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Decades of studies from respected institutions have demonstrated significant impacts of porn consumption on individuals, relationships, and society. No Porn November is all about giving visibility to these facts and empowering individuals to choose to be porn-free. Learn more by clicking here.
Even after recognizing that their porn habit has become problematic, many people still have difficulty quitting porn.
Fight the New Drug is not a recovery resource, we’re an awareness-raising movement that educates on the harmful effects of porn. We acknowledge that many people who follow us have struggled with porn, and we want to encourage those people that there is hope.
If you’re trying to quit, know that you don’t have to do this alone—we’ve got your back. Here are a few key tips to quit porn.
1. Try therapy
Research suggests that therapy is one of the most effective ways to help people quit porn.
Studies find that problematic porn consumers show a 92% reduction in porn consumption after being treated using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with an 86% reduction 3 months later, and that 95% of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy patients were able to manage their symptoms after 12 weeks, with 78% showing sustained recovery after 6 months.Sniewski, L., Farvid, P., & Carter, P. (2018). The assessment and treatment of adult heterosexual men with self-perceived problematic pornography use: A review. Addictive behaviors, 77, 217–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.010Copy Young K. S. (2013). Treatment outcomes using CBT-IA with Internet-addicted patients. Journal of behavioral addictions, 2(4), 209–215. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.2.2013.4.3Copy
2. Don’t just quit—replace.
Especially in the beginning, it may feel like quitting porn creates some emptiness in your life, but replacing those unhealthy habits with healthy ones can be super helpful.
Read, try new recipes, start painting—focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
3. Eat, sleep, and exercise!
Exercise can boost neurogenesis, the formation of new cells, as well as dopamine receptors, which can help heal the brain’s frontal cortex.
By recharging your body with the sleep, fuel, and energy it needs, you’ll be better equipped to deal with stress in healthy ways and feel better physically and emotionally.Copy Chambers R. A. (2013). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis in the pathogenesis of addiction and dual diagnosis disorders. Drug and alcohol dependence, 130(1-3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.12.005Copy
4. Recognize your triggers.
Setbacks often happen when you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired (HALT).
If you’re feeling triggered, find something more productive to distract you. Talk to a friend, take a nap, eat some cereal—whatever it takes to get yourself back into a good headspace and back on track.
5. Spend less time on your phone.
Scrolling through social media at night or turning to your phone whenever you’re bored can easily lead back to porn.
Consider not using your phone late at night, keeping it in a different room while you sleep, setting time limits, or using filtering software.
6. Let go of shame.
Research shows that shame can actually drive people back to unhealthy behaviors rather than motivating sustainable change.
Remember: you are not a “bad” person for struggling with this. Be kind to yourself, be patient with your progress, and keep trying.Gilliland, R., South, M., Carpenter, B. N., & Hardy, S. A. (2011). The roles of shame and guilt in hypersexual behavior. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 18(1), 12–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720162.2011.551182Copy
7. Download Fortify
Fortify is a free, science-based recovery platform that actually works. In fact, 90% of users report that Fortify has significantly helped them move toward lasting change.
8. Be patient with your progress.
Recovery is not linear—that’s totally normal. A minor setback does not mean you have failed. Research shows that even quitting porn for a short time can lessen its negative effects.
It’s okay if it takes time. Be kind to yourself, and be patient. Keep fighting!
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
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