So many people watch porn but not all of them become addicted to it. Still, the idea of watching porn often affects your thoughts about sex, women, marriage and children. Interestingly, people who become addicted often have other emotional problems that let the addiction become a serious problem. The thing is, why? Why would anyone want to see it again when you know it involves? Let's find out more about it.

Why Is Porn Addictive?

Just like drugs, the exposure to porn also creates neural pathways, which activate whenever you view an erotic image. These neural pathways become wider when you consistently watch porn. Overtime, they replace the pathway through which your interactions with women are routed. It means that when you become a porn addict, you do not watch porn just for sexual enjoyment. It actually becomes your way to escape from stress and other emotional issues in your life, such as anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, and low self-esteem.

Why is porn addictive? One answer could be because it helps people control what they are feeling emotionally in their lives. Moreover, pornography triggers a response in your brain that feels extremely pleasurable – this usually happens due to the release of dopamine, but others biochemicals, such as adrenaline, oxytocin, endorphins, and serotonin, are also involved. When you begin to abuse this naturally occurring reaction, you become a porn addict.

Sings You Are Getting Addicted to Porn

Both men and women can develop porn addiction, but they may prefer different kinds of porn. Most men often feel satisfied when they look at hardcore porn, but women usually like erotica with an emotional connection. Nevertheless, the basic signs of porn addiction usually remain the same. For instance, you are a porn addict when you:

• Spend escalating amounts of time in watching porn
• Begin to watch more bizarre and intense sexual content
• Continue to watch porn even after noticing its negative effects
• Lie about, cover up, or keep secrets about the nature of porn use
• Become angry when someone confronts you about the extent of porn use
• Engage in paid-for sexual activities whether via webcams or in-person

Ways to Overcome Porn Addiction

Why is porn addictive? You already know the answer and you may already be looking for ways to break this addiction. Here are some suggestions:

1. Feel the Consequences Before They Happen

For porn addicts, the excitement of viewing porn often clouds out the reality of disappointment exhaustion, disgust, or shame that they experience after watching porn. A simple solution would be to walk away from your magazine, DVD, or computer when you feel tempted to watch porn. Just go sit in another room for a few seconds and focus on how you feel afterwards while keeping your eyes closed. Focus on the feeling of brain fog, the self-disgust, and the feeling of tiredness. Make this a habit and you will notice some improvement.

2. Challenge the Porn Baloney

To overcome your addiction, you need to challenge the addictive part of your brain. This part tells you that it is okay to do it because so many people do it already. You can challenge this part by making yourself understand that so many people watch porn and they harm themselves in more ways you can imagine. Similarly, your brain may make you think that you are only going to watch for a few minutes, but you should challenge it by thinking about how much time you have already wasted in the past. And of course, you should never let it become a way to relax after tiring day. If your brain makes you think of something in favor of watching porn, find objections to keep you protected.

3. Gain Insight into How Porn Addiction Works

Why is porn addictive? That's because it triggers a pleasurable response in your brain. Learn about circumstances or situations when you always end up watching porn. You may do it when you are feeling bored, unappreciated, lonely, or tired. Doing it when you are physical tired is only going to leave you more exhausted than before. Learn to deal with these situations in a better way. The next time you feel tired try some relaxation techniques instead of watching porn. You may consider having a bath or simply relaxing your mind with your eyes closed for 20 minutes. Deep breathing may also help.

4. Use Your Imagination

Instead of using your imagination to make you feel the need to watch porn, you should use your imagination in a positive way. Moreover, you can actually use your imagination to help yourself in times you feel genuinely sexy. Learn to fantasize to satisfy your sexual needs – you will find it less compulsive as compared to viewing porn. It works because your own fantasy will not have 'unreliable' rewards and this part makes it less addictive. Some pornographic images work for you, some do not – that adds an element of 'unpredictability' in watching porn and makes it addictive.

5. Go Do Something Else

Learn to find something even more interesting than watching porn. Whatever free time you have available, invest it on something productive. Learn to play a musical instrument, learn to dance, socialize, or even watch your favorite movie on TV. The more you worry about porn viewing, the harder it becomes to break the addiction. Keep your mind occupied with something else and you will eventually be able to overcome your porn addiction.