a well-rounded treatment plan. 12-step programs and group therapy also provide addicts with the tools and social support they need to prepare for the long-term journey of a full recovery.
How Hawaii Island Recovery Can Help You Recover from a Pornography Addiction
Hawaiian Island Recovery offers all of the treatment methods helpful in treating a pornography addiction, including CBT, experiential therapies, and holistic therapies. Our multi-disciplinary, integrative treatment approach administers these therapies within the framework of a 12-step program to provide you or your loved one with the social support and other tools necessary for a full and lasting recovery from a pornography addiction.