When people spend increasing amounts of time watching pornography, it is referred to as porn addiction. The problem with porn addiction is that it could damage people’s relationships. It also interferes with people’s social, occupational, and family life. Moreover, research has shown that heavy porn use could cause a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Getting rid of porn addiction can be quite challenging, especially for people that are obsessed with the lifestyle. But no matter the level of addiction, it is still possible to stop watching porn. It just requires some level of discipline and determination.
Practical Steps To Overcoming Porn Addiction
1. Admit you are addicted
The first step to overcoming any form of addiction including porn is to first acknowledge that you are addicted. Denial is not just a refusal to admit the truth about one’s addiction; it is also a complex mental and emotional process that distorts a person’s personality. If you admit that you are addicted to porn, it will let you explore available opportunities to heal.
2. Make resolutions
Firm resolution can make you overcome anything that seemed impossible at first. It will make you outline the practical steps you must follow to get rid of your addiction. You could give yourself a timeline and set a long/short-term plan to help you achieve your goal.
3. Do away with anything related to porn around you
Getting rid of hard-copy porn in your possession is a MUST if you want to overcome addiction. However, hard-copy porn isn’t the only thing you should bother about. The new media has made pornography easily accessible and affordable. Of course, you cannot throw away your phones, tablets computers. But you could set your devices on safety search. Also, make sure you delete every form of electronic porn and bookmarks on your device. Furthermore, you can make someone install anti-pornograph software on your device without giving you the password.
4. Be accountable
Accountability can seriously help you overcome pornography addiction. You can be accountable in three ways. Firstly, try to look for a ‘safe person’ whom you feel you can comfortably share your struggles with. The person must be reliable and able to hold you accountable.
Secondly, you could decide to keep a journal to help you track your progress and setbacks. Review your journal regularly and write down things that you feel trigger your addiction. These could be a certain image, song, material, place, or person. Also, write down the things you did that helped you make any significant progress.
Thirdly, joining a support group will tremendously help you get rid of your porn addiction. A support group will help you feel less isolated. It will also allow you to meet people who have the same problem. Through support groups, you will be able to learn from people who have made significant progress.
5. Find a positive way of distracting yourself
A good way to overcome porn addiction is when you replace the thought with something else. Instead of thinking about watching pornography, you can decide to do some sports, read a book, or do something meaningful that will engage your mind meaningfully.
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6. Opt for therapy
There are many available types of treatment for pornography addiction. These include medication-assisted treatments and psychotherapy. Although researchers have alleged that treating porn can be challenging, it is possible. Psychotherapy will help porn addicts explore the circumstances that led to their maladaptive addiction. It will also help them understand their relationship with porn and the best way out. On the other hand, behavior modification will help addicts correct their maladaptive behaviors.
Meanwhile, there are also pharmacological recommendations for porn addicts. The medications available for porn addicts help to balance out the functions of the nerve cells since watching porn activates the pleasure and reward areas of the brain.
7. Avoid being idle for too long
Most people watch porn only when they are alone. If this is the case with you, then you may just have to cut down on the amount of time you spend in isolation. The longer time you spend alone, the higher the chances of temptation. If you are serious about overcoming porn, ensure that you are always hanging around your friends and loved ones.
8. By all means, avoid too much stress
Many people use porn and masturbation to relieve too much stress. If you must get yourself all worked up, you can try to get yourself relieved by doing some breathing exercises and yoga. You could also listen to music, read a book, or go swimming.
9. Take responsibility. Stop blaming others
So many people got addicted to pornography because someone introduced them to it. This has led some porn addicts to keep blaming others for their inability to move on. This is not the best way to overcome addiction. If this is your case, take responsibility for your actions, forgive whoever may have contributed to your struggle, and keep striving to heal.
10. Give yourself time to work through recovery
Although you may be determined to fight hard to overcome porn addiction, you must know that it is a gradual journey and you can decide to take one step at a time. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t get too disappointed after a few failed attempts. Keep trying. It is easier to make something a habit but very difficult to break.
