Watching porn is healthy when done in an appropriate amount and in balance. However, it can become a problem if you start watching it in excess.
Luckily, there are ways to put an end to this.
Let’s see the signs that watching porn is becoming a problem and how to stop watching porn.
When Does Watching Porn Become a Problem?
Porn is a healthy tool when watched properly; however, when it starts taking over other aspects of your life, it can seriously hinder you and your entire lifestyle.
Here are some signs to look out for when watching porn becomes a problem.
- Using it to run away from stressful feelings or anxiety
- Not feeling physically or emotionally satisfied in your relationship
- Watching it over working hours
- Watching porn over spending time with your partner
- Prioritizing porn over meeting people
- Avoid getting intimate with your partner
If you come across these signs in yourself, your friend, or your partner, it is important to talk to them and help them navigate through this struggling situation with proper care and attention.
When is Watching Porn Not Problematic?
Watching porn is not a problem when it is done in moderation and in balance. When it does not get in between your daily functioning and you are able to handle all of your other tasks properly, watching porn is not an issue.
Watching porn is mainly good to relieve stress , enhance your physical intimacy with your partner, and provide a distraction from stressful situations. However, it is important to hold on to this boundary, as if you start losing control, it can become difficult to hold back and become neutral towards it.
10 Tips on How to Quit Porn
If you understand that you are having a problem with watching porn and have become addicted to it, it is okay. Now that you know, you can work on eliminating it from the very bottom of your life and learn how to quit porn.
Here are 10 tips on how to stop watching porn.
1. Make a schedule
When you know that your body will send you sudden urges that will be hard to resist, it is important to plan ahead and make a proper schedule. Do not stop engaging in it suddenly; take small steps while quitting porn.
Make a proper strategy as to what you will do at what time and follow it even though your body and mind wouldn’t want to get out of your previous schedule and comfort zone. It is important to not listen to those urges and to examine what healthy coping mechanisms will help you put an end to them.
2. Join a support group
It will be difficult to go through this alone, so it would be better to find yourself a support group of people who are going through a similar situation and who would be able to help you get through this problem in an effective manner.
You will feel better and more at ease knowing that there are other people struggling with the same issue, which will help you understand better how to overcome porn addiction.
3. Try meditation
Try the art of meditation, as that will help you disengage from your thoughts and urges. You can put on some soothing music or tune into an app and try guided meditation. It is a simple tool that helps you look within and understand the root cause of your addiction. Once you let your urges flow and do not give in to them, you will understand how to overcome porn addiction.
4. Do some physical activity
In order to tackle your addiction in a healthy manner, pick a sport and stick with it. Whenever you get any sudden urges or wish to go back to your earlier patterns, you can engage in physical activity or a sport that interests you or helps you tackle those urges in a healthy manner.
Yes, it will be hard in the beginning to listen to your intuition and exercise your way out of your urges, but once you start doing that in a small amount of time, it will highly benefit you.
5. Accept that you have a problem
The best way to tackle addiction is to accept that you have a problem in the first place. A lot of people do not take help or are not able to get out of this addiction because they are taking help because others are saying so. Once you accept that you have a problem that is hindering your lifestyle and personal growth, you will want to help yourself get out of it.
6. Ask for help from your close ones
When you know that you won’t be able to get through this alone, it is okay to ask for help from your closest friends and peers. It can be a tough time to get through this when you know you will get sudden urges that are difficult to resist. Distract yourself and surround yourself with people who will be able to divert your attention in the best way possible.
7. Install a porn blocker
Installing a porn blocker on your gadget would help you whenever you get sudden urges; it will act as a mental barrier, which will help you look within and act consciously. So before giving in to your urges, you will be able to think clearly and with logic about how you have a bigger goal of quitting porn, for which you have to resist your sudden temptations.
8. Detox and go on a trip
Take a digital detox and get out of your comfort zone by going on a trip that might be a bit difficult but will help you get in touch with the real side of the world. This will help you meet new people, listen to their stories, and get insight into your issue of how to get rid of porn addiction.
9. Prioritize your values
Everyone has their own set of values and principles. When you know what your values are and wish to live a moral and happy life, it will help you let go of things that aren’t good for you. When you align yourself with your values, you understand what is important to you and what is not, and you will get rid of your urges slowly and steadily. Looking at your values will definitely help you understand how to get rid of porn addiction.
10. Seek professional help
When you are not able to understand anything, you can always seek professional help from renowned therapists or sign up on our Now&Me app and get the guidance and support you are looking for. Getting professional help will help you understand the root cause of this issue and work on it effectively. If you wish to talk to an expert, you can book a session with Now&Me right away.
How can Now&Me help?
Our platform, Now&Me, is a safe place that helps you feel lighter by writing out whatever is weighing you down. It helps you engage with others and makes you look at your situation from a logical and solution-oriented perspective. Become a part of the larger community and understand yourself and how to stop watching porn by seeking online counseling.
When you do not know how to stop porn addiction and tackle your situation effectively, sign up on Now&Me and seek professional guidance from our experts. Be a part of a non-judgmental, inclusive, and friendly community. A platform made for you to readily ask for help and let our experts help you understand the root cause of your issue and how to effectively tackle it.
Invest in your mental health and learn how to stop watching porn by downloading the Now&Me app for free!
Further Resources
Here are some hotlines that can help you quit porn –
SAMHSA National Helpline - 1-800-662-4357
The Boys Town National Hotline - 1-800-448-3000
Sex Addicts Anonymous - 1-800-477-8191
FAQs
It is hard to stop watching porn, as it helps you feel good and run away from things that are stressful and give you a sense of anxiety. Porn is a good escape, which is why it can be hard to resist it.
The negative effects of watching porn include avoiding your social circle, running away from your problems, avoiding any sort of intimacy with your partner, and getting distant from your close ones, among others.
Watching porn can deeply impact your relationships, especially your romantic relationship, if you are too invested in watching porn and do not watch it in an appropriate amount. It can hinder your physical and emotional relationship with your partner; you might start expecting too much from them even though you have had no open communication with them, and you might start avoiding them because you have started getting distant.
Yes, watching porn can become addictive if not done in an appropriate amount and with a balanced mindset. If you know your limits and have that sense of control, you won’t get addicted.
Yes, though it depends from case to case. However, watching excessive porn can be a root cause of loneliness, depression, anxiety, or even stressful emotions. Moreover, watching too much porn can have dire consequences on your physical health as well, including a lack of intimacy, isolation, or even erectile dysfunction.
Although triggers are personal and depend from case to case, some common triggers of watching porn include fighting with a spouse, intimacy issues with your partner, sometimes missing your partner due to long-distance relationships, or sometimes distracting yourself from stressful situations.
Watching porn may affect your self-esteem and lead to body image issues, as pornography has unrealistic body standards and shows women and men with an attractive appeal that may be hard to attain, so this can lead to people feeling self-conscious about their bodies.
Yes, you can stop watching porn without any professional help. You can help yourself by indulging in mindfulness activities, doing meditation, engaging in your favorite hobby, going on a detox, taking a trip with your friends, and most importantly, consciously taking steps to not give in to your urges.
Some strategies for resisting and quitting porn are – doing meditation; indulging in your favorite hobby; spending time with your friends and family; joining a support group; and distracting yourself by joining a class like pottery or dance.
Yes, you can join the Now&Me community if you wish to share your experience and talk to like-minded people. Other than this, you can contact these hotlines - SAMHSA National Helpline, The Boys Town National Hotline, and Sex Addicts Anonymous, and get the support you are looking for.