Porn addiction is considered a non-substance behavior, and therefore it is not listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition) manual or the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision). Nor has this alleged behavioral addiction been medically reviewed by the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association. 

The lack of porn addiction being classified as a mental health disorder means that medical professionals cannot bill an insurance plan or make an official diagnosis to prescribe medication to treat this behavior.

What is porn addiction

Porn addiction is a compulsive behavior that involves interacting with sexually-charged images and/or videos for a prolonged period of time that ultimately starts to negatively affect normal daily life functioning. 

Many people might choose to masturbate while watching pornograhy which can lead to compulsive sexual behavior or “hypersexuality” if it gets out of control. “Hypersexuality,” another form of sex addiction, has been considered as a mental disorder, but ultimately rejected. However, a medical professional can do a mental evaluation to see if a client is eligible to take medications for compulsive sexual behavior.

Masturbating to porn or obsessively watching porn can become a big problem if it takes up too much time in daily life and the person endures a financial loss, decline in mental capacity, or general negative consequences in a relationship.

Example: Tony ditches school because he watches internet porn on the library’s or his job’s computer most of the day.

How does porn addiction affect mental functioning

Generally, the act of excessive porn watching could be considered an obsessive compulsive disorder in some cases, which can be treated medically by a certified physician.

On the flip side, in 2015, UCLA scientists measured EEG for porn and didn’t notice the same brain activity as those in gambling, drug, or alcohol addicted individuals, therefore the behavior cannot be considered clinical in this aspect. 

Even though a person might feel like they are addicted to watching porn, they might just be obsessively watching it. However, if a person has a compulsive sexual addiction, porn might trigger them to have a masturbatory episode.

A person can experience similar dissatisfactions with themselves as a person with a developed dependence on drugs or alcohol. Here are some characteristics found in people with a suspected porn addiction:

• Guilt
• Anger
• Fear of not being able to perform sexually
• Uncontrollable cravings
• Wanting your partner to perform like a porn star
• Lack of talking to women or men and becoming anti-social
• Sleep and daydreaming about porn images
• Images etched in mind and can be recalled later
• Changes in sexual preferences and tastes
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Social isolation
• Depression

Experts continuously debate whether porn contributes to sexual expression or a problematic behavior.

Porn addiction treatment options

There are some porn addiction options available if a person feels like they are experiencing these things:

• Over-obsess over wanting to watch porn
• Leave an important life event, like a job or school, just to go home to watch porn
• Injure their private area from masturbating so much to porn
• Fall in love and wanting to marry porn stars
• Lose sleep, anxiety, or friends and family from masturbating so much

There are facilities and programs centered around treating sex or porn addiction.

• Sex and Porn Addicts Anonymous
• Sex Addicts Anonymous
• Porn Addicts Anonymous 
• Support Groups and Group Therapy at porn addiction rehab facilities

How to get help if you suspect you suffer from a porn addiction

Some facilities offer porn addiction treatment. Here is a list of prominent porn behavioral addiction mental health counseling facilities around the United States.

Stop watching porn today!