How often have you used the tactic of shaming someone for their behaviour to stop them from repeating the behaviour? We are all guilty as charged because, in some cases, this tactic works. However, with porn addiction, shaming is never a solution; it’s the key to exacerbating things.
This article will discuss why shame isn’t a reliable porn addiction treatment and which other treatment options are available for porn addicts.
The Addiction Cycle
To grasp why shaming porn addiction will drive addicts away from help, let’s first understand the role of shame in the addiction cycle.
The addiction cycle starts with the action, which is watching porn. When an individual indulges in this activity, they likely feel some satisfaction. However, once they are shamed for watching porn, it harms their psychosocial life. Consequently, they feel a sense of despair which they alleviate through watching porn because it’s promisingly satisfying.
Hence, shame can perpetuate the addiction to porn instead of breaking the cycle.
Why Shame Can Backfire When Dealing with Porn Addicts
Here are some other reasons why shaming porn addiction doesn’t have promising results:
It Promotes Self-Loathing
People aren’t inherently bad; their actions can often yield negative results. However, distressed individuals with underlying psychosocial or biological issues can view themselves negatively for indulging in porn. Thus, negative self-reflection promotes self-loathing, which can worsen their mental health.
It Adversely Affects Relationships
People only speak to their loved ones and criticise them because they care. However, some people go overboard with their show of affection and care and end up shaming their loved ones.
If you’re shaming someone for indulging in porn use, even out of care, they may view you negatively. During vulnerable moments even when they feel like opening up, they won’t do so due to the fear of shame and judgment. Hence, despite your care, your judgmental attitude will ruin your relationship.
What Other Ways Can Work for Porn Addiction Treatment
What words do you first utter when someone confides in you and shares that they have a fatal disease? You likely choose words of empathy and motivation. This same approach works for porn addicts.
Instead of viewing porn addiction as shameful, shifting your vision and viewing it as a treatable disorder is necessary. You’re likely to have more success when you provide support out of care and encourage your loved ones to participate in rehabilitation actively.
Seeking help from a porn addiction counsellor can also yield positive results. Porn addiction counsellors mainly use holistic approaches and techniques to bring clients, out of their addictive cycle. Hence, porn addicts have more success with these interventions.
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