Pornography Addiction in Men

Can the Man in One's Life Recover?

Oct 30, 2008 Catherine Owen

Pornography and masturbation addictions are becoming an uncontrollable social problem. Learn how this addiction affects relationships and how one can recover.

Porn addiction, along with the isolating practice of compulsive masturbation, is becoming increasingly common. The main reason is because porn is so much more readily available now. Before, a man used to have to go to a store to purchase it. Now he can access it at any time of the day or night through his computer, in private.

If he has any kind of addictive character, he will likely find it very difficult to resist the easy lure of constantly available porn. But how does porn consumption affect relationships and how does one recover from this addiction?

What Porn Does to Relationships

Many women in this patriarchal society have been conditioned to accept the presence and practice of porn. Some have even been able to absorb it to the extent that they claim to appreciate it. However, porn is not eroticism or art. Porn is an industry that relies on abuse, inequalities between the genders, and excess patterns of consumption to be successful.

Thus, porn is not a healthy part of a strong relationship. While couples often view porn together to highten sexual arousal, such occasional use of it can become, especially for the man, an addictive and solitary habit. When this happens, trust and openness break down in the relationship. The woman may feel excluded from the man's sexual desires or tastes. She may view her body from an unrealistic and damaging perspective. The man will start to keep secrets and try to hide his practices. Eventually, the sexual and emotional connection between them will erode.

Can One Recover from an Addiction to Pornography?

Pornography addictions, including excessive masturbation, are the most difficult habits to overcome. This is due to the prevalence of sexual imagery that surrounds us in society. It is also rendered more problematic by the fact that, in treatment, one is aiming to re-create a positive sexual relationship with one's spouse. If one is an alcoholic or drug addict, one must entirely cease taking these substances. However, with sexual addiction, one remains sexually involved while in treatment, just on hopefully other, healthier levels.

To conquer all addictions, one should attend treatment or counselling, stay away from the addictive substance and call on the support of family and friends. As pornography has become ubiquitous, and as the admission of an addiction to porn and/or masturbation, as well as other sexual deviancies, can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment, even more support is required for these addictions.

The man, in this case, must be willing to admit the problem, witness to how it has negatively affected his life and commit to a vigilance in altering his habits. One can recover best by removing oneself from solitary or depressing situations that compel such practices. Stopping the mind from thinking about porn will always be a daily challenge for the addict. Recovery is a gradual, never-ending, but indeed achievable process.

The copyright of the article Pornography Addiction in Men in Abuse is owned by Catherine Owen. Permission to republish Pornography Addiction in Men in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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