Core Insight
Porn addiction is a pattern of continuing to watch porn, despite negative consequences. It can interfere with work, relationships, and daily responsibilities.
Watching porn releases dopamine, a brain chemical that reinforces habits. Over time, this can create a negative cycle where:
- Cravings to watch porn grow stronger.
- More porn is needed to feel the same effect.
- Stopping can lead to distress, and more craving.
This cycle is also seen in other addictions, like gambling addiction.
Porn addiction can cause serious problems in a person’s life if they don’t get help.
Porn addiction is a pattern of
continuing to watch porn, despite negative consequences.
How Does Porn Addiction Work?
Today, porn is more accessible than ever. For some people, watching porn is just a casual habit. For others, it turns into a compulsive behavior that disrupts daily life - what we call porn addiction.1
Porn addiction works by rewiring the brain’s reward system. Every time someone watches porn, their brain releases dopamine, a chemical that creates feelings of pleasure and reinforces habits. Over time, frequent porn use can create a cycle:
- Craving: The brain starts to crave the dopamine rush, leading to strong urges to watch porn.
- Tolerance: Regular content becomes less exciting, so the person needs more extreme porn or watches for a longer period of time to feel the same effect.
- Withdrawal: When the person tries to stop, they may feel anxious, irritable, or restless, which makes quitting even harder.
This cycle makes it difficult to stop watching porn, even when it’s causing problems in daily life - the person has developed a porn addiction.2
Is Porn Addiction Real?
Porn addiction isn’t yet listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the guide used by clinicians to classify mental health conditions.
However, an increasing number of mental health professionals recognize porn addiction’s similarities to other addictions - like gambling addiction - especially in how it affects the brain’s reward system.3
Recent research has also shown that some porn users do develop a dependency to porn, leading to negative consequences in their personal lives, relationships, and work.4
What Triggers Porn Addiction?
Porn addiction is often caused by a mix of psychological, social, and environmental factors. Understanding these can help in breaking the addiction cycle.
- Easy Access and Isolation
Porn is available almost anytime, anywhere, making it easy to fall into frequent or prolonged use. Studies show that over 90% of young adults have come across porn online.5 Feelings of loneliness or isolation can make someone more likely to use porn as a coping mechanism.
- Emotional Distress and Coping
Porn often serves as a form of self-medication for stress, anxiety, or unresolved trauma.
The short-term relief from emotional pain can create a powerful feedback loop, reinforcing the idea that porn is a reliable escape from life’s challenges. It's important to note that the relief porn provides is only temporary. Over time, relying on porn to cope can make emotional struggles worse rather than better.
- History of Other Behavioral or Substance Addiction
People with past addictions—such as gambling or substance use—may be more vulnerable to developing a porn addiction. This is because the brain’s reward system works in similar ways across different types of addictions.6 While one addiction doesn’t necessarily cause another, they are often found together in the same person.
- Relationship Dynamics and Self-Esteem
Struggles in relationships can push some people toward porn as a substitute for real connection. Over time, excessive porn use can harm trust and intimacy in a relationship. Low self-esteem or social anxiety can also make someone turn to porn as a way to avoid real-world interactions. In couples therapy for example, reducing or quitting porn use is often a key step in rebuilding a healthy relationship.
Summary
Porn addiction is when someone keeps watching porn despite negative consequences. Frequent porn use rewires the brain’s dopamine reward system, creating a cycle of craving, tolerance, and withdrawal, making it hard to quit even when it causes problems.
Although not officially classified in the DSM-5, many experts recognize porn addiction due to its similarities to other addictions, like gambling addiction, and its negative impact on people’s lives.
Porn addiction develops over time, and can be triggered by loneliness, emotional distress, past addictions, and relationship issues. The ease of access to porn also worsens compulsive viewing habits.
Help is Available
If you or someone you love is struggling with porn addiction, help is available.
Nostos is a group therapy program that helps people overcome porn addiction. We use a method called Integrative Therapeutic Coaching (ITC), an evidence-based approach that combines proven therapy and coaching techniques.
Our mission is to empower you to live your best life, free from addiction.
References
- Carnes, P. (2001). Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. Hazelden Publishing.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). APA Publishing.
- Grubbs, J. B., Volk, F., Exline, J. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2015). “Internet pornography use: Perceived addiction, psychological distress, and the validation of a brief measure.” Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(1), 83-106.
- Volkow, N. D., Koob, G. F., & McLellan, A. T. (2016). “Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction.” New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 363-371.
- Braun-Courville, D. K., & Rojas, M. (2009). “Exposure to Sexually Explicit Web Sites and Adolescent Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors.” Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(2), 156-162.
- Grant, J. E., Potenza, M. N., Weinstein, A., & Gorelick, D. A. (2010). “Introduction to Behavioral Addictions.” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 233-241.
Medically reviewed on
February 4, 2025
by:
James Sherer MD
Chief Clinical Officer
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