Porn.
A word that has been normalized in our culture.
A casual activity that can become a habit.
A habit that can become an addiction.

Porn is an addiction that can control your life, steal real joy and pleasure from authentic relationships, and always demands more.

If you are addicted to porn and need help, you are not alone. Many people have to fight this battle every day whether they are male, female, young, old, married, or single. If you want to talk about this with someone, we are here for you and you can chat now.

Pornography addiction is a behavioral addiction that is a compulsive obsession to watch porn. Like other addictions, this can affect a person to the point where the need to watch sex can be compared to the need for a smoker to light up a cigarette. And as a behavioral addiction, porn addictions have the same symptoms:

• Unable to stop watching porn despite potential negative consequences.
• Compulsion that leads to loss of control.
• Thoughts, actions… everything leads back to sexual thoughts.
• Increased need for more.
• Increased tolerance – what was once good enough to satisfy is no longer.
• Symptoms of withdrawal

So, do you spend a lot of time watching porn?

Have you been unable to stop watching pornography and other behaviors associated with it (like masturbation) despite trying to repeatedly?

Do you need to watch porn? Do you crave it?

Do you become angry if someone confronts you about porn-use?

Do you have to keep watching more explicit porn to gain satisfaction?

Have you lost interest in intimacy with your spouse? Or, even in simple acts of physical expressions of love with a significant other like holding their hand or sharing a kiss?

Have you stopped being involved with your friends or family because of the need to watch porn?

Have you kept it a secret from loved ones?

If your answer is yes to more than a few of these questions, it’s time to seriously evaluate how porn can be negatively affecting your life and your relationships with loved ones.

If you want to change, it’s time to reach out to someone who cares and make a game plan. Here are some ways you can fight porn addiction.

Get Accountability
This addiction dwells in secret, when you are alone, and when you believe “no one will ever know.” It’s time to take out the cat from the bag.

Whether it be a friend, a parent, or even an accountability group, find someone you can trust to be open and honest about your addiction.

If you try to break this addiction on your own, you may fail. Don’t try to go it alone. Confide in someone who loves and cares for you.

Put up Safeguards
Have safeguards in place on your phone or electronics or however you access porn. Buy a flip phone if you have to. Wherever you are the most tempted and whenever you are the most tempted… replace that time with another activity that also releases good chemicals in the brain like exercising. Keep the door open. Put your phone outside of your bedroom if you are tempted at night. Do whatever it takes.

Counseling or Therapy
If you are addicted to porn and need help, it’s time to get professional counseling. If you have tried everything you can and the clutches of pornography still haven’t released you, there is no shame in going to counseling or seeking out group therapy. Pornography has neurological side-effects and can be treated. Find help.

Not Alone
You are beloved. And whatever you are going through, there is hope and a way out.

“You have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take. But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep falling into sin.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“The man who does not give up when tests come is happy. After the test is over, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this to those who love him.” James 1:12