Supporting Men with Porn Addiction
Porn addiction is complex
Speaking clinically, porn addiction can be treated just like any other non-physical addiction, by looking at its underlying causes and putting healthier plans in place to ward off triggers.
But speaking culturally, porn addiction sits at the centre of a whole spiderweb of issues regarding our self worth, our identity as men, our relationship to sexual partners and even our ability to engage in sex at all.
Porn Addiction has both psychological and physical elements. For example, some vigorous or atypical masturbation techniques can contribute to reduced sensitivity and difficulty with erections. These effects are often reversible when habits change. If your situation needs specialist care, I’ll refer you to a trusted sexual health nurse.
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Porn Addiction can also be complex in terms of its underlying causes. There are simple dopamine loops involved with the gratification of viewing porn, but sometimes our dependence on porn is part of the deeper story of our lives. Our sexuality sometimes (but not always) expresses displaced emotional yearning. In these cases, addressing porn addiction in a behavioural way will only shift the problem.
Another issue which complicates porn addiction is the sheer length of time involved. In many cases, young men have been exposed to this content since early adolescence and are now struggling to contain and reverse habits that have been with them since before adulthood.​
Speaking up
Porn addiction is a thorny issue, and one that many people struggle to face head on, even in the safety and confidentiality of therapy. Unlike with many other issues we can cover in therapy, porn addiction is one area where you might not want to tell me your whole story, might not even want to hear yourself say it out loud.
But if you are brave enough to keep talking about this issue I promise there are proven ways to a healthier sex life.
Ready to talk?
I offer counselling appointments in Penrith, or tele-health Australia-wide. After hour appointments available. No GP referral required.
The first step is to book a free 10 minute phone chat. ​​