It wasn’t until the Victorian era that the modern-day concept of pornography was first conceptualized. Before that, erotic images like the famous Venus figurines were somewhat popular around the world and that’s about it. A few ancient eastern cultures created sexually related literature (case in point: The Kamasutra), yet western society didn’t fully latch on to X-rated photographs and movies until well into the 1800's. It was at that point when we realized there needed to be an official definition for this type of content. Then, in 1857, the word “pornography,” which originated from two Greek words meaning “prostitute” and “record,” finally got added to the Oxford English Dictionary. The rest is history.
Fast-forward just a few generations and people are consuming pornographic content like water and air. In fact, a recent survey conducted by popular hotel chains like Marriot, Hyatt, Hilton, and Holiday Inn revealed some surprising trends. Apparently, the purchase of X-rated movies account for nearly 70% of their total in-room sales. It’s now obvious to everybody what people really do behind closed doors, and psychologists are saying that more than 17% of all porn users exhibit compulsive behaviors of some sort (many of which can lead to serious health problems and social upheavals). There have always been three boisterous groups who remain openly opposed to the smut – feminists, law reformers, and religious leaders. But now science is chiming in with some pretty disturbing discoveries about the effects of porn addiction.
Being addicted to the big P is no laughing matter, although some people still don’t believe that it’s real. Truth be told, people can be hooked on all kinds of things, from X-rated content and masturbation to shopping, gambling, eating or drugs. It all comes down to a person’s compulsions and behaviors regarding those compulsions, not necessarily with the source of compulsion itself. To properly recognize and treat an addiction to porn you have to do some homework. I know it sucks, but it’s damn sure not as bad as what lies ahead if you do nothing.
What Is Porn?
If you ask the average person, their definition of “pornography” will be unique to their experiences with it. However, the official definition states that pornography, or porn as most people call it, is a simple depiction of an erotic behavior or activity. It can be presented to the viewer in several different ways, from still images and moving pictures to literature and audio stimulation. The purpose of porn is to initiate and/or inspire vicarious sexual excitement and it almost always has that effect on the participant. The depictions and acts are so sensational, in fact, that some people actually experience an unusually quick and intense change to their perception when viewing or listening to pornographic materials.
As such, the prevalence of porn has significantly increased over the last few decades. After the sexual revolution of the 1960's, men and women began to explore their bodies and its reaction to various stimuli more freely, often capturing it on camera for the whole world to see. X-rated movies like “Debbie Does Dallas” became household names (well, sort of) and now we have tons of title puns for almost every big screen production known to man. It’s almost as though porn is a perfectly acceptable part of modern-day society and it is. However, too much of a good thing can be bad no matter what we’re talking about, porn included.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Pornography
Back in the day, pornography looked a little different than it does today. In some cultures, though, this stuff has been filthy for centuries. As social norms changed and taboos shifted, the outlook on XXX content expanded even more to include fans from all walks of life. After all, the things that this kind of entertainment can do for a person’s love life is remarkable, hence the global popularity thereof. However, it’s not all fun and games when you look at the issue more closely.
The word “addiction” is almost always applied to substance abuse but it can refer to anything that a person finds difficult to put down. Whether the addict is struggling with drugs, alcohol, gambling or sex, the point is that they’re constantly compelled to do that which may potentially harm their well-being even though they know better. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize how damaging a porn addiction can really be because it doesn’t seem like a legitimate problem. On the contrary, any repetitive habit that’s done out of compulsion needs to be diligently examined, especially if it can decrease the quality of your life in any way.
The bad news is that regardless of how good porn can be in certain situations, it may also be extremely detrimental to your health and wealth in the long run, most notably if you develop an addiction to it. The fact that X-rated content and imagery is available with one click these days probably doesn’t help. It’s like asking an alcoholic to work at a bar – not fair. Still, you need to know how and why the issue is worthy of your attention or else you’ll never be able to do anything about it. The world may not change itself for you, but you can change yourself for it.
Now, I’m not busting your balls here, guys. The struggle is very real. Pornography definitely has its pros and cons, it’s just that many of us aren’t considering those cons as much as we should and we’re becoming smut addicts in the process. But before we get to the bad news, let’s review all the ways that responsibly used porn can enhance our love lives (because, seriously, we’re not asking you to stop enjoying it completely unless that’s what it takes to break the chains):
THE PROS
These are the top 6 things that XXX pictures, movies and literature are good for:
- Instantly Increased Arousal
There’s no doubt that watching two (or more) people get it on makes your junk jingle just a bit. It’s magical how imagining yourself in the same situation as the actors makes any difference at all. The difference is what creates the mental, physical and emotional responses which kick start your libido and lead to a (somewhat) satisfying finish. In many cases, the side effects are felt almost immediately, and with certain sex toys you can even enjoy live 3D shows from amateur performers or watch pre-recorded content from professional porn stars using high-tech virtual reality gear. Digital debauchery has, as a result, become a mainstay in a modern culture that values instant gratification.
FACT: More than 30% of all contemporary VR websites are porn related. - Consensual Couple’s Play
At times, the right porno can help couples increase arousal before engaging in foreplay or intercourse. Some productions even offer couples-friendly content wherein the actors and actresses perform various acts in the same way that most lovers would. This rather unnecessary habit is most common in relationships wherein one or more of the partners suffer from a performance inhibiting problem such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and/or performance anxiety. Rarely do healthy, well-rounded partnerships involve tons of pornographic influences but even in situations where sexually related content is introduced, couples often find a way to integrate it into their bedroom.
FACT: Studies show that 98% of men and 73% of women have enjoyed porn content (without or without a partner) over the last 6 months. - Reliable Masturbation Inspiration
Self-love is extremely important and it includes everything from getting enough sleep and eating right to expressing your emotions and masturbating. Most of the time, however, the urge to jerk off occurs after we’re aroused and/or stimulated in some way. Unfortunately, finding ways to get it up isn’t always easy, so a lot of guys (and girls) reach for porn instead of stalking pretty ladies in their neighborhood for inspiration. It’s a classic and private endeavor that ultimately results in everyone feeling more comfortable with themselves and their surroundings. In fact, masturbation assisted by pornography can increase the viewer’s pleasure by piquing all five of his physical senses at the same time.
FACT: Research on the human attention span has revealed that vision dominates when competing against the other senses in normal conditions. - Alternative to Infidelity
Nobody likes a cheater. Infidelity accounts for more broken homes than scientists can keep up with, with more than 60% of spouses saying they’ve stepped out of the marriage at least once since it began. Those numbers get even more alarming when you realize than studies have shown how more than half the population would cheat if they knew they’d never get caught. Lust is obviously an issue we all deal with, but porn can help solve the problem in many relationships because it provides the same visual and auditory stimulation that the cheater is looking for while giving the other partner control over the context (and a little arousal of their own in the meantime).
FACT: Nearly 53% of all pornography fans (including addicts) are in a committed relationship. - Customized Intimate Instruction
We can’t all be porn stars because, let’s face it, even porn stars have teams of assistants to help them perform like professionals on screen. Most people don’t have that kind of power, which means they have to learn techniques on their own. With resources like Google and the Kamasutra at our fingertips, it’s easier than ever to get some surefire tips and tricks to use in the bedroom. However, performance improvements may require you and/or your partner to view pornographic imagery or videos until you understand the nuances of delivering pleasure. And while there may not be many instructional XXX videos per say, the entire premise is vicarious so why not use it for educational purposes as well?
FACT: Learning materials are abundant, with porn produced in nearly every communication medium including lithographs and old-school VHS. - Pure Unadulterated Curiosity
They say curiosity killed the cat but it’s also what helped mankind progress through the ages. There’s a certain amount of inquisitiveness that takes a man far yet there’s a thin line between interest and obsession. Therefore, moderate porn enjoyment is often suggested by sexual health therapists and relationship experts because of its ability to assuage unhealthy curiosities before they’re enacted on an actual partner. Basically, the right production allows for the satisfaction of certain fantasies which might otherwise be considered taboo, plus they help individuals explore their own boundaries without making them deal with peer pressure, performance anxiety and/or other forms of stress.
FACT: There are around 370 million pages of pornographic content on the world wide web.
It’s obvious that the XXX fan base isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I mean, PornHub (which is the world’s largest source of X-rated content online) reports nearly 1.68 million visitors to their site every single day, for a grand total of about 14 billion hits annually. Collectively, the industry rakes in more than a $1 billion each year, with estimates that those figures will grow as manufacturers continue to create more technologically advanced pleasure products. Moral of the story: That porn addiction of yours is going to take some major will power and a few huge adjustments to your lifestyle, but we’ll get that to in a minute.
THE CONS
These are the top 6 things that XXX pictures, movies and literature can do to ruin your life:
- Creates Bonds with Nothing
Sex without intimacy is good for certain occasions – masturbation, casual dating, one-night stands, revenge fucking, etc. However, long bouts of emotionless sex can lead to some pretty nasty things like isolation, feelings of deep loneliness and even self-esteem issues. When you continually become aroused by or ejaculate with porn, you essential separate yourself from the pack. Pornography may be helpful to some folks in small doses, but an addiction can turn an otherwise likable person into a weirdo hermit (if it hasn’t already). Watching and/or listening to this shit is great under certain circumstances but it basically makes you create bonds with figments of your imagination. Awkward!
FACT: Several mental health disorders, including depression, generalized anxiety and psychosis, have been closely associated with an active porn addiction. - Dangerously Raises Your Tolerance
When you’re constantly in front of something that’s showing pornographic imagery, your brain and body begin to work differently as a result. Think of it this way: If you eat chocolate cake every single day of your life, it will begin to taste less delicious after a while. You’ll eventually start craving something even better, but what’s better than cake? This is the dilemma that so many porn addicts face. An addict’s psyche naturally begins to build up a tolerance for the smut being presented to it, thereby requiring more and more stimulation to become aroused and/or sexually satisfied. Over time, the snowball effect can drive a person into places they don’t belong, or worse, completely out of their minds.
FACT: Porn addiction has been linked by numerous sources with the development or encouragement of narcissistic behaviors. - Triggers Addiction-Promoting Brain Chemistry
There’s a well-known brain chemical that’s almost always tied to addiction and it’s called dopamine. Your noggin releases the naturally occurring substance into your blood stream when it experiences pleasure or bliss and that’s exactly what you experience when you watch a good porn. According to neurologists, a continual abundance of dopamine in your system can affect things like impulsivity, logic and cognition among other things. Over time, your brain may even stop producing the chemical altogether, resulting in serious mental health disorders. So, when someone says that your porn addiction is all in your head, they may be speaking more truth than you’re willing to admit.
FACT: Addictions of any kind can permanently change a person’s brain chemistry and physical well-being, which may require prescription medications to treat. - Leaves Viewers Unfulfilled
When was the last time you watched porn and said to yourself, “That was exactly what I needed and I don’t feel ashamed at all?” Probably never. Chances are, you feel like taking the walk of shame after you ruin that tube sock, and that’s actually pretty normal. The reason is because exposure to pornography feels naturally forbidden, so if you bite into the apple too many times you might get poisoned. After a while, continual use of X-rated content to achieve an orgasm may lead to mental health disorders, sexual performance problems, relationship drama, or feelings of general despair.
FACT: A majority of porn viewers say that they experience a bout of shame or embarrassment after watching X-rated movies and masturbating. - Causes Relationships to Fail
Although some couples can get away with enjoying pornographic content together or separately for the purposes of innocuous stuff like relationship enhancement or personal gratification, the negative side effects described here can creep their way into your marriage and destroy it from the inside out. Partners may start to feel less turned on by their betrothed as a result of psychological desensitization, they might begin requiring dangerous stunts or start feeling insecure because of what their lover seems to prefer. There’s just something damaging about watching your beloved get a boner for someone else when you’re sitting right there, especially when that’s the only way to get it done.
FACT: The American Sociological Association (ASA) states that married couples who watch porn are twice as likely to end up divorced than couples who don’t. - May Cause Performance Issues
It’s called “porn induced erectile dysfunction” and it affects more than three million men every year if you can believe it. This is how it happens: Your relationship status, body image and other factors contribute to how you approach sex and intimacy in the first place. Then, when you add in the over stimulating, often unrealistic performances and imagery of porn it’s a recipe for dick-saster. Theoretically, excessive use of porn can desensitize a person’s sexual response, thereby making it difficult for men to “get it up” without first engaging in or witnessing extreme forms of stimulation. Worst yet, the more hardcore his content gets, the stickier the situation becomes, especially if he’s expected to become aroused by a live human partner.
FACT: More young people are seeking help for ED than ever before, suggesting that the modern-day prevalence of porn is have a negative effect on the male population.
Porn addiction isn’t rare and you’re not a freak in this struggle. With one in four internet searches about sex and 68 million clicks on pornographic imagery every single day in the United States alone, I think it’s safe to say that many of us have the same problem. It’s like we got handed a dumpster full of candy right before the adults walked away. At some point, we’ve got to learn how to parent ourselves. Kudos to all of you who are trying to stop your porn addiction regardless of how bad it is.
Tips for Recognizing a Problem with Porn
There are many ways to describe what goes on inside the head of a porn-addicted person. However, clinical porn addiction is most often described as follows:
“A behavioral compulsion characterized by being continually dependent on pornographic material for sexual gratification despite the negative mental, physical and social consequences.”
But what does that even mean? Of course you’re compelled to enjoy porn; it’s designed to attract onlookers and it’s damn near everywhere you turn. Rumor has it, a preschool teacher accidentally clicked on a pop-up ad thinking it was a cartoon, only to find out later that it was a hard-core porn video instead. After leaving the room for several minutes, she returned to find her toddlers faces in surprised disgust as they witnessed what was probably the most unrealistic version of the birds and bees. There’s no word on whether she kept her job or not, but there’s one thing we can gather from her shocking mistake: XXX content is all over the place and avoiding it takes some major skill.
Still, it’s impossible to avoid something if you don’t know where it’s coming from. In fact, they say admission is the very first step to recovery. So, in order to stop a porn addiction successfully you have to find out whether it’s truly reducing the quality of your life. Here are the top 10 best places to look for a possible problem:
- You Feel Like You Have to Life a Double Life
Do you find yourself sneaking around in an effort to enjoy pornography in private? Have you ever lied to your significant other or a family member about your intentions when it came to X-rated content? Have you set up safeguards to prevent someone discovering your true habits? If you’ve answered yes to any of those questions, consider yourself officially addicted to smut. Living a double life that requires you to constantly lie is a good sign that something is seriously wrong. Either get with the program or get with a partner who’s comfortable with your porn habits (and the subsequent consequences). It’s really that simple. - You Experience Sexual Dysfunctions
Houston: We have a problem, especially if you experience a decrease in your ability to perform and/or enjoy regular sex with a partner. Because excessive pornographic exposure can be extremely damaging to a person’s neurological health, thereby negatively affecting their physical well being, it can reduce your abilities to achieve an erection, reach orgasm, keep your penis hard, or refrain from urges to commit adultery. In fact, porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) often presents with the most damaging sexual side effects and it usually happens in a hurry too. Porn addiction can make it damn near impossible to enjoy sex or masturbation if you don’t fix it soon enough, and performance enhancement drug manufacturers are making millions of dollars as a result. - You’re Often Preoccupied by the Search for Better Porn
On average, how often do you think you go out in search of pornographic content, either online or at your local adult entertainment store? Now, out of all those times, how many of them are for discovering bigger and better erotica scenes than the ones you’ve already watched? Does it ever seem like nothing is good enough or like the stuff that used to turn you on no longer does? It could be that you’ve become addicted to pornography and don’t even know it. If you find yourself being frequently distracted by porn or the hunt, you shouldn’t take a break for a while before things get serious (if they haven’t already). - You’ve Watched (or Made) Illegal Productions
Porn addiction can lead you into some pretty dark places, including spots that are against the law. All you have to do is type the word “sex” into a search engine and you’ll have access to hard-core porn in a matter of seconds. According to recent studies, in fact, the average person can find countless deplorable things within five seconds or less, with one of the only remaining pornographic taboos being videos involving minors. Unfortunately, content containing unlawful stuff like that still exists, and if you’re not careful about how this addiction affects you, it could drive you to where your eyes do not belong or land your ass in jail for a serious crime. If you’ve ever enjoyed illegal programming, you’re fucked, chuck. Get some help.
- You Feel Guilty or Shameful When You’re Done
There’s nothing wrong with masturbating and watching porn in moderation is perfectly fine too. However, an addiction will leave you feeling shameful, guilty or embarrassed when you’re done. Usually, those feelings stem from having to hide your habits or live a double life to protect your privacy. Still, the same emotions can also arise from knowing better or from experiencing a decrease in your sexual performance and/or arousal. Either way, being addicted to X-rated content generates a psychological snowball effect that’s hard to get out of, meaning you need to keep your eyes open at all times. If you feel some type of way after viewing porn, you’re not only a gentleman but you’re also a scholar. - Your Partners Don’t Seem as Attractive
Over time, the way you see your partner is bound to change. People get used to one another and don’t necessarily appreciate the things they once did. That’s not what I’m talking about here. Watching too much smut can hasten the natural processes of a relationship, taking things from zero to sixty in no time flat. In other words, the extreme visuals provided by the imagery you’re addicted to can make your partner seem less attractive after a while. Not only is that not fair to your lover but it’s also unfair to yourself. If you suddenly feel like walking away from someone who’s good for you just because they’re no longer attractive based on your expectations from porn, think twice. - You’ve Become Antisocial or Reclusive
Good XXX movies will have a person locked in their bedroom for days on end. And as awesome as that might be for some folks to experience, it could have pretty terrible results for others. Antisocial behavior stems from numerous things, but sometimes it’s less of a mental disorder and more of a choice. Having the constant urge to masturbate while watching pornography is a big red flag that something more serious is going on below the surface. Uncontrollable compulsions that aren’t necessarily socially acceptable can drive a person to the extremes of solitude, even so far as to make them cancel plans or stop making plans altogether. Is that you? - You Pay for It (A Lot)
The top X-rated actors and actresses deserve to get paid for the service they provide but that doesn’t mean you have to put them through college. Unfortunately, due to internet piracy, global porn DVD sales are down by about 80% across the board. Well, that hasn’t stopped addicts from spending up all their dough anyway. Between strip clubs, video database memberships, payment tokens for live performances, dates, sex toys, equipment, supplies and accessories, shit can get pretty expensive in a hurry. Those addicted might find themselves over-drafting bank accounts, skipping important bills, going without basic necessities or suffering injuries as a result of self-neglect. If any of those things are true for you, be sure to read on. - Your Body Aches from Watching Porn So Much
When you watch porn, chances are you’re at your computer or television. Some people enjoy it on their phones, but that still doesn’t negate the point I’m trying to make here. Bad posture, especially over extended periods of time, can harm your body in several different ways. It hurts too, but an addict won’t give a damn about those things. He or she will continue to enjoy X-rated content despite the threat to their health and appearance, even if back pain starts to persist and eyesight begins to deteriorate. This is actually a very serious situation that should be handled with a team of medical professionals and psychological experts. - Your Work and/or Home Life Is Negatively Impacted
As a productive member of society, it’s your job to maintain gainful employment throughout your able-bodied adulthood. On top of that, you’re supposed to be an enriching part of your home crew, not a weird pain in the ass who says no to every social invite and lies all the time to cover up his porn addiction. Compulsions of this nature almost always end badly, but the sad thing is that most addicts don’t even see it coming until it’s too late. If you notice that your career and/or interpersonal relationships are being negatively affected in any way by your love of sluts, it’s time to make a change.
Before shrugging off this information because it doesn’t contain confirmation bias, please keep in mind that you don’t have to exhibit all of these signs to be considered a porn addict. Generally, just one or two of the symptoms means there’s a problem. If you’re super serious about putting a stop to it and don’t know where to start, make an appointment with a psychiatrist as soon as possible. But, if you want to try learning how to stop a porn addiction the easy way first and keep some of that money in your pocket, follow me.
The 5 Steps to Stopping Porn Addiction
Quitting any bad habit is difficult, it doesn’t matter who you are or from what background you came. Once your mind and body are addicted to something, a period of withdrawal has to be experienced for the compulsion to finally stop. When you’re seriously ready to cut back on your porn consumption and finally get a handle on your life, these are the simple steps you’ll need to follow:
STEP ONE – THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The first step is always acknowledgement and it’s usually where most people get stuck. It is their general unwillingness to admit that there’s a problem which prevents them from moving on to the next stages of recovery, which is kind of pathetic when you think about it. Admitting you have an issue with porn is important and it’s not as hard as you think, especially if you read about the signs of porn addiction mentioned above. Neglecting to do so will significantly limit your will power throughout this process of reducing your smut use and/or stopping an addiction to it. Don’t do that to yourself. Be honest.
STEP TWO – THE RIGHTFUL PLACEMENT OF BLAME
Next, you’ll want to find out what’s to blame for your addictive behavior. Is it the amount of access you have to porn? Does it have something to do with the kinds of things you look up online? Are you exposed to pornographic images because of your job? Whatever the case, it’s crucial not to place blame on other people here. It’s nobody’s fault but your own that this problem exists. As a grown-up with free will and a knowledge of right from wrong, it’s up to you alone to determine where things went wrong. Only then can you feasibly patch the holes and fix the gaps that keep bringing you back.
STEP THREE – THE ACCOUNTABILITY CRUISE
At this point, you’ve taken full responsibly for the problem and even figured out where it originated from. Good job, my kinky kiddos. Now, you’ll need a way to be held accountable as you move towards making positive changes to your lifestyle. This little “cruise” might involve opening up to a close friend, family member or clergyman to gain helpful insights, advice, and culpability in case you stray too far away from the objective. The people you lean on need to be understanding of the struggle you’re facing and sensitive to the difficulty of it while remaining steadfast in their promise to help you succeed. Be sure to clearly communicate your goals and limitations ahead of time.
STEP FOUR - FILTER, FILTER, FILTER
Pornographic websites receive more traffic than Amazon, Netflix and Twitter combined. This is, therefore, a very labor-intensive part of the job because it involves sifting through piles of memberships and subscriptions. However, it has to be done or else temptation will continually plague your perception. After all, it’s estimated that 34% of all internet users get exposed to X-rated content via pop-up ads, even preschool teachers than obviously don’t search for that stuff very often.
Computers used for online porn run the same algorithms that mainstream companies run, meaning search engines will keep sending content recommendations based on your past habits. If you don’t clear cookies and histories, before or after unsubscribing to every X-rated platform you’re akin to, none of this will work. For best results, try applying some browsing filters wherever possible or, better yet, do that and then have someone else change your passwords. Ask that they keep access a secret no matter what.
STEP FIVE - GIVE IT TIME TO WORK
You’re not going to see results overnight, so don’t be the kind of guy who that expects miracles. It’s an uphill battle for everybody who tries it and that’s because stopping a porn addiction takes time. In a world where 35% of all internet downloads are pornographic in nature, it might be tough to find people to take your objectives seriously or hold you accountable. Twelve new videos are uploaded on the Porn Hub website every minute of the day, and you’ve probably seen most of them already. There’s nothing new under the sun except for this new opportunity to be happy and healthy. Don’t fuck up because you’re too curious to say no or too impatient to give it ample time.
Final Thoughts
If you think about it, overcoming porn addiction isn’t nearly as difficult as you think. After all, you shouldn’t need to watch people do what you already know how to do just to have a good time. I mean, it’s sort of like being entertained by watching someone eat, but I can’t really say that because it’s also a kink featured on porn movies. Either way, moderation is the key to success regardless of what we’re talking about – X-rated content consumption, masturbation or otherwise. Using XXX movies to achieve an orgasm is great but locking yourself into that shit because you didn’t know how to pace yourself is a rookie move. The next time you’re ready for something more intense in the bedroom, don’t reach for a porno. Try playing with a sex toy (or better yet, your partner) instead.
Menu
