When we talk of porn usage, our mind automatically goes to something intrinsically unhealthy. While statistics do tilt in that favour, there are some people who can watch porn without it becoming a problem. Studies show that there are 3 types of porn viewers:
- Recreational porn viewers (75.5%)
- Distressed porn viewers (12.5%)
- Compulsive porn viewers (11.8%)
As displayed above, a large majority consider themselves “recreational porn viewers”. But having said that, we need to bear in mind that there is a fine line between harmless and harmful porn usage, and most people don’t even realize when they cross this boundary.
Safe Porn Watching
While much is said about porn usage as being dangerous, there is also research that claims porn watching doesn’t necessarily have to cause problems. Experts claim that there is enough space in your life and bedroom for porn. Dr. David Schnarch, the writer of Resurrecting Sex: Solving Sexual Problems and Revolutionizing Your Relationship, says, “Porn can actually help foster emotional and sexual intimacy.”
Porn can be healthy as long as it is able to titillate the sexual urges that couples can then fulfil with each other and spice up their sex life. 37% of bedroom TV watching couples said they watched porn movies together and 50% of these couples said they had sex while watching porn. However, reliance on porn to satisfy oneself can be dangerous territory, as it decreases a person’s sexual attraction towards your partner or spouse, creating problems in intimate relationships.
When Porn Usage Can Become Dangerous
When we explore the pros and cons of porn, it’s safe to see how easily porn can escalate into a full-fledged compulsive habit. The reasons behind this are simple. In 2018, The World Health Organization (WHO) added compulsive sexual behaviour as a mental health disorder.
While this doesn’t centre solely on pornography usage, it does include repetitive sexual behaviours like watching pornographic content repeatedly and excessively.
But why is that?
Porn and Addiction
Porn can be termed as ‘addictive’ because it has the same effect on the reward circuit of the brain as drugs do. When we view porn, it gives us pleasure, releasing high dopamine levels. This informs the brain’s memory that indulging in the same behaviour will be pleasurable again, making it a repetitive cycle. This is why porn usage has a high chance of becoming addictive.
Internet Availability
The second reason behind porn compulsion is the widespread availability of porn. High-speed internet and the whopping 1.3 million porn sites at the click of a button make it easier for people to indulge in this habit, which then easily becomes an addiction.
The Detrimental Effects of Porn
The dangers of excessive porn usage can affect various facets of a person’s life, including intimate relationships, work, and general outlook on life.
Porn can create unrealistic expectations of sex in a person’s mind, decreasing sexual satisfaction with a partner or spouse. Statistics show that the chances of divorce double when partners habitually start watching porn. Moreover, porn, like any other drug, increases a person’s dependency, decreasing their concentration on other things, like work and the productive activities they loved before. This can adversely affect a person’s mental health as well.
Conclusion
Anything in moderation is safe, but porn usage has the tendency to become an addiction. Compulsive porn usage can lead to dire effects, which can cause a person to fall apart. If you detect any signs and symptoms of porn addiction, seek professional help and get hold of your life again.
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