Pornography is essentially not a vice. Watching porn videos and movies is generally unharmful. The problem with pornography is quantity – and the porn industry is a wholesale business. The Internet boom has only helped the porn industry rise to unimaginable heights. During 2016, it was estimated that three to six people (i.e. 50 per cent) have compulsive sexual behaviour or intimate addiction in which pornography plays the largest role.

Some public figures from the world of film and music openly spoke about how pornography negatively affected their lives. Well? Well, over the past 10 years, research has linked pornography to sexual dysfunction, like erection problems, attractiveness and performance itself. Some studies have shown that frequent consumption of Internet content can dull the work of the reward centre in the brain. Similar to narcotics, the more one watches, the greater the desire to observe and the greater the need for complacency. And what about classic relationships? They are gradually disappearing and giving way to masturbation!

Alert sign!

Compulsive use of pornography is technically undefined as an addictive disease, although studies find it a trigger for addictive behaviour. If you are unsatisfied with only one or two or seven views a day, or you watch porn videos where you shouldn’t (at work or in the car), you should ask yourself about your habit.

Analysts estimate that the highest attendance is between 10 pm and midnight, and the most horrendous traffic happens on Sunday evening. Friday is the weakest day, which could indicate that social opportunities limit the consumption of porn content.

Another alarm: Do you resort to pornography when you are under stress? When are you saddened or anxious? Lonely? Angry at your partner? If so, you are probably attributing it to yourself as a therapy, which is especially unhealthy.

How to stop?

It’s not enough to just stop watching. The key is to understand why you resorted to pornography and to replace it with a healthier habit. If you have resorted to porn content in a stressful situation every time so far, eliminating it will only increase your stress. Assess what is bothering you and look for a solution in the gym, meditation or with a therapist. Replace the Internet connection with the actual connection. Turn off your phone (almost two-thirds of porn site users accesses them from mobile devices.) at critical times of the day and/or make plans that involve people. You can also install applications that block porn content. Allow a trusted friend to enter the password.

Are you still fighting?

Then it’s time to consult a sexual addiction counsellor. Make sure you possess it in your environment recommendation for qualified therapists.

Tasks

Write down every time you access porn content during the day. Compare the time of reviewing the content with your emotional state at a given moment (stress, anxiety, loneliness, etc.). Make other plans or restrict access to your computer and other devices at the time you normally resort to pornography. Install a program to block porn content on your devices.

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