Tips For Managing Porn Withdrawal

It can be very challenging to be addicted to pornography; many people may simply accept the addiction because of an inability to kick the habit. 

Pornography is something that some people watch responsibly and just enjoy a little bit as entertainment or as an aphrodisiac. You might have used porn as a type of masturbation aid in the past, but some people may get addicted to things more quickly than others. If you find yourself being drawn to porn too much and want to break your porn habit before it gets worse, there are things you can do. Porn addiction can become a severe problem, but it is something that you can manage with a bit of help.

One of the most problematic aspects of porn addiction might be the withdrawal symptoms when you stop watching porn. The withdrawal process isn’t typically too different from withdrawing from an addiction to alcohol or other substances. You’ll likely crave the thing that you are addicted to, and your porn addiction might make your life challenging even as you’re trying to break the habit. You may have to use various methods to manage the withdrawal symptoms as effectively as possible.

Here are some tips for managing withdrawal symptoms while stopping a porn addiction.

Exercise

When you have too much time on your hands, it can become more challenging to avoid your urges. Porn withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be extreme, and you may need to occupy yourself to keep from eroding your willpower. 

One excellent way to spend your time is to start exercising consistently. A bit of exercise can make you feel better physically and give you many mental health benefits. Studies show that regular exercise can lead to many benefits like improved mood, better sleep, stress relief, and increased energy.

It isn’t uncommon for people to use pornography and masturbation as a way to relieve stress. While that might be a healthy practice, it can become a porn addiction for some individuals. Exercise could become your new go-to method for stress relief, and it’s likely to be better for you overall. By exercising, you can get into better physical shape, and your self-confidence will likely improve. 

Work On Developing Meaningful Relationships

A porn addiction can prevent people from forming meaningful romantic relationships with others. If your porn addiction has put you in a position where you can’t enjoy true romance with another person, then that’s something you’ll likely want to remedy. 

You could try to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms by building a relationship that means something to you. Forming a romantic connection with someone might help you to forget about porn if you’re ready for a relationship. 

Some who have porn addiction are not ready for a relationship and may need to work with professionals first to get to a better place with their mental health. It can also be important to note that you shouldn’t replace a porn addiction with a sex addiction. A meaningful relationship with someone must be built on more than just sex to succeed. Sex can be a great part of a relationship, but developing deeper connections with romantic partners could help you get more out of life. 

Dedicate Yourself  To A Hobby

Getting a hobby could help you to kick your porn addiction as well. For many people, dealing with withdrawal symptoms is likely about finding new ways to spend your time instead of focusing on what you aren’t “supposed” to do. If you get an engaging new hobby, you might forget about porn, even if just for a little while. 

Many hobbies might interest you, and some might even enrich your life. What hobby you will be interested in depends on your tastes and what you think is worthwhile. You could consider learning how to play a musical instrument, or you might want to learn martial arts. These hobbies can take up your time and give you a sense of purpose and well-being. A hobby can involve learning a skill, or it can just be an entertaining activity you enjoy alone or with others.

Socialize

Socializing might help you to beat your porn addiction, too. Many people feel withdrawal symptoms are the strongest when they’re alone. For most people, watching porn is something that they do by themselves. If you spend a lot of time alone, then it might cause you to think about wanting to seek out porn. 

You can avoid situations that tempt you by endeavoring to spend more time with others. This could make it so that you will have less time to think about porn, and your withdrawal symptoms might be less severe since you’re enjoying the company of others.

You might be worried about your mood swings if your withdrawal symptoms are severe. Try to make use of your support system. If you can be open about your struggles with your social circle, then they will likely understand that you’re struggling. If you find your porn addiction problem too embarrassing to admit, having people to rely on and distract you can still be beneficial. Just do your best to focus on enjoying your time with people who make you feel good, and you may have an easier time with porn withdrawal.

Seek Professional Help

It’s advisable to seek professional help when going through a porn or sex addiction. For example, some people get so addicted to porn that they can’t help but try to watch porn at inopportune times. For instance, some people might try to watch porn while at work, which could cause them to get fired or make their coworkers uncomfortable. Getting help for your porn addiction could help you to kick the habit before it gets to that point.

Withdrawal symptoms might feel more potent than usual urges to seek out pornography. If professionals assist you, staying on the right path may become more manageable. 

Many people with porn addictions work with therapists to get over their addictions. You can speak with a therapist regularly, and it’s possible to reach out to the therapist when you’re experiencing particularly strong withdrawal symptoms.

It’s also good to know that you can turn to online therapy if you think it would be more convenient. Licensed therapists at BetterHelp can assist you when you’re having a bad day. You’ll always be able to reach out to your therapist when you need them. 

Takeaway

Porn addictions are not to be taken lightly, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about talking about and seeking help for porn addiction. 

Many therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, to treat addiction. CBT is a fast and effective treatment model, and online CBT is proven to be just as effective as in-person CBT. 

Reach out to a therapist at BetterHelp to get started talking about your addiction and to find guidance and insight.