Many scholars will argue that pornography is not an addiction, and is instead a compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CDBD).
However, you can’t ignore the statistics that state having an obsession with viewing adult content can be extremely problematic and impact your day-to-day life.
With PornHub pulling in around 5.49 billion monthly visits, and with the global market for Adult Entrainment being estimated at $58.8 Billion (£45.1 bn) in 2023, porn has never been more popular, nor so easy to access.
Advert
According to Delamere Health, between five to eight percent of the world’s population is affected by porn addiction - but could you be one of them?
Below, we’ve listed ten of the most common signs of porn addiction in adults, as per Rehab Recovery, a chain of rehabilitation clinics across the UK.
Compulsive viewing
Compulsive behaviour is defined as a mental, physical or behavioural response that sees you performing an action both persistently and repetitively.
Advert
Healthline reports that you may feel the need to frequently complete the same habit over, and over again, even when you don’t want to and that it can bring about a sense of relaxation.
If you find you’re struggling to stop watching pornographic content or feel compelled to access it even when you don’t want to, then this compulsive viewing could be a clear sign of addiction.
Tuning in for extended periods
YouGov says around 15 percent of women watch pornography with any degree of frequency while more than half of viewers are tuning in to adult content for less than five minutes per day, according to Psychology Today.
Advert
But if you are part of the 0.2 percent of people who watch pornography for hours on end or even dedicate days to it, then this is a sign that you could be suffering from a serious addiction.
Rehab Recovery writes that if you’re watching erotic scenes for an extended period of time, you may suffer a lack of interest in other activities such as leisure and family commitments.
Difficulty thinking about anything else
Those who are addicted to watching pornography are likely to develop cravings and may be unable to focus on anything else until they’ve had their fill.
Advert
Finding it difficult to think about anything else, you may find yourself making excuses to cancel plans with loved ones or leave certain situations so you can satisfy your desire.
Psych Central claims that one of the ways you can overcome this obsession is by ‘simply allowing’ the craving to be there.
“Instead of panicking and trying to get rid of it, co-exist with it and if you can wait for a few minutes in a calm way, the urge will subside,” expert Linda Hatch writes.
“The craving cannot gain strength if you loosen your grip.”
Advert
Low sex drive
If your interest in sex has declined dramatically, then it could have something to do with your porn-watching habits.
A 2019 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported a decrease in sexual desire was reported by a whopping 10 percent of pornography users.
This statistic only increased with the frequency of consumption.
Porn addiction can also be linked to sexual dysfunction and may see you perceiving the initiation of sexual behaviours to be frustrating and annoying, adds Rehab Recovery.
Less attracted to sexual partners
We’ve already mentioned that porn addiction is linked to a lack of desire to have sex, but it can also cause you to become less attracted to your sexual partner/s.
This is because your perception of beauty may be warped by how sexual acts are performed for the camera and become disillusioned by enhanced assets that are praised within the adult film industry.
Not only could this affect you, but it could have a serious impact on your partner, whose self-image and confidence may take a knock.
More demanding of sexual partners in bed
“Porn may influence how you behave or think you should behave with sexual partners,” writes Lloyds Pharmacy.
If you become exposed to lewd, unrealistic or damaging acts online, then you may begin to expect your sexual partner to perform in the same manner in your own bedroom.
The risk of this is that your partner may become uncomfortable and confused as to why your intimacy dynamic has altered, says Rehab Recovery.
If you find yourself becoming more demanding of your sexual partners in bed after watching adult content, then this is a clear sign that your habit has gotten out of hand.
Experiencing physical pain/strain
The common psychological effects of pornography include the development of sexual trajectories and risky sexual behaviours, states a 2023 study published by NIH.
But what about the physical effects?
People with penises may suffer from porn-induced erectile dysfunction (ED) while others may suffer from repetitive strain injuries.
Specific areas that may be impacted are the wrist, back and neck,” writes Rehab Recovery. “There is a possibility that you experience more headaches as your screen time increases.”
Spending large sums of money on pornography
While lots of adult content enjoyers access porn for free, others subscribe to OnlyFans profiles and/or purchase sexual content online for a fee.
If you are suddenly struggling with your finances and notice that you are splurging on pornography, then this is a clear indication that you could be addicted and should seek professional and financial aid.
Bouts of frequent anger
Addicts who do not know how to express their anger in a healthy manner often turn to the comfort of drugs, alcohol and even pornography to cope with pressures.
If you’ve noticed a correlation between your unchecked anger and your time spent scrolling adult websites, then this is a clear sign that you are suffering from a pornography addiction.
Becoming more distracted in day-to-day life
Addiction takes up a large chunk of your mental energy. Often, you can become underwhelmed with life and even lose the career or relationship focus you’ve been cultivating for years on end.
By becoming obsessed with pornography, you may find you start missing study deadlines, forget to complete simple chores or may not seem engaged in relationships.
If you find you’re becoming more distracted in day-to-day life, then your porn addiction could be the reason why.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a porn addiction, you can call Rehab Recovery on 0800 088 66 86, or you can request a call back to speak to a member of the team.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, World News, Health, Mental Health
Ella Scott