Pornography addiction is a subject that is receiving increasing attention in the media these days. What may have started as a fairly innocent pastime has turned into a compulsive activity for so many, from celebrities to students.
The Internet offers endless possibilities for viewing pornography with the click of a mouse. What takes place when viewing online porn spirals out of control? When does it become an addiction? How can a person struggling with porn addiction get the help they need?
Pornography addiction is not yet recognized by the American Psychological Association as a psychological disorder (as many other addictions are), but greater focus is now being given to this problem and an ever increasing number of people are seeking help in this area.
The criteria for determining a pornography addiction is similar to that of other addictions. Does reading, watching, thinking about, and/or viewing pornography interfere with your work, personal life, relationships, social interactions or family life? If you answer yes to this question, you could have a pornography addiction.
What makes porn addiction a greater problem than in the past?
Accessibility
It's easier than ever before to access pornography. Before the Internet, it was necessary to actually enter an adult entertainment store and purchase material. It required a certain degree of personal disclosure -- taking the magazine, video or DVD to the cashier meant that you would be identified as a pornography consumer, which of course deterred quite a few people from consuming it in the first place. These days, with a fast Internet search, unlimited pornography is available in the privacy of anyone's home.
Early exposure
Whereas in the past access to this kind of thing would be rare and difficult to obtain, with the Internet children have a good chance of being exposed to it from an early age. A recent study reported that 42% of children have been exposed to pornography on the Internet before the age of 18.
Tolerance
Some experts believe that tolerance is built up when it comes to pornography addiction, much as tolerance is built up with alcohol addiction or other substances. The need to view pornography appears to increase with the amount the addict views. With an estimated 420 million pornography websites available, the Internet appears to have an almost unlimited supply.
Getting Help
As pornography addiction becomes more common and receives more attention, our understanding of it grows. As our understanding of this problem increases, so too does our ability to effectively treat it.. One possible way to view pornography addiction is to see it as a form of sex addiction. There are now several different and effective ways to treat this addiction. In addition to 12 step programs such as Sex Addicts Anonymous, and Sexual Compulsives Anonymous, there are a number of recovery programs, both on and offline that offer help with this addiction. Individual therapy is also available. CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, and modern hypnotherapy may be especially helpful for those seeking help to conquer this addiction.
If you, or someone you care about is experiencing difficulty because of pornography, help is available. With the right kind of therapy this really is a problem that can be overcome.
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Peter Field is a UK therapist working in London and Birmingham. Information can be found on his website http://www.peterfieldhypnotherapy.co.uk He is the author of the best-selling book on hypnotherapy 'The Chi of Change' http://www.chiofchange.com
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