According to the survey, more than 90% of the respondents have watched pornographic films when they were underage, but what is more noteworthy is that many of them can’t help themselves after watching it. According to a 2002 study by the American Psychological Association, about 9% of people who watch pornographic films cannot stop watching them. Today, with the development of the Internet and the easy access to pornographic content, this proportion is bound to be even higher. We provide the following 8 points for you to self-examine whether you are addicted to pornography, as well as 7 tips to break the addiction.

Is watching porn really addictive?

In the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), porn addiction is not defined as a specific symptom or disease, but more and more studies have found that excessive viewing of porn may have harmful effects. Regarding the hidden worries of addiction, a study published in the Swiss Academic Journal (MDPI) found that the mechanism of addiction to porn is the same as addiction to drugs, but some people think that excessive viewing of porn is more like compulsive behavior ( Compulsion) rather than true addiction.

Compulsive behavior is a repetitive behavior without rational motivation. It is usually done to reduce one’s anxiety; addiction is the phenomenon of being unable to stop the behavior and will still do it even if it knows there will be bad consequences. , the definitions are different, but they all refer to the inability to control one’s own performance.

8 points to check whether you are addicted to porn movies

Just watching porn does not mean you are addicted, and there is no need to change your behavior. However, if you cannot restrain the urge to watch, you may have a big problem. If you want to know whether you have signs of addiction, you can Check by observing your own movie-watching habits. Here are 8 self-examination methods:

1. I felt very guilty after watching the porn.
   
2. It’s impossible to have normal sex without watching porn.
   
3. I found that the time I spent watching porn continued to increase.
   
4. It has affected my life, but I can’t help but continue watching.
   
5. I kept searching for porn, forgetting what I should do, and even forgot to sleep.
   
6. Force your partner to watch it together, or act out the plot of the pornographic film.
   
7. I feel that I need to rely on porn to adjust my mood and feel excited about it.
   
8. Even when I’m not watching pornographic films, plots or scenes from pornographic films still appear in my mind.

7 ways to improve your porn addiction

If the behavior of watching porn has seriously affected your life, please be sure to seek professional help. Whether it is psychological consultation, behavioral therapy or taking medication, it can help control this behavior. If it is not serious, you can improve or even get rid of your addiction on your own. Here are 7 steps for reference:

1. Get rid of all physical porn CDs.
   
2. Ask a friend who is willing to keep an eye on you and won’t let you down to help.
   
3. Delete all pornographic videos and related bookmarks from your computer and mobile phone.
   
4. Ask someone to install software that blocks pornography, and ask them not to tell you their password.
   
5. Plan several activities first, and once you have the urge to watch porn, do those planned activities.
   
6. Find out the things that make you want to watch porn and avoid them.
   
7. When you want to watch, remind yourself how harmful it is to your life to continue watching, and write it down.