Here are some answers you need to know.
People have lots of opinions on porn.
For some, it's a way to get inspired when giving yourself a hand, or an occasional activity you indulge in with your partner. But for others, it can be a crutch or a habit that can eclipse your IRL intimacy. So we consulted a few experts for some answers.
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So, is porn addiction actually a thing?
Though porn addiction was rejected from the DSM-5 (the guide for defining, diagnosing, and treating mental health illnesses) due to the fact that there isn't enough research to support it, scientists and therapists are split on their feelings about the topic.
Some scientists think the term "addiction" doesn't really apply to porn consumption...
"The idea of addiction has become so overused in our society," David Ley, Ph.D., clinical psychologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, tells BuzzFeed Life. According to the American Psychiatric Association, "addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences." Since sex and masturbation aren't harmful for your health, linking them to addiction can get a little complicated.
Also, there are a lot of other factors—like religion and sexual orientation—that can influence how someone feels about their porn use. "Bisexual people consume more porn than their heterosexual counterparts," Ley says. "But is it because they're addicted to porn? Or is it because they can't find orientation consistent to their sexuality in general media?" That being said, there can be negative implications to spending way too much time watching porn or having a lot of risky sex.
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But other experts think it's very real and can even destroy relationships.
Addiction is typically characterized by risky decisions that jeopardize someone's health, finances, relationships, and/or career. "Some of the initial signs of addiction can be intrusive thoughts about porn that show up at unwanted times, usually accompanied by a certain restlessness that feels like it won't go away until you look at porn and masturbate," Brandy Engler, Ph.D., author and clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, California, tells BuzzFeed Life. "At its most extreme, some people will watch porn and masturbate for 5 hours straight, barely taking breaks to eat and drink water." In the end, they find that they prefer porn to reality. "We call this pleasure deafness, or the idea that if you overstimulate yourself with porn, it might be harder to become stimulated by real interactions," says Engler.
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