Pornography Addiction: Symptoms, Characteristics, And Treatment
The problems that affect mental health evolve over time, in the same way that the development of new technologies and ways of life also transform with the advancement of History.
The emergence of pornography addiction, a psychological disorder that would have been impossible to conceive centuries ago, is an example of this.
In this article We will see what pornography addiction consists ofwhat are its characteristics, and what can be done to overcome it.
As its name indicates, pornography addiction is a psychological disorder characterized by excessive use of pornographic materials to satisfy sexual appetitewhich becomes a dependency relationship with films with adult content, erotic photographs, etc.
However, it is still little studied, and the knowledge we have about it comes mainly from clinical practice in therapy by psychologists and psychiatrists. In fact, today pornography addiction does not have its own section in the diagnostic manuals most used in the world of mental health, although it can be understood as a specific variety of psychological disorders that are conceptually limited.
This phenomenon is often understood to enter within the concept of sex addiction, an umbrella term that groups together a whole series of dysfunctional behavior patterns based on the dependence on the satisfaction of sexual impulses, and which is estimated to be present (to a greater or lesser extent) in 3% of adults in Western countries.
It has been proven that in people affected by compulsive sexual behavior, the areas of the brain that are activated when watching pornography are almost the same as those that are activated when seeing drugs by those who develop drug addictions: areas of the brain’s reward system and other structures. associated, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala.
However, it has yet to be determined whether pornography addiction can technically be considered another behavioral addiction (such as pathological gambling, or gambling addiction) or whether it is more appropriate to understand it as a disorder belonging to the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. such as OCD, picking disorder, etc.
Symptoms
As we have seen, there is no very precise definition about the characteristics and symptoms of pornography addiction; however, As a general rule, these forms of discomfort stand out:
All the ways in which pornography addiction manifests reflect dysfunctional patterns of behavior and thinking. On the one hand, the tendency to think too frequently about these types of materials and the sexual activity associated with them. On the other hand, difficulties in focusing on other aspects of life and giving them the attention they deserve.
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How is it treated in therapy?
Pornography addiction can be overcome through a process of psychotherapy. In this, we work to help the person deal with intrusive thoughts linked to sex and the pessimistic perception of oneself (since they act as a “trap” that makes it easier to relapse) and to develop habits capable of provide more and better sources of motivation and intellectual and emotional stimulation beyond sex.
In any case, Each therapy program is always adapted to the characteristics of each patientand their way of living.
Are you looking for psychotherapy services?
If you are interested in starting a psychological treatment process for pornography addiction or any other similar disorder, contact us. In PsychoConsulting We have been working with problems of this type for years, and we serve both in person in Barcelona and through online sessions.
