What is STI testing? STI testing is the process of running medical tests to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is quick, easy, and confidential. Most STI tests only require a blood test and either a self-collected swab or a urine sample. Why is STI testing important? […]
National Condom Day
It’s Valentine’s Day National Condom Day! It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day and National Condom Day fall on the same day… but in terms of which one we’re celebrating, well, that’s a no brainer. Here at Play Safe, we’ll take any excuse to celebrate condoms, but today, on National Condom […]
What is World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
What is STI testing? STI testing is the process of running medical tests to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is quick, easy, and confidential. Most STI tests only require a blood test and either a self-collected swab or a urine sample. Why is STI testing important? […]
National Condom Day
It’s Valentine’s Day National Condom Day! It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day and National Condom Day fall on the same day… but in terms of which one we’re celebrating, well, that’s a no brainer. Here at Play Safe, we’ll take any excuse to celebrate condoms, but today, on National Condom […]
What is World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
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Am I addicted to Porn?
The internet has made porn more accessible than ever before. One quick search and you have a host of pornographic material – no matter your taste – available within seconds.
According to one analysis, 30 percent of New South Wales’ visits to one of the world’s major porn sites come from people aged 18-24, and 29% from 25-34 year olds. Australia ranked 9th for visitors — beaten only by larger countries like the US, UK and India — and also had one of the longer average viewing times.
While watching porn can be a normal part of a healthy sex life, with so many people exposed to porn every year, it’s important to know if you’ve gone from entertainment to addiction.
Porn is a fantasy, not a ‘How to’ guide
Before we get into the details of what porn addiction might look like, it’s important to remember that porn is never a depiction of reality.
Whatever type of porn you’re into, be sure to separate it from your real-life sexual relationships, and seek enthusiastic and ongoing consent for anything you want to try in the bedroom.
There’s other ways porn is different to real life too:
How do I know if I’m addicted to porn?
While watching porn in small doses is a normal part of exploring your sexuality, some research suggests that people addicted to porn watch on average 11-12 hours of porn per week. But it can, of course, be much higher than this.
There are also other telltale signs that you might have addictive or compulsive porn viewing habits:
Porn drives your thought process and is the thing you’ll arrange your time around
You’ve lost interest in sex, or your sexual taste has changed to mirror what you see on the screen
You get angry, annoyed or irritable if you’re asked to stop (or need to stop for any other reason)
You’re lying and covering up the extent of your porn use
You have lost long periods of time to watching porn
How serious is porn addiction?
If left unaddressed, porn addiction can have a serious impact on your quality of life; it can impact how you spend your time, your ability to connect with others, your romantic, intimate and sexual relationships, and can even impact your career, financial stability, mental health and self-esteem.
How can I treat porn addiction?
Porn addiction recovery is possible, and one of the first steps in recognising that you have compulsive behaviours when it comes to your porn watching habits. It’s also important to recognise that – like many other addictions – there is no shame or stigma. You’re not alone.
In terms of treatment options, it is very similar to the treatment offered for other compulsive behaviors. Counseling, and psychotherapy options like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are very common treatments.
Are you concerned about your porn habits? Ask Nurse Nettie a question or join the discussion on the Play Safe forum.
