Is it Normal to be Watching Porn Constantly?

Life can be difficult. Adult content is easily accessible on the internet, people say “I can’t stop watching porn”. Hence, they usually use it as a mindless escape instead of confronting their challenges. However, this does not mean that this is a logical or healthy way to distract yourself and escape reality. 

One of the most compelling reasons why people watch porn is that you will never be rejected. There will always be happiness and pleasure. There will always be someone who is willing to say “yes” to weird sexual acts, no matter how impossible or degrading it is.  

Many people believe that porn is always available, it sells itself as “sexier than real life”. At the end of the day, it is pure fantasy, and viewers often feel emptier and lonelier after watching porn. 

Don’t Stop Porn! Why does my brain tell this?

 This is a very important question to answer. Do you feel like your brain is telling you, “Don’t stop porn!”.

Your brain is habituated to viewing porn 

Watching pornography is actually quite normal. It just means that people who watch porn have a hardwired sex drive in general. Sometimes, the habit of viewing porn can start all by accident when you come across advertisements and pop-ups on the internet. Then slowly, you start to search for it yourself and it ends up becoming a habit somehow. 

When you develop such a habit, you become dependent on it. Porn is usually seen as an escape from reality. As this cycle continues, the viewer may notice that as they keep watching more and more porn. They may also seem to start feeling negative emotions such as shame and disgust. And yet somehow, they just can’t seem to stop. This can even impair your sex life.

The fact is that in addition to physically changing and repairing connections in the brain pathways, pornography can also become a mental pillar, forcing viewers to return more, connecting and paralyzing their willpower to stay away from it. Hence deeply affecting your mental health.

Think of it this way: When people experience negative emotions (stress, anger, pain, or loneliness), our brain doesn’t like them. Of course, we are programmed to seek out what makes us happy and something that does not cause discomfort or pain.  

Pornography, just as drugs or other harmful/addictive behaviors, promises pleasure and (temporary) relief. When you watch porn, your brain will be overwhelmed by happiness chemicals such as dopamine. These chemicals will temporarily block negative emotions, but they will not last for long. 

While watching porn, the brain is overly stimulated. This heightened stimulus can be from the novelty and thrill of watching porn. People who watch porn actively seek new genres over time to keep up with this novelty factor; always finding something new.

Porn these days is easily accessible, it is practically everywhere! This ease is another reason why people fall so easily into it. There is no human interaction required and the brain realizes that this can bring you pleasure with less effort. The brain carves it, even seeks it.

Now do you understand why porn can be so addictive. The porn industry has only grown larger by its many followers who fall prey to their tactics.

Boredom overtaking your life which causes you to watch porn 

The decision of porn viewers to continue to engage with porn is not just because of negative emotions. The blogger of the global popular Reddit group that helps people overcome porn addiction said: “Boredom is usually the reason for people tend to watch explicit videos. Why? Because boredom is uncomfortable. So, we always try to fix it with pornography. The problem is that boredom will keep coming back in your life. This is because pornography is not a reliable way to deal with uncomfortable feelings. ”  

Watching pornography can lead to serious physical, psychological, and emotional problems. Like any other compulsive behavior, people who watch pornography often find that they can’t stop doing it as much as possible. 

However, research shows that this will only make viewers more agitated, frustrated, anxious, and out of control at all times. Essentially, porn is just an endless source of lies. 

If boredom becomes the main reason behind watching pornography then it is time to rethink a few things.

Find out what your interests are- Clearly you have free time on your hands but you are unable to use it in better ways. Try different hobbies like painting, skating or baking. This will help you to learn more about yourself and finally figure out the things that make you happy.

Grow your interests- Once you’ve found something that you like, then try to perfect it. Learn new skills that help you get better. Achieve smaller goals so eventually you can look forward towards the bigger ones. Maybe, you can even monetize this interest of yours, only if you wish to.

More opportunities arise every day. It is not like it used to be. Now you can find more creative and interesting career opportunities that may fit right into your interests.

If it makes you happy, stick to it- If you have finally found something that you like then continue on with it by growing your interest through hard work and experience. If it makes you happy you should do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. But make sure to keep yourself occupied. If you don’t stay busy, you will get bored and end up watching porn.

An active thirst for pornography is the perfect recipe for destroying healthy relationships, reality, and self-esteem. Regardless of the temporary escape feeling, don’t look at it again as it is just not worth it.

It is a vicious cycle of wanting more and more 

After the mental euphoria while watching porn, the viewer’s dopamine levels return to normal; At that moment, the viewer realizes that he could not think of anything except to return to that sublime feeling, that incredible impulse, over and over again.  

The more difficult the “descent” becomes, the more boring the daily activities will be. Like any other unhealthy escape, watching porn usually makes you want more, but wanting more is not necessarily more fun. 

This overload of Dopamine (neurotransmitter) can cause your receptors to be desensitized to regular amounts of this neurotransmitter. Everyday stimuli may seem mundane and the only way to get out of this rut is by doing a Dopamine detox.

Remove all super stimuli from your life for a period of a month or more. Avoid everything that artificially gives you a hit of dopamine, like watching porn or masturbating, scrolling through Instagram or even eating junk food. This method is usually used to restore balance and feel alive again.

Finally, viewers need more pornographic content, more frequently, and more complex versions of porn to get the same pleasure. Simply put, this is the look and feel of compulsive viewing of porn, but every time a larger dose of porn is given to you, there is a bigger crash.  

This physical/chemical aspect is not only related to compulsive pornography use, but viewers may also be emotionally addicted to pornography. The erotic fantasy is that everything is about control. This gives the audience a false sense of power.   

You can just click endlessly to find the “perfect clip” of your ideal body type, situation or a sex act. The infinite fantasy world of internet porn conceals the fact that it is nothing more than an empty escape disguised as a quick release.

If you believe that things are not getting better then make sure to seek professional help.

How to quit watching porn?

You need to ask yourself, “What are the negative effects of watching porn?” Does it interfere with your work? Are you unable to get an erection because you have become so desensitized to real sex with your partner? Will you stop seeing your friends at the last minute and stay at home and watch porn? Do you want to sit down and watch for just 10 minutes but end up being on porn sites for hours? 

If you relate to these questions, do not worry, you are not alone. You have taken a really great first step by reading this article this far. Here are 3 ways can stop watching porn and lead a healthy life again: 

1. Substitute watching porn with a similar but healthy behavior 

People often regard pornography and masturbation as part of emotional regulation. That’s why they constantly admit to addiction and state “I can’t stop watching porn” and make it their daily habit. Although masturbation can reduce stress and anxiety, aerobic exercise can also be used. 

Do you need to figure out what other behaviors can help you achieve a physiological response similar to orgasm? In our opinion, instead of watching porn, you can do some exercise at home to release endorphins and other neurotransmitters that make you feel good. This is the best alternative to quit your porn habit.

Find natural alternatives to porn. Start exercising or reading a book. Always be careful when you get involved with something that is augmented and more specifically for pleasure. Later on, when you engage in activities with your sexual partner you will feel sexual satisfaction.

2. Install a porn blocker on all your devices 

Having a porn blocking app or accountability application allows you to always stay under control on the Internet. It is very similar to quitting alcohol. If you don’t have it at home, you won’t be drinking, simple.  

You can download one of the best porn blocking apps, BlockerX, which takes away the accessibility of porn, just like how the absence of alcohol in the house makes drinking difficult. You have to get up, go to the corner store, buy it, and go back home to drink it. Therefore, this creates a small window of time and you will have to fight for pornographic content.  

In this time window, you have the opportunity to “ride the wave of desire”. Your desire for porn is unlikely to last for a few hours. It will be strong only for a few moments. If you can overcome it, your urge to watch porn will be weakened. 

3. Join an online/in-person support group  

Not only do porn addicts often lie to others, they also often “lie” to themselves. Porn addicts often repeat the same mistakes habitually, making excuses over and over. They constantly changing their ideal lifestyle to support the escape and temporary pleasure that porn brings.  

Taking responsibility in an environment where there is no sense of shame and acceptance can completely destroy this pattern. It can put you on the path of making the right choices, thus bringing you closer to the life you want. 

You can search for many programs to get rid of porn addiction on Google (although DSMV does not recognize porn addiction, it is helpful to look for these terms when looking for a support group).   

You can also join online communities and support groups, such as the Porn Addiction subreddit. These online spaces provide a community where you can meet other like-minded people who are experiencing the same things as you.

4. Get straightforward on what you’re trying to sidestep.

Usually, watching a lot of porn isn’t about porn; it’s about something else that’s going on in your life that’s worth paying attention to in the long run. Often, pornography addiction is replacing something, taking your engagement from something, or stopping you from something; maybe you are a sex addict or did experience childhood trauma, or are suffering from mental health problems. Anything can be the cause which means it’s reaching into the way of your life or relationship.

If you’re using porn to self-medicate or dampen out, it’s necessary to get straightforward on what you’re diverting yourself from, says a licensed marriage and family therapist. Get to the base of I’m viewing porn instead of feeling it. That prompt can be confronting and questioning to answer, yet extremely valuable. It’s far more comfortable to distract than to get present with things that are awkward for us, yet that’s what we ought to analyze.

In a similar vein, Fleming suggests learning what your triggers are. When does the craving to watch porn hit, which can explain what you’re trying to avoid?

5.Recognize your triggers and Strategically prevent them. 

Keep a notebook to document in whenever you desire pornography or watch it. Write down a portrayal of the scene before the craving started, including your perspective, what you were doing, and how you felt that day. 

Stress, lack of sleep, friends who pledge in or talk about porn, or accessible entrance to pornography are all possible triggers. When feasible, avoid triggers altogether. If seeing semi-erotic TV ads is a trigger, sidestep watching programs that may have that kind of content. If you commute past the local college campus, drive another way. If you cannot reasonably avoid a trigger, plan how you will avert the trigger’s negative impacts on you.

If the trigger is inevitable, make a mental plan in advance for what you will do in that situation. Picture yourself bypassing the trigger, thinking about what to make for dinner instead, or exiting the computer and taking a walk outside. Do something to take your mind off the trigger, such as reading a book, hearing to music, or doing something else that will entertain your mind. Carry around preoccupying items such as an exciting book or a puzzle pack. 

6. Destroy Annihilate your pornography collection.

Please don’t undervalue the role one’s background plays in being triggered. Any prolonged activity becomes chronic and can be maintained on autopilot, requiring little thought. The same would hold for pornography–what might have started as a coping skill may now be carried out of practice. How can you modify your environment so you can change the outcome?

That contains any physical or digital evidence of pornography content in your life. You ought to make a clean sweep of all of that kind of content. There’s no reason to hold on to any of it, even those vintage porn magazines that might have some sentimental value.

As long as this material is around, falling back into the ritual of pornography viewing will be easy. Delete pornographic files on your computer and mobile devices. Fling away pornographic magazines, discs, and all other pornographic material.

It’s most reasonable to put the physical pornographic images in a document shredder, if you have one, and toss the shredded pieces of the pornographic picture in a trash can outside your home, like in the dumpster. If you possess a fireplace, maybe char the physical pornographic photos in it. For the DVDs, grind them as best as possible or break them in half.

7. You are not alone !

The first step toward booting any habit is getting out of a shameful mentality. Watching porn is one of those things people don’t often speak about, and there can be a lot of remorse taped up in it.

One step toward getting out of inadequate cycles is acknowledging you’re not alone in your determination to stop. Listen to actor Russell Brand discuss the challenge to discontinue porn and observe actor Terry Crews’s journey of crushing his porn addiction. Or, read singer Audrey Assad on her porn addiction and how it is not just a men’s problem.

Hearing accounts from others who have encountered what you are can be an empowering reminder that you’re not alone in the fight. It doesn’t damage that they’re famous and successful people sharing these challenges, either.

If lingering humiliation is brutal to shudder, consider listening to the audiobook Brené Brown’s Men, Women, and Worthiness to increase your emotional fitness for the road ahead.

Take Action Immediately

Revealing the truth about your actions and thoughts can be embarrassing. However, you must face reality to receive the treatment you need. If you keep telling yourself ” I can’t stop watching porn” and do nothing about it, the problem will never solve itself. With the right treatment, you can recover from porn addiction for a long time. Remember, simplicity is the key to a successful reboot.    

Try to understand your behavior, you can begin to answer some important questions about yourself. These answers will guide you to find solutions that will make you happier and make your life more stable and productive. 

Ask yourself, why do you turn to porn?

• Is there something that is bothering you?
• Can you do something about it?
• Are you happy with yourself?
• Are you content in life?
• What makes you happy?

These questions might help you understand some things you might need to change in your life. There’s always room to grow.

Let us look into the Most Frequently Asked Questions !