Porn is not a new thing by any means, but the internet has allowed the industry to explode and to reach a significantly larger number of people than ever before. And whether we realize this or not, this has started to have a certain impact on our society and the way some people think. Some don’t want to admit it, but they definitely have a problem with the amount of pornography that they consume. And if we don’t take matters into our own hands, things can only get worse in the future. Various new technologies like virtual reality are on the horizon and are about to make the situation even more troubling for those with a problem.
You Have to Be Honest with Yourself
Getting addicted to porn is entirely possible, and it’s actually much more common than you might think. It can affect both men and women, and there is no obvious link between porn addiction and other types of addictive behavior. Someone could live completely free of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, drugs, and other types of common addictive substances and actions – and they can still be addicted to porn at the same time.
That’s part of the problem here – many people are predisposed to avoid acknowledging that they have a problem with this. It doesn’t help that porn is something inherently more shameful to many. But in the end, while there are many ways to go about solving the problem, the first step is always the same for everyone. You have to start by admitting to yourself that you do indeed have a problem on your hands. Knowing when to look for help is an important part of overcoming this.
There Are Healthy Limits for Everything
Porn is something that many people can live with comfortably, without letting it impact their lives. But that’s not true for everyone, and for some people, that limit is quite low. In fact, it’s entirely possible that the limit is around zero for some people out there. Even a little porn can sometimes throw them off the track and erase their progress. It’s the same like with many other types of addictive and abusive behavior. The important thing is that you are aware of where your own limits are.
Going Cold Turkey Might Be Best Here
The one thing that separates porn addiction from many others is that going cold turkey is often the best thing you can do. It’s not the kind of addiction that you can taper gradually, and you should do your best to attack it head on. This can feel quite uncomfortable at first while you’re adjusting, but it will get better sooner or later. The important thing is that you power through the initial period, which can often feel much longer than it actually is. And there’s no better time to make that decision than right now. Putting it off until tomorrow is never going to lead to anything productive, and you should probably know that by this point.
Be Open with Your Partner
Many types of addictions tend to impact not only you, but your loved ones as well. Porn addiction also falls in this category, but it’s more special than most other addictions, in that it affects you directly in an area that’s intimate for both of you. It can be uncomfortable to have those conversations, especially when it’s been a while since you last spent some close time with your partner. But this is a conversation that you absolutely need to have if you want to have a chance at recovering in the future. If they don’t know what you’re going through, then they will not be able to provide you with the support that you likely need so much right now.
Professional Help Exists
There are also options for professional help if you’re feeling stuck. There are many people dealing with this, enough that many mental health professionals have started to direct their attention to that field specifically. As long as you want to actually solve the problem and have the determination to get it out of your head, there are people out there who can guide you through the process and make it much easier to overcome your addiction.
Online Support Groups
On a related note, don’t forget that you are not alone. There are many support groups out there for people in your situation, and they can be very friendly and receptive. The best part is that you can even participate in many of them anonymously if you so prefer. The internet can make it very easy to interact with people in your situation who can share some tips about your path to recovery. This can also make it easier to share details about what you’re going through, details which you might otherwise be reluctant to reveal to others that know you.
Porn Will Always Be There
Another fact that you’ll have to accept and deal with in the long run is that porn isn’t going to go away. It will always be there, and like we said above, it will even become more advanced as an industry as time goes on. This is important to come to terms with, because you can’t expect the whole world to go out of its way to help you avoid relapsing. You have to accept that you’re going to see lots of suggestive images all around you on a daily basis, and those might act as potential triggers. The best thing to do is to prepare yourself for that mentally, and develop some strategies for dealing with those triggers when you encounter them.
This is going to be a difficult fight, but it will be an important one if you want to preserve your mental wellbeing in the future. And if you are in a relationship, it will be even more important for preserving that. You owe it to yourself to at least try solving the problem. If that doesn’t work, then seek help – but remember that leaving this unaddressed can make it even more damaging in the long run.