A person is said to be addicted to ponography when pornographic videos have an impact on their daily lives, such as the breakdown of relationships or even the loss of a job. This condition is a psychological disorder and needs to be addressed to improve the quality of life of the sufferer.
Addiction will usually make the sufferer spend a lot of time watching pornographic videos, instead of doing something more useful, such as completing work or even interacting with other people.
Actually, the use of the term addiction here is still a matter of debate. Some say that watching too much porn is not an addiction. However, when viewed from the signs and symptoms, this condition can be said to be similar to the condition of someone who is addicted to alcohol or drugs.
For example, people who are addicted to pornography often find it difficult to stop their habit of watching pornographic videos, just like drug addicts who find it difficult to stop taking drugs. In addition, not infrequently addiction to pornography also has a bad impact on a person's quality of life.
Causes of Pornography Addiction
Pornography addiction can be classified as a hypersexual disorder. The cause of addiction to pornography is not known with certainty. However, like other addiction problems, porn addiction may be caused by several things:
1. Imbalance of natural chemicals in the brain
Certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are responsible for regulating a person's mood. If the levels of these chemical compounds are too high, aggressive behavior can arise from someone which then triggers addiction to pornography.
2. Changes in brain work
Frequent exposure to a person can cause brain chemical compounds that lead to job satisfaction without stopping. Over time this can change how the brain works.
In the case of pornography addiction, the more often a person watches pornographic videos, the more sexual stimulation the brain needs to be aroused. As a result, the brain will "request" porn videos for more sexual stimulation.
3. Conditions that affect the brain
Some conditions that change how the brain works, such as epilepsy or dementia, can cause damage to parts of the brain that can affect a person's sexual behavior.
Addiction to pornography can happen to anyone, both women and men. People who already have addictions to other things will also be more susceptible to addiction to pornography. This can be influenced by the ease of access to pornographic content today.
In addition, the risk of addiction to pornography is also higher in people who have mental health disorders, such as depression, family conflicts, or experiences of being sexually harassed.
Symptoms of Pornography Addiction
Watching porn videos is actually not a problem. However, it indicates addiction if:
- The mind always leads to pornography, even when not watching pornographic videos.
- Can't stand to watch porn videos wherever they are, including in public places such as schools or offices.
- Continue to watch pornographic videos, even though you know the dangers that may arise.
- Feeling dissatisfied during sex with a partner if not while watching pornographic videos.
- Feeling annoyed when asked to reduce or stop watching pornographic videos.
- Tried to stop watching porn videos, but to no avail.
- Using pornography as a way to deal with stress, loneliness, or sadness.
- The scale of addiction increases, for example, there is a desire to practice directly what is watched.
Handling Pornography Addiction
The habit of watching porn can interfere with important aspects of life, such as relationships with your partner or family, work, education, or even your own feelings.
In addition, it is not uncommon for porn addiction to be accompanied by other psychological disorders, such as excessive anxiety, signs of depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Therefore, you should immediately consult a psychologist.
To overcome the disorder, psychologists will recommend counseling. Counseling can be done individually, in groups, or with the family, depending on how this addiction impacts your life. Even so, usually the counseling will be done in private first.
Common therapies given to people who are addicted to pornography are talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy will help you understand the basic causes of your porn addiction and help you break free from this addiction.
However, if a psychologist assesses your condition to be accompanied by depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder, you will be referred to a psychiatrist for medication. Usually counseling will continue to run concurrently with treatment.
It will not be easy to reveal the habit of watching pornographic videos to others. However, pornography addiction is important to deal with for a more stable and productive life. So, if you feel that pornography has dominated and has a bad impact on your life, don't hesitate to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.
