If you’ve found this article, it means that for whatever reason, you are interested in learning more about the subject of porn addiction. Unfortunately, people searching for information about the topic too often encounter a lot of myths that many people think are true.
Here are just five examples of those myths and the reasons they are false.
Myth #1: People can’t be addicted to pornography
The Rationale: Everybody looks at pornography, frequently, and then they go on with their lives! If pornography was really addictive, then everyone would be a porn addict and nothing would ever get done.
The Truth: Pornography has always been addictive. However, in the past it was only possible to see it in magazines or in theaters. As time has progressed and technology has advanced, it has become possible to get access to pornography almost anywhere, at any time.
As a result, it’s become impossible for addicts to be in situations where they cannot see pornography, which has made it much more difficult to avoid and far more addictive.
Myth #2: Pornography addicts don’t get enough sex
The Rationale: People who watch a lot of porn only do it because they are not getting enough sex in their real lives. If these people had partners or other people to have sex with them, they wouldn’t need to watch so much porn.
The Truth: Many pornography addicts are married or are in long-term relationships and could have sex regularly if they wanted to. However, their pornography addiction can actually cause them to be uninterested in sex and even turn it down when it’s offered to them. Sadly, as a result of their addiction, many addicts alienate their partners to a point where they end up in divorce or breakup situations.
Myth #3: Addiction to Internet porn is different from other addictions
The Rationale: Since pornography is not a substance, and it deals with watching people have sexual relations, it’s different from other addictions. Typically, addiction treatment involves having people avoid and abstain from what they are addicted to; but we can’t expect people never to become involved in sexual acts.
Therefore, treating pornography addiction is unique when compared to treating other types of addiction.
The Truth: Even though people like to minimize porn addiction by treating it like it is separate from other forms of addictions, it follows the exact same patterns that other addictions do.
When treating addictions, it’s important to have addicts learn to cope with being around the temptations of their addiction. After all, it’s impossible for them to control forces beyond themselves.
Myth #4: Porn addiction only happens to people who are already mentally ill
The Rationale: Developing an addiction to pornography is the result of poor impulse control that originates in mental illness. Only people who are mentally ill are weak enough to fall prey to the temptations offered by an addiction to porn.
The Truth: Though some studies indicate that mental illness is sometimes comorbid with addiction, including porn addiction, the vast majority of people with mental illnesses aren’t addicted to anything, including porn.
Furthermore, people who suffer an addiction to pornography are not incredibly weak, as other people may believe; they just have a problem that they need help to overcome.
Myth #5: Addiction to porn doesn’t hurt anyone
The Rationale: Watching a video can’t hurt anyone, even if you watch it a lot. Therefore, addiction to pornography can’t hurt people.
The Truth: Addiction to pornography inspires and drives addicts to engage in behavior that can harm themselves and their loved ones. If you feel that you or someone you love might have an addiction to pornography, it’s important to learn the facts and seek help. By finding qualified therapists and support it’s entirely possible to escape the hold of addiction.
Originally posted on September 9, 2013 @ 6:42 pm