Watching porn has become the norm for many people across the globe. A study found that the website Pornhub is the fourth most viewed website in the U.S. In just one month in 2023, Pornhub received well over 2 billion views, which was more than TikTok, Netflix, Instagram and Pinterest combined. Today, consumers can access unlimited amounts and types of pornography, which has been proven to be much more explicit, violent and prevalent than it used to be.
Some consider pornography beneficial for sexual education, self-exploration or a way to improve sexual satisfaction with one’s intimate partner. While it may be possible for some people to consume pornography responsibly, unlimited access to such content on digital devices has led many people to develop unhealthy habits, resulting in addiction and mental health concerns.
Table of Contents
- The Connection Between Porn and Mental Health
- The Long-Term Effects of Pornography on Mental Health
- Signs and Symptoms of Porn Addiction
- Treatment Options for Pornography Addiction and Depression
- Heal From Your Addiction With Taylor Counseling Group
The Connection Between Porn and Mental Health
There are many misconceptions about the use of pornography. Not everyone who consumes pornography develops a compulsion or addiction, but many of its harmful effects are often overlooked. A myriad of studies show a significant relationship between pornography and depression.
Can Porn Consumption Cause Depression?
Yes and no. While it has not been proven that depression is a direct result of consuming porn, the two are strongly associated. The terms “porn” and “depression” were the most searched topics online during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because excessive porn use is known to damage relationships and increase feelings of shame, guilt and isolation, pornography can indirectly lead to symptoms of depression.
To support this claim, a study found that common psychological signs of pornographic addiction include depression and reduced self-esteem. This research revealed that excessive exposure to porn can also result in anxiety, emotional issues and avoidance. Other findings indicate that excessive sexual behavior caused by pornography exposure can cause depressed moods and dysphoria.
Watching pornography can stimulate the brain’s reward system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine. These neurobiological changes produce pleasurable feelings in your brain. If your brain learns to associate pornography with dopamine, it can lead to abnormal attitudes toward sexual behavior. For example, becoming sensitized to internet pornography can create an inability to trigger this dopamine release in sexual experiences with a real partner to sustain sexual arousal.
Difficulty maintaining relationships and engaging in other mood-boosting activities can indirectly worsen your depression.
Can Depression Lead to Porn Addiction?
Depression itself does not cause people to consume more porn. In fact, one of the main symptoms of depression is a decreased libido or desire for sexual intimacy. However, it’s possible that those experiencing depression may try distracting themselves by using pornography.
Some people may find that porn gives them temporary relief from depression symptoms and loneliness or believe it is a healthy outlet for negative emotions. However, this often develops into a vicious cycle as pornography abuse can exacerbate depression.
Research shows that stressful experiences, anxiety and depression are strongly associated with pornography consumption. Additionally, those experiencing identity problems and conflicting emotional experiences may be more vulnerable to addictive pornography consumption and sexual behavior.
The Long-Term Effects of Pornography on Mental Health
Some experts have classified internet pornography as a supranormal stimuli, which causes your brain to elicit a much stronger response to exaggerated stimuli than natural stimuli. Suddenly, you may find yourself preferring porn over a physical sexual relationship. This is because our brains cannot decipher between the “real” reward and the instant gratification that’s just a click away.
Though there’s a sizeable gender gap among pornography consumers, any individual can experience long-term negative consequences of porn addiction, including:
- Becoming dependent on erotic material.
- Relationship issues and conflict.
- Developing secretive traits to hide porn consumption.
- Feelings of loneliness.
- Shame.
- Body image issues.
- Self-doubt.
- Guilt.
- Irritability.
- Anger.
- Lack of intimacy.
- Decreased sexual satisfaction with intimate partners.
- Anxiety.
- Emotional avoidance or detachment.
- Increased risk of mental health or mood disorders.
It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of the possible impacts of pornography consumption, as it may vary by gender and religious or ethical beliefs.
Signs and Symptoms of Porn Addiction
How do you know if you have a porn addiction or concerning viewing habits? Common symptoms that may indicate a pornography addiction are if you:
- Feel you shouldn’t be watching porn, but you can’t stop.
- Would rather watch porn in isolation instead of socializing.
- Spend so much time watching porn that it negatively impacts your work, school or home life.
- Want to watch porn to fulfill a need, not just for pleasure.
- Start taking more risks to watch porn in inappropriate settings, such as at work.
- Struggle to resist the urge to watch porn.
- Experience intense cravings to watch porn daily.
- Feel emotionally comforted when watching porn.
- Start losing interest in your usual activities to prioritize porn.
- Feel ashamed or guilty about watching porn.
- Feel intense euphoria when watching porn but feel bad afterward.
- Start objectifying people more, including your partner.
- Begin losing interest in your partner.
- Feel dissatisfied with your partner’s body or sexual abilities.
- Have constant sexual thoughts throughout the day.
- No longer view sex as having any emotional intimacy.
- Start spending significant amounts of money on pornographic content.
- Begin to escalate your sexual activities.
- Lose track of time while viewing pornography.
Treatment Options for Pornography Addiction and Depression
If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, it might be time to seek help for depression and pornography addiction — or both. Simply being anxious or worried that you might have a problematic habit is enough reason to consider treatment. Fortunately, there are many available treatment methods to help you explore the negative feelings you have about excessive porn consumption and depressive symptoms that co-occur as a result or cause of your addiction.
Here are the most common treatment options.
Medication
While it might not always be necessary, medication may be used to help control your urges to watch porn and improve depressive symptoms simultaneously. Because addiction impacts brain chemistry and behavior, medication can help control the unrestrained dopamine levels that occur with a porn habit. Over time, your addictive behavior should diminish through gradual desensitization.
Therapy
Speaking with a mental health counselor is one of the most effective ways to understand and reduce negative thoughts and behaviors. If you experience guilt, depression, emotional challenges or intimacy issues caused by a porn habit, professional guidance will help you manage the harmful effects on your well-being.
Your therapist or counselor will also treat underlying mental health conditions, show you how to identify your triggers and provide a variety of interventions to manage them in healthier ways. Additionally, you can engage in individual or group therapy for support in overcoming your addiction.
Heal From Your Addiction With Taylor Counseling Group
Pornography can be addictive and damaging. However, it’s possible to overcome a porn addiction and co-occurring depression. At Taylor Counseling Group, we understand that seeking help isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s important to us that you feel comfortable to get treatment for your porn addiction in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment. Our porn addiction therapists offer professional guidance to help you heal your relationship and attitude toward sex.
Our compassionate counselors also provide a range of mental health services to help you manage the impacts of pornography on your life, including depression, stress, anxiety and family conflicts. It’s our goal to address your individual needs and provide reliable and affordable mental health care services. If you’re ready to experience freedom from porn addiction and depression, schedule an appointment with us today or find your nearest location in Central Texas.
