How Long Does It Take To Recover From Porn Addiction?

For anyone battling a pornography addiction who wants to stop, a looming question is: how long does the recovery process actually take? Odds are, you want to change and, due to human nature, want to put a timeline on that change, especially considering how damaging a pornography habit can be.

A pornography addiction can devastate your life, from your relationships to your mental health, career, and more. If you are going through this and experiencing porn addiction, just know that you are not alone. We will talk all about the recovery process and what you can expect.

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How Can I Be Diagnosed With Pornography Addiction?

The diagnosis gets a little dicey. The American Psychological Association (APA) does not presently classify pornography addiction as a legitimate mental health condition. 

Typically, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) would contain standards by which to diagnose such an addiction. However, since the APA does not consider porn addiction an actual diagnosis, there are no approved or regulated treatments for pornography addiction.

Nevertheless, some research has shown that pornography addiction is, in some ways, similar to an addiction to drugs or alcohol. 

Because of this, many approaches to treating addiction to porn draw on existing knowledge about the general treatment of addiction. Most treatment programs include counseling, medication, support groups, and some form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). 

Though you might not get what would be considered an official diagnosis, the best place to start is by confiding in a loved one and seeking a therapist who can connect you to the resources you will need. 

Can I Recover From Pornography Addiction on my Own?

Recovery without professional help is possible, but if you feel that your life has become unmanageable, or, if you have had thoughts of suicide in connection with your pornography use, you should absolutely get help as soon as possible. However, if you feel that this is just a bad habit you need to iron out, here are some tips for you! 

Tell Someone You Care About

It may feel uncomfortable to talk about this with someone, but it is beneficial to reach out to a loved one and explain what you are going through. You may be surprised at the empathy they will have. 

Confiding in someone who truly cares about you means someone is now looking out for your best interests.

Install Anti-Porn Software

Consider where you are accessing your porn. Is it on a laptop? On your cell phone? You might want to consider installing software that will keep you from looking at it. 

If you have already talked to a friend about your concerns, you could have them set the password and make sure they don’t give it to you. 

Identify Your Triggers

When it comes to addiction, it’s all about the triggers. When you examine what yours are, you may be surprised about how innocuous they may seem at first. It could be as simple as looking at your phone case. Try getting a new one. 

If you are tempted to look at porn every time you open your phone, put a different wallpaper up so that you’re not seeing the same thing you used to when you were gearing up to watch.

You also want to consider location and time. If you often watch porn while lying in bed at night, plug in your cell phone across the room or even in another room. You just want to make it so that you have to really think about what you’re doing and disrupt your unconscious mind.

Get Some Exercise

We know, we know — this is always touted as the solution to every problem, but there’s a reason. Not only will you potentially get in better shape and feel good about yourself, but exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on depression and anxiety. 

There is a clear link between addiction (of all kinds) and other co-occurring mental health ailments. Another plus is that during the time you are spending exercising, that’s time during which you are not viewing pornography. 

Keep Yourself Busy

On that note, any activities you can engage in other than watching porn will benefit you. Take up a new hobby. You may meet new friends, which can combat the boredom and loneliness that often lead to addiction.

What Treatment Options Are Available for Pornography Addiction?

Even though there is not an official diagnosis for porn addiction, there are ways that you can seek treatment. Like beating any addiction or bad habit, it’s not easy. We will cover three of the most common routes for porn addiction treatment.

Talk Therapy

Without a doubt, the best place to start is with a therapist. Talk therapy will help you identify those triggers and change your behaviors. There’s no reason you need to suffer in silence and keep this to yourself, especially when trained professionals can help you without judgment. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which we mentioned earlier, is often used by therapists to help change unwanted behaviors. It’s extremely helpful for those who can’t seem to break a habit or get past addiction.

Another therapy benefit is that your therapist may be able to help you find other resources, like support groups or outpatient programs. It is not as common for those suffering from porn addiction to attend such programs, but they are available for those who need them. 

Medication

This might sound strange at first, but no, we are not talking about some sort of anti-porn medication. The fact is that anxiety and depression are commonly associated with addiction, including pornography addiction. Treating the mental health disorders that accompany the addiction is often effective.

With any addiction, it’s important to remember that the behavior or habit is often merely a symptom of something else, so all angles should be examined.

Support Groups and Group Therapy

You may feel alone in your addiction, especially because of the guilt and shame associated with viewing porn. Very few people ever talk about it. However, you are definitely not alone.

Up to six percent of the population actively suffers from porn addiction, and that’s only the people who will admit to having a problem. In a support group, you will find help and understanding from people who know what you’re going through.

Your doctor or therapist can tell you about local support groups in your area, but you should know there are other options too. Nowadays, there are online support groups that you can access from anywhere. 

See? You can use that laptop for a positive purpose (and not sit in some community center with strangers)!

How Long Will It Take Me To Recover From a Porn Addiction?

This is a hard question to answer. Setting a fixed time for your recovery might leave you frustrated and disappointed. Instead, you may want to focus your energy on beating the addiction rather than on how long the battle will take.

Some factors may come into play when considering how long your recovery will take. First, make sure that you are not in denial about your problem. 

If you downplay what’s going on, you will delay your recovery. If you’ve accepted that you may have a problem, chances are you have been doing this for quite some time and are ready to change. 

Another factor is how open you are to the help that you receive. None of us want to believe that we are addicted, and we don’t want to feel weak. Sometimes we don’t want help, even when it is offered freely. 

Allow yourself to receive help. You will need to share this with someone to heal your mind. It has taken you a long time to get to this point, and it will take some serious time to retrain your brain. 

With addiction and dependency, your conscious mind and your unconscious mind are battling it out, and you need to remind your unconscious mind about the reality of your problem. 

Conclusion

Recovering from porn addiction is not going to be easy. You will run into many obstacles along the way, and chances are you won’t walk a perfectly straight line to recovery. 

But don’t despair! There is help for you, and you can change your life and habits. Talk to someone about your problem, be open to receiving help, and accept the help you are given with open arms. You can retrain your brain and live a better life. 

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Sources:

Pornography Addiction: Why Pornography Is Addictive? | Web MD

How to Identify and Treat a Pornography Addiction | Healthline

How Pornography Addiction Is Treated | Very Well Mind