Install A Good Filter Or Accountability Program
Along this journey, youre going to need to gain some self-control in the face of sexualized images everywhere, but that doesnt mean you cant give yourself some reprieve when you can. Download a filter or accountability program such as Covenant Eyes on every device you use phone, tablet, laptop, work computer and dont forget to put some safety controls on your TV, as well.
These will help you avoid gateways to binge sessions, as well as find some space to focus on more important things. Like the next thing on the list.
A Decline In Dopamine: A Loss Of Grey Matter
When you watch Internet porn on a constant basis, nerve cells eventually say enough is enough. Nerve cells achieve this by removing dopamine receptors and by producing less dopamine available to transfer to adjacent dopamine receptor cells. This causes weaker dopamine signals and hence less excitement when you continue to watch Internet porn.
Overtime, over-exposure to Internet porn may cause permanent structural change, such as a decline in the number of nerve connectors or synapses. The branch-like parts of nerve cells begin to fade away. Since the branch-like parts of nerve cells appear to be grey, this is known as loss of grey matter.
Loss of grey matter translates into fewer nerve cell connections, less dopamine connections, less dopamine and a corresponding need for greater stimulation to fill this void in dopamine loss. This condition was demonstrated in a 2014 you can read here. This study concluded that regular use of Internet pornography more or less wears out your reward system and that consumption of Internet porn causes the individual to seek out novel and more extreme material.
When Should You Seek Treatment For Porn Addiction
Generally, its a good time to seek professional porn addiction help when:
- Youve already tried to stop watching porn, but you cant quit.
- Youre constantly thinking about viewing erotic content and masturbating all the time, even when youre working or socializing.
- You feel as if you have to hide your porn consumption from your partner.
- You feel as if your addiction is keeping you from having a satisfying sex life with your partner.
Since its an addiction, quitting porn on your own can feel impossible, especially since a long-term addiction can affect brain chemistry.
However, a good addiction treatment center will take an individualized approach and provide aftercare services that help you heal and recover from pornography.
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Access The Wound That Makes You Return To Unhealthy Addiction
We live in a broken, fallen world. You can grow up in a perfect family with tons of support and still get hurt. Some people can process their pain relationally with others, but many of us cant do that. We dont know how. We find ways to numb our pain, and those can become addictions.
Ultimately, you must go on the journey of exploring your own life and ask, Where have I been wounded and how do those wounds affect me today?
Have you been hurt by abuse? Divorce? High school? If we dont identify these wounds, well end up treating the symptoms rather than the root problems. You must explore your own story with safe people. Discover where youve been wounded and allow yourself to process that pain. Then you can find healing.
So How Long Does It Take To Get Over Addiction
It can take 6 months or more to break the addictions hold over your brains reward cycle, but that doesnt mean youre over it.
You may not like the answer, but addiction requires constant vigilance. While the cravings do lessen over time, it will always be there in your memories. It means youre going to need to be invested in avoiding triggers, handling tough situations by using your coping mechanisms, and be committed to growing as a person who doesnt rely on drugs.
This doesnt mean youve ruined your life. It doesnt mean youre going to be fighting every single day of your life. All it means is that you have a past that you need to learn from, just like every person on this planet. Addiction is controllable and it does not need to define who you are for the rest of your life.
Remember that its just like diabetes people live with it everyday. Some days are harder than others sometimes your blood sugar doesnt want to regulate, while other days are easy. Its always in the back of your mind, because it has to be, but that doesnt mean it controls you.
You can take control of it and with commitment and hard work, you can overcome it. We believe in you.
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The Importance Of Getting Professional Help
If you or a loved one are battling alcoholism or withdrawal symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical care. Detoxing under the supervision of medical providers ensures a persons safety, reduces the likelihood of relapse, and increases comfort. But please note, alcohol detox is not the same thing as a long-term, comprehensive rehab program. Therefore, once detox is completed, those with substance abuse issues are encouraged to undergo further treatment.
Most individuals who suffer from alcoholism are unable to stay sober long-term without intensive support. For this reason, extended therapeutic care is often needed to help those suffering prevent relapse and find healthier ways of coping with unwanted emotions and stress.
Just Believe Recovery and Just Believe Detox offer evidence-based treatment programs that are tailored to each individuals unique needs. We offer programs in partial hospitalization and residential formats. Therapeutic services and activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Experiential activities
- Aftercare planning
Contact us today if you are motivated to break free from the shackles of addiction for life! We are dedicated to helping those we treat succeed at recovery and reclaim the healthy and happy lives they deserve!
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Myth : Porn Addiction Isnt Real
Fact: Porn addiction is a real condition with real consequences. Whether or not it is an official or recognized condition, there is no question that porn addiction is a major problem with devastating effects. The majority of experts agree that excessive porn use harms relationships. Many mental health professionals treat an increasing amount of cases of compulsive porn use. Doctors and scientists are still debating whether porn addiction truly is a disease in its own right. Currently, porn addiction is not officially classified as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association or other medical agencies. However, recent research into problematic porn use and other addictive behaviors is changing how psychologists view these types of conditions. The idea that addiction doesnt need to involve drugs, alcohol or other substances is becoming more mainstream. Recently, the World Health Organization recognized compulsive sexual behavior disorder in its International Classification of Diseases, so porn addiction may be officially recognized soon.
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Celebrate Every Victory On The Journey
Wherever your friend or loved one is in recovery, its important to celebrate each victory. Too many people feel daunted by the long-term aspects of recovery and fail to appreciate how much progress is happening.
Every moment someone chooses to quit porn is worth celebrating. Thats why in 2021, Covenant Eyes started Victory Weekto highlight the small successes in the bigger journey towards freedom. Here are some important milestones you should honor:
- The decision to ask for help quitting porn. Admitting you have a problem is a big deal! If someone reaches out for help, honor and celebrate that decision.
- Learning from slip-ups. A slip-up isnt a reason to celebrate. However, theres priceless wisdom to be gained from honestly examining mistakes. Learning your triggers and how to avoid them is a reason to celebrate!
- Thirty porn-free days. Going a whole month without porn is an INCREDIBLE milestone.
- Every 24 hours of porn-free life. Every day without porn is a day youre choosing to live a better life. Dont worry about tomorrowenjoy the success youve had today.
These are just the beginning, but you get the idea. Recovery from porn can be a long journey, but its an exciting one!
¹ Marnie Ferree, No Stones , 252-253.
² Wendy and Larry Maltz, The Porn Trap , 258.
³ Kevin Skinner, Treating Pornography Addiction , 24-30.
What Causes Porn Addiction
Research on causes of porn addiction is not abundant however, there is data to support the claim that behavioral addictions, addiction to porn included, use similar mechanisms as substance addictions.
Besides physiological factors, psychological ones play a significant role. Psychological benefits that a person reaps explain why people choose certain activities, including porn addiction.
These include, but are not limited to alleviating stress, reducing anxiety, dealing with boredom, acquiring pleasure, coping with negative emotions, or avoiding certain situations and feelings.
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Are You An Edger
Some men are even known to maintain arousal for several hours in search for the perfect scene to finish them off. This is known as edging your dopamine levels. This means you maintain high dopamine levels for hours on end and the brain strain that goes with it. This also overrides normal satiation feelings.
An addiction to drugs and alcohol clearly have limits to them due to the toxic effects drugs and alcohol have on the bodys organs such as the liver and heart. However, Internet porn addiction is not restricted by these physical limits. You can watch Internet pornography day-in-day out and all day long.
Treatments And Natural Remedies
Research does not support any specific treatment for pornography addiction.
Indeed, because many researchers do not believe that pornography addiction is a real medical condition, some doctors and counselors may feel that no treatment is necessary.
Some people seeking treatment for pornography addiction may instead benefit from addressing other issues, such as relationship problems, sexual shame, or depression. Therefore, if a person opts for therapy, it is important to choose a therapist who understands and can manage these issues.
Some treatment strategies may involve:
- Psychotherapy: This can help a person understand their relationship with porn, identify unmet sexual needs, and develop strategies for dealing with psychological distress.
- Relationship counseling: Couples counseling can help partners talk about their values, determine whether porn has a place in their relationship, and cultivate deeper trust.
- Medication: Sometimes a person uses pornography to cope with another condition. Medication may help treat the underlying issue.
- Lifestyle changes: Some people use pornography out of boredom or exhaustion. A more healthful lifestyle may involve spending fewer hours on the computer.
A person should see a doctor if:
A therapist may be able to help with pornography addiction and other sex and relationship issues. It may be a good idea to see a therapist if:
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Is My Child Is Addicted To Porn
There is no official medical definition of pornography addiction but there is extensive medical literature focused on the topic. That being said, there are some behavioral signs that often co-occur with excessive porn use:
- ADHD symptoms:
Additionally, there are some signs associated with computer use that a parent should be aware of when evaluating for porn addiction:
- Your child spends large amounts of time online .
- Your child turns off the computer or quickly changes the screen when you enter the room.
- Your child locks the door while on the computer.
- Your child lies about computer use.
- Your child erases his or her search history.
- You find pornographic pictures on the computer.
The Short Answer: There Isnt A Set Amount Of Time That It Takes To Recover From Porn Addiction
Unless if you have access to a time machine or know someone with magical powers who can look into the future, youre out of luck. While we can share our best practices and different factors that impact recovery, theres no accurate way to predict exactly how long it will take for you to recover.
If youre feeling like recovery is impossible, you might want to read some success stories to get motivated. But just because you read somebody elses story on our website or forums doesnt mean that your experience will be the same or even similar. Everyone is unique and therefore has a unique recovery experience. Weve seen people say that theyre recovered after 30 days while others still consider themselves to be in recovery after 10 years.
Whenever you do feel like youve recovered, please consider anonymously sharing your story with the world to inspire others. Until then, remember that recovery from porn addiction, porn overuse, and compulsive sexual behavior is entirely possible. Many people have done it and so can you. Well be there to support you along the way, along with our 100,000s of community members who are also in recovery.
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Why You Should Never Detox From Benzodiazepines At Home
Benzodiazepines very quickly lead to physical dependence that will cause a potentially fatal withdrawal syndrome when you stop taking the drug. Anyone who has been taking benzodiazepines regularlyeven if the drug is taken exactly as directed, through a doctors prescriptionmust slowly and carefully reduce their dosage under medical supervision.
There is no way to predict how severe your withdrawal symptoms will be when it comes to benzodiazepines. Do not attempt to detox at home, and never quit benzos cold turkey, as this could very easily be fatal.
To 8 Weeks Without Porn
28 days without any porn or masturbation is when about 50% of men start feeling the initial porn addiction withdrawals start to go away.
For the rest of you, keep going, youre relief is just a few weeks away!
Heavily addicted men will probably need another month or two. Even if you still struggle with withdrawal symptoms, by now youve at least gotten used to going through each day without porn. Looking at it is no longer a habit.
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How Internet Porn Elevates Dopamine Levels
Besides endless sexual novelty, todays Internet porn offers endless sexual stimulus thanks to artificially enhanced features such as Viagra sustained penises, double penetration, gang bangs and other unrealistic scenarios. Essentially, Internet porn violates our expectations. This violation of expectations elevates our dopamine to unnatural levels.
Below we summarise how Internet pornography may elevate dopamine levels:
With high-speed Internet, people are unknowingly controlling their dopamine levels with a mouse and the click of a button. As soon as dopamine begins to drop, you may increase dopamine levels merely by clicking to the next pornographic video or by changing the genre of porn. Almost like magic, up goes your dopamine levels. This control of dopamine levels was not possible with earlier forms of porn such as magazines, VHS videos, or the even the Internet before high-speed was introduced.
Many Internet porn addicts describe a situation where they visit their favourite tube websites. They will click through to around 20 different tabs of pornographic material with their right hand, whilst they masturbate with their left hand. These people do not complete any of these videos, but rather enjoy clicking to another video in order to sour their dopamine levels as they begin to drop.
What Should I Do If My Child Is Addicted To Porn
Due to the increased accessibility of porn on the internet, children and teens are at a higher risk for developing an addiction to porn than in the past. Porn addiction is especially traumatizing for children and teens, as their brains are still developing. It can cause emotional disturbances and mental health issues if left untreated.
If you suspect that your child is addicted to porn, you may want to approach them in a calm and nonjudgmental fashion. You can begin by asking your child the following questions:
- Have you ever viewed internet pornography? If so, when did you begin viewing it?
- How often do you watch it and for how long?
- Why do you watch internet pornography/
- When was the last time you viewed internet pornography?
Its extremely important to maintain open communication and to make sure your child feels comfortable talking to you about his or her addiction. This will ensure a positive healing environment for your child or teen.
If you are worried about a sudden change in your childs behavior and suspect that it is related to porn use, there is hope for recovery. Call to speak to a treatment support specialist and learn about treatment options for your child.
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Why Internet Porn Is Similar To Drug Addiction
Whilst obtaining food is vital, reproduction is your genes main priority. Thats why sexual stimulation produces higher dopamine levels than any other form of natural reward. In fact, the dopamine release experienced before sex is comparable to that experienced when Class-A drugs such as cocaine or morphine are abused. High levels of dopamine levels are one key differentiator between a powerful orgasm and chewing on a piece of pizza.
All addictive substances and activities elevate dopamine levels. Whilst alcohol, cocaine and heroin may feel different because they affect different neurotransmitters, all flood the reward circuit with dopamine. Like Internet porn use, these drugs all hijack the brains reward circuitry that has evolved to encourage normal rewards such as sex and eating. But unlike drug users, internet porn addicts are able to keep dopamine levels stimulated for hours by clicking to video to video.
Join Fight The New Drug Nofap On Reddit And Other Online Communities
The Internet is likely the place where your habit became a compulsive one, since theres endless supplies of free content. That doesnt mean we cant use the Internet for positive things, as well. Fight the New Drug is a website for resources and reminders of why youre taking on this challenge.
Another online community is called NoFap, named after its dedication to helping members avoid pornography and masturbation.
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