According to research, every single day, there are approximately 68 million search queries related to pornography content.
One-fourth of all internet searches performed by American adults are related to pornography. At least 200,000 people in America identify themselves as suffering from a “porno craving.”
Pornographic material, even if it doesn’t cause any immediate harm, can lead to numerous negative consequences.
Mental Health Side Effects Of Porn Addiction On Adolescents and Teenagers
According to research, most children discover pornography accidentally when they’re 11 years old. Because it’s so widely available, it’s easy for any child to access.
Increased Technology Dependence
We’re constantly plugged into our smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc., from when we wake up to when we go to bed. It’s become part of our daily routine.
Because porn and internet addictions often go together, teenagers who spend too much time online might be withdrawing from real life and experiencing poor grades, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Stunts Natural Sexual Development
Adolescents and teens usually start having sex at this age. Most young adults date during their teenage years.
However, pornography can disrupt this natural development in children. Young people are most vulnerable to sexual values and attitudes, and pornography use can inhibit this developmental phase.
Negative Body Image
Research has shown that teenagers who view pornography tend to have a negative attitude towards their own bodies.
Likewise, men who view pornography tend to be less satisfied with their partners’ physical appearance.
Sets Unrealistic Expectations For Sex
Sex education has become so easy for teens today. They can learn just about anything they need to know from a simple Google search.
Pornography is often used as an outlet for sexual desires. But, because pornography is so popular, it can also encourage teenagers to believe that these types of acts are acceptable.
Teens who watch pornography might not realize how far they’ve gone into fantasy land. And if they do notice something wrong, they may feel too embarrassed to speak out about it.
Inexperienced kids may try to act out the fantasies they see in pornography, leading them down a path of self-destructive behavior.
Increased Rates Of Child Pornography
As for viewing porn, it’s been linked to an increased risk of sexting (sends sexually explicit text messages) and sharing nude pictures online.
But in some states, minors who send nude photos and lewd messages may be charged with child porn possession.
Sexting is risky for several reasons. First, children don’t know where their pictures end up when they’re sent via text message.
Second, sexting is sometimes coercive, which means there could be higher rates of sexual assaults among young people who engage in sexting.
May Increase Pregnancy and STD Rates
Porn has become so ubiquitous that people don’t even think about using protection during sex.
Although there are approximately 476 million new STDs every single day, people aren’t going to use any type of protection during sex when they watch porn.
This poor level of protection can pose a serious threat to teenagers’ health. Many young men and women already face difficulties in keeping healthy.
They don’t want to be seen as prudes or too cautious. If they notice that porn actors don’t take care of themselves, they might feel that it’s unnecessary for them to do so either.
So, teens stay vulnerable to risks like unwanted pregnancy and disease.
Mental Health Side Effects in Porn Addiction On Adults
Pornography affects people in many different kinds of negative and positive way. People who struggle with pornography often experience emotional, financial, physical and legal consequences.
Separation and Divorce
Pornography is a significant contributor to relationship breakdowns. More than seventy percent of divorces include one partner having an affair.
Over fifty percent of those affairs occur through the internet. In addition, nearly half of all people who meet partners online show an excessive interest in pornography.
They often engage in cybersex, exchanging explicit images and video clips.
Normalization and Perpetuation of Rape Myths
Porn can be so gory and violent, and addicts can internalize that this kind of sex is okay.
As a result, some men may be more aggressive and forceful when having sex with women, while some women may feel pressured into taking on a submissive role because they think this is what they’re “supposed to do.”
Increased Rates of Infidelity
Infidelities occur frequently among couples. There are even statistics showing that pornography increases the chances of an infidelity.
Infidelity typically happens because one partner doesn’t feel satisfied with his relationship anymore.
Sometimes they feel neglected, or like they’re not being treated right, or like their partner isn’t giving them enough attention. They may also just find themselves feeling bored or restless.
Increased Rates of Viewing Deviant Porn
Addiction is similar to other addictions in the way that addicts can get used to their drug. For instance, someone who uses opioid painkillers might begin by taking them once or twice a week for a short period of time.
After several months, he or she begins to take the pills every day. Eventually, the person takes the drugs daily for weeks at a time.
Porn can follow a very similar pattern. Someone might begin by watching a pair having sex, but then may ultimately grow bored by that kind of porn.
It no longer keep them sexually satisfied. As such, they may move on to illegal content to feel aroused.
Relationship Dissatisfaction
People who indulge in excessive porn may find themselves losing interest in sex because they’re not getting enough stimulation from their partner.
Researchers say that if your partner loses interest, try changing positions during foreplay. Try giving him oral instead of vaginal sex. Or experiment with new toys and techniques. You might also try masturbating together.
Pornography can be addictive. It can cause partners to become less affectionate toward one another.
Increased Rates of Depression
People who watch pornography daily are more likely to report feeling severe depression than those who do so three to five times per month or less.
Obviously, this correlation does not prove cause and effect; it could just mean that both factors are correlated.
But studies suggest that viewing pornography can make people feel worse about themselves and lead them to engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex. In addition, research shows that watching pornography can increase sexual arousal and decrease inhibitions, leading to greater risk taking.
Mental Health Treatment For Porn Addiction
Recovering from addiction requires multiple different treatments. There aren’t any one “golden” option.
Individual therapy: If you’re struggling with an unhealthy relationship with pornography, individual therapy can be helpful.
It can also offer a safe space to address the factors maintaining your addiction and learn new ways to cope with your urges.
Marital therapy: Couple counseling can help you explore the issues porn plays in your life. It can also help you learn how to regain your sexual intimacy and relational trust.
Support group: Many support organizations target sex and pornography addictions. Often, these organizations focus on using peer support methods to build confidence and individual resolve.
Some organizations offer an abstinence program to viewers. Other organizations provide help to find an individualized recovery method.
Psychiatric medication: Medications used to treat these conditions may help reduce the intensity of one’s pornography habit.
Lifestyle changes: These simple changes could help you reduce your pornography use. For example, add new activities to your routine, spend more time with friends, focus on increasing self-care, meditate, exercise, and so forth.
Relapses happen for most people who struggle with an addictive behavior. However, relapses often trigger feelings of shame, frustration, and anger. These emotions then feed into the shame cycle, making things worse.
If you want to recover from addiction, recovery is a marathon. You need to put in the time, energy, and focus required to make a positive shift. Don’t get discouraged if you fail at first.
