QUITTING PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION

In today’s society, what was once taboo has now become widely accepted as the new norm – pornography has quickly crossed long-standing cultural borders and pervades almost every aspect of our modern lives. This proliferation of pornography – particularly within mainstream culture - has led many therapists to label it an 'epidemic'.  As such, cases of addiction to pornography are rapidly rising in number, becoming more and more frequent in Australia than ever before. Sex Addiction Australia provides a number of discreet and effective treatments for this debilitating addiction, one that affects one’s wellbeing in a numerous ways.

With the help of our renowned sex therapist, you can put a stop to this vicious cycle – we offer specialist sex therapy, working to restore lost intimacy between partners, as well as facilitating relapse prevention and relationship recovery. Take back control of your life today.

'YOUR BRAIN ON PORN': WHAT DOES MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH HAVE TO SAY?

Cambridge University in the UK has recently released a study on the detrimental effects that pornography addiction has on the human brain. Led by Dr Valerie Voon, the study’s results confirmed that sexual addiction – much like addiction of any kind – is indeed an identifiable and diagnosable neurological disorder. It also identified similarities between the behaviours of addiction in both drugs and pornography – particularly, how the effects of both these addictions target three specific regions of the brain.

HOW TO QUIT PORN

Don’t be a prisoner of addiction - Sex Addiction Australia can help you break free of unwanted, intrusive and compulsive behaviours that harm you and hurt those closest to you. With many years of experience, our highly trained professional counsellors and clinical sex therapists can successfully treat addictive behaviours by:

• disrupting maladaptive thought patterns

• implementing corrective behaviours

• providing lasting cognitive strategies and therapeutic solutions to prevent relapses

Our discreet counselling sessions are specifically designed to ensure you feel totally at ease while discussing sensitive and personal sexual topics. We take an individualised and personally-tailored approach to sex addiction treatment, in order to suit our clients' needs.

PREVALENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION

Addiction to pornography develops gradually and over an extended period of time, as do most addictions. What begins as a harmless, fun and exciting sexual curiosity can escalate and develop into a destructive pattern of obsessive behaviour. A US study estimates that 56% of men and 41% of women consume pornography on a monthly basis, and an estimated 8 to 10% of the adult population are believed to be addicted to compulsive sex and/or pornography. These figures reflect that, whilst a minute subset of people exposed to pornography may develop obsessive behaviours resulting in addition, the majority of people do not become addicted. However, the ever-increasing propagation of pornography needn’t result in acute dependence in order to adversely affect one’s life – there exist a myriad of social, emotional, and cultural ramifications due to the spread and acceptance of porn.

IS PORNOGRAPHY THREATENING OUR SOCIETY?

Neurological studies have discovered that the brain is capable of significant sexual plasticity: that is, acquiring new tastes and sexual desires depending on the stimuli – both sexual and non-sexual – that it is presented with. The overwhelming volume and sheer ease of access to both softcore and hardcore pornography carry with it an inherit danger. This stimuli – one of instantaneous, sensual gratification – can serve to manipulate the brain into craving more pornography, even if the viewer does not enjoy watching pornography itself. In today’s Internet age, children are accessing and being exposed to more mature adult content than ever before. This is an especially alarming concern, considering the dire and lasting consequences that premature sexualisation in adolescents and prepubescent children can have on their psychosocial and sexual development.

PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION AFFECTS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN

Men of any age and background can become addicted to pornography – addiction is also three times more likely to happen to men, compared to women. This is believed to be because the male system of sexual arousal is predominantly visually-oriented. Thus, addiction to pornography is commonly seen as strictly a ‘male issue’.

However, women are not immune to the ills of pornography addiction. In fact, the number of women suffering from this addiction is steadily increasing. This may be the result of a variety of factors including: society’s de-stigmatisation of sexuality – particularly female sexuality; the wider acceptance of pornography as a cultural product, rather than a shameful ‘dirty secret’; ever-increasing sexualisation within the media; as well as the anonymity and permissive nature of the internet.

PORNOGRAPHY DEPENDENCY

Due to the nature of addiction, an addict’s tolerance is routinely set and reset as they seek to push past the ever-widening threshold of gratification – this causes a dependency to rapidly develop through chasing a stronger ‘high’. In terms of pornography, this dependency is based on fleeting yet intense physical gratification – sensual rewards often relating to senses of possessing and objectifying – obtained from watching porn. Common signs of pornography addiction include a development of increased tolerance to pornographic material and a desensitisation over time to sexual stimuli: for example, watching more pornography, deriving less satisfaction, and needing to increase the frequency of usage as well as the intensity of the material, in order to achieve the desired level of satisfaction and validation.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

When an addict is denied pornography, a number of symptoms can surface:

• ever-present or constantly returning cravings

• compulsive and intrusive sexual thoughts and desires

• feeling a lack of control or agency with regards to one’s actions

• failure to permanently stop the maladaptive or unwanted behaviours, despite serious attempts to do so

• Anxiety and mood swings before and after emulating pornographic scenarios

• Regrets and shame after acting out the aforementioned scenarios

• Lengthy recovery periods after masturbating or emulating pornographic scenes

• Mixed volatile feelings of self-justification, low self-esteem, and anger

• Interrupted sleep patterns, difficulties concentrating, general physical malaise, illness, or gnawing discomfort

• Increased difficulty with developing and maintaining intimacy, desire, and affection in relationships. Research conducted in 2014 by the Max Plank Institute in Germany found that some men may even develop Pornography Induced Erectile Dysfunction (PIED).

WHY CAN'T I STOP MYSELF?

Individuals who develop addictions, such as those addicted to pornography and sexual intercourse, undergo significant neurological changes – sensory stimuli physically alters the brain’s functioning and chemical output. A 2011 study conducted by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) confirmed that addiction is primarily a chronic disease affecting the brain, influencing reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry centres.

This signals a clear shift in focus from past conceptualisations of addiction as a choice – rather than offering much-needed understanding and rehabilitation, this view often contributed to stigmatisation and relapse. The ASAM research study also typifies addiction as a neurological disorder, highlighting the fact that clinical treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy are necessary steps that need to be taken in order to ensure sustainable, long-term recovery from this crippling addiction.

EXPERT COUNSELLING TO COMBAT PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION

Sex Addiction Australia offers discreet and professional inter-personal, relationship, and marriage counselling services. Contact our Sydney office and speak to our sex therapist Heide on (+61) 02 9380 4486 or email info@sexaddictionaustralia.com.au to book a confidential face-to-face appointment or online consultation.

You’re not alone – Sex Addiction Australia can work with you to reclaim your life and loved ones. We’re here to help.