This guest post comes from Danielle Adams - a freelance writer who works with Lifestar Therapy, a premiere IOP (intensive outpatient program) that has been helping to treat sexual and pornography addictions for over 20 years.  Lifestar is hosting a free Facebook Live event on November 7 and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs help in this area. And if you too are interested in guest posting on my blog, please visit my Guest Post guidelines for more info.

What is Porn Addiction? A Facebook Live Event from Lifestar Therapy

Simply put, someone who suffers from a pornography addiction feels compelled to view pornographic content even after it negatively impacts their family life, relationships, and employment. In the APA Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology, several international studies cite porn consumption rates at 50% to 99% for men and 30% to 86% for women.

In the past, a porn addiction meant that the person would have to satiate their compulsion with a stash of physical materials – magazines, photos, video tapes. But in today’s world, any type of porn you can imagine is available instantly and free of cost at the click of a button. And it’s not just available on computers anymore – with the ubiquitousness of smartphones and tablets today, accessing porn has never been easier or more anonymous.

At a Facebook Live event on November 7th at 7 PM MST, we’ll be discussing the science behind porn addiction. We’ll also provide detailed steps towards recovery and expert advice on what to do if you discover that your spouse has been hiding a porn addiction.

Signs & Symptoms

So what is a porn addiction? The signs and symptoms are often comparable to those of a drug or alcohol addiction. They may include:

• Experiencing strong urges to view porn.
• Being unable to stop viewing porn despite multiple attempts to stop.
• Keeping the porn habit a secret.
• Getting irritable or upset when asked to stop using porn.
• Continuing the porn habit even after negative consequences, like losing a job or breaking the trust in a relationship.
• Needing increasingly explicit porn to experience the same arousal or satisfaction, like developing a tolerance in drug or alcohol addiction.

If a porn addiction isn’t dealt with, it can lead to emotional distance, reduced intimacy, lowered sexual satisfaction, and damaged relationships. Feelings of shame and guilt can interfere with everyday life and can even affect job performance.

Treatment

For recovery to be successful, the treatment must focus on changing the thought patterns and behaviors that lead to a porn problem, as well as learning relapse prevention skills.

We hear it all the time, but it’s true – the first step in the recovery process is admitting you have a problem. If you don’t see your porn habit as a problem in the first place, treatment will be pointless. Next, you’ll need to find a professional with experience in treating porn addiction, who will be up-to-date on the most effective methods. Remember that a therapist is there to help you, not cast judgment. So even though it can feel uncomfortable or embarrassing, it is vital to be honest and thorough with your therapist because every detail helps him or her to develop your personalized treatment plan.

Once you have a plan in place and are dealing honestly with your addiction, then you can start working to repair damaged relationships. This requires full transparency and accountability, even though it can be uncomfortable. At this point, marriage counseling can be incredibly helpful for both partners.

Remember that addiction impacts everyone in the family, people need time to heal from the years of hurt, and it will probably take quite some time for trust to return. Counseling can help both partners learn healthy methods of communication and coping strategies for if a relapse should occur.

If you want to learn more about recovering from this addiction, Lifestar Therapy is hosting a Facebook Live event on November 7th at 7 PM MST. Join us to learn more about how to quit porn.