Shaun Flores has a story that is not uncommon. When he was 11 years old, a friend showed him something that would change the next decade of his life: porn. He was “hooked almost immediately,” and his initial curiosity and fascination soon became a habit he couldn’t control. His addiction cost him connections, and looking back now, almost two decades later, he says that giving porn up was one of the “best decisions” he’s ever made. Smith, S. (2024, November 29). Porn obsession: Personal stories of how it takes over lives. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo Copy
The BBC Reports
The BBC recently highlighted Shaun’s story in an article titled ‘’I couldn’t stop watching’: personal stories of how porn obsession takes over lives.’ Smith, S. (2024, November 29). Porn obsession: Personal stories of how it takes over lives. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo Copy Alongside Shaun’s story, the article features other personal anecdotes, such as Courtney’s, which delve into the guilt and shame that porn can leave in consumers and the unrealistic expectations of sex it often perpetuates. Smith, S. (2024, November 29). Porn obsession: Personal stories of how it takes over lives. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo Copy
The article references multiple studies and expert opinions, all pointing to a rising number of individuals facing health concerns associated with pornography consumption.
Growth of porn-related health requests
The BBC interviewed Lee Fernandes, lead therapist at the UK Addiction Treatment Centres (UKAT) Group, who says that the number of people they treat for problematic porn use has risen “significantly” in recent years. Compared to 2020, when they received 1-2 inquiries a week, they now receive daily inquiries from consumers struggling with porn use. Smith, S. (2024, November 29). Porn obsession: Personal stories of how it takes over lives. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo Copy
Dr. Paula Hall, a UKCP-accredited sexual and relationship psychotherapist, also highlights this trend. She is a specialist in sex addiction and porn addiction. She states, “The numbers of clients seeking help with pornography problems at The Laurel Centre have doubled over recent years.” Smith, S. (2024, November 29). Porn obsession: Personal stories of how it takes over lives. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo Copy
What about porn has people in treatment centers?
The article alludes to some answers through the stories of Shaun and Courtney, but what exactly are these negative effects that are bringing more and more, primarily young people, into treatment centers?
- Consumers are finding difficulty in their intimate relationships
Many studies have shown porn consumers tend to have lower relationship satisfaction and lower relationship quality. Wright, P. J., Tokunaga, R. S., Kraus, A., & Klann, E. (2017). Pornography consumption and satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Human Communication Research, 43(3), 315-343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12108Copy In fact, world-renowned relationship experts Drs. John and Julie Gottman write, “We are led to unconditionally conclude that for many reasons, pornography poses a serious threat to couple intimacy and relationship harmony.” Gottman, J., & Gottman, J. (April 5, 2016). An open letter on porn. Retrieved from https://www.gottman.com/blog/an-open-letter-on-porn/Copy . Unfortunately, porn’s impacts can extend to negatively impact family relationships and friendships negatively, too. https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/can-porn-impact-family-relationships/?_gl=1*16gej59*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTI1MjAzNzM5NS4xNzM3NDQxMjcw*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTc zNzQ0MTI3MC4xLjEuM TczNzQ0 TI5OC4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcBCopy
- “I can’t stop watching”: Addiction
Like Shaun, others have found themselves unable to stop consuming pornography. https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/the-pornography-addiction-trap/?_gl=1*1ne kfq*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDczNzYzNTMxLjE3Mzc0MjIxNzA.*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwMDkzMi4zLjAuMTczNzYwMDkzMi4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcB Copy This is not random; by design, porn affects the brain, leading users to become desensitized and crave more and more novel content. In some cases, this can lead to addiction. https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/why-porn-can-be-difficult-to-quit/?_gl=1*sqozri*_up*MQ..*_ga*ODY2Mjk1MzcwLjE3Mzc2MDcxNTU.*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwNzE1NC4xLjAuMTczNzYwNzE1NC4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcB Copy https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-become-an-escalating-behavior/?_gl=1*1npdwuu*_up*MQ..*_ga*ODY2Mjk1MzcwLjE3Mzc2MDcxNTU.*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwNzE1NC4xLjEuMTczNzYwNzQ4Ny4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcB Copy While it’s important to note that not all consumers are addicts, porn has the potential to escalate, just like any substance or addictive behavior https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-become-an-escalating-behavior/?_gl=1*1npdwuu*_up*MQ..*_ga*ODY2Mjk1MzcwLjE3Mzc2MDcxNTU.*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwNzE1NC4xLjEuMTczNzYwNzQ4Ny4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcB Copy .
- Distorted view of self and sex
“I think the role that it [porn] had to play was that it distorted my sense of self and gave me a dysmorphia around sex, or my body, or my penis.” Shaun’s words echo what research has found: porn use is associated with poor body image of oneself and their partner, and it perpetuates misconceptions of sex https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/reasons-why-not-watching-porn-can-improve-your-health-and-relationships/?_gl=1*brz1j1*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA0MzE5NTE0MS4xNzM3NjAwNDM4*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwODMwNi4yLjEuMTczNzYwODMxNC4wLjAuMACopy . It is not just an image issue; in some cases, porn is also associated with sexual dysfunction, too. Bőthe, B., Tóth-Király, I., Griffiths, M. D., Potenza, M. N., Orosz, G., & Demetrovics, Z. (2021). Are sexual functioning problems associated with frequent pornography use and/or problematic pornography use? Results from a large community survey including males and females. Addictive Behaviors, 112, 106603. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106603 Copy
Can porn be ‘good’ for some?
The BBC article suggests that porn isn’t harmful to everyone- in fact, that it may even be beneficial for some. Yet, while not everyone will end up addicted to porn, research tends to show that no one is above its negative effects that, by design, affect the brain, the heart, and our world in perverse ways. https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts/?_gl=1*1d6*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc5MzgyMzE3My4xNzM3NjA5MzQx*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwOTM0MC4xLjAuMTczNzYwOTM0MC4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcBCopy https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/would-ethical-porn-make-it-healthy-to-watch/?_gl=1*18cwoss*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc5MzgyMzE3My4xNzM3NjA5MzQx*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwOTM0MC4xLjEuMTczNzYwOTUxMS4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDCOYCMEXaOx5tJYsrb77_39MgS-51HKSI0Zc3fZsVLIZAfGHDqoKeAaAieCEALw_wcBCopy .
Looking beyond- to our communities
The article indicates how porn may affect consumers’ brains and hearts, but it’s also important to highlight how pornography plays a role in the world around us. Pornography’s intersection with other industries like sex trafficking and prostitution means that it is not as clear-cut and free from abuse as the industry may want to make it seem. https://dev.fightthenewdrug.org/sex-trafficking-and-porn-overlap/?_gl=1*trsd47*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA0MzE5NTE0MS4xNzM3NjAwNDM4*_ga_3VF64E6XBN*MTczNzYwMDQzNy4xLjEuMTczNzYwMDc4Ny4wLjAuMA.Copy
What’s Next?
All in all, there is a growing need for education and support resources to understand better and help consumers cope with porn’s negative effects. If you want to explore more resources on pornography’s impact, take a look at Fight the New Drug’s articles or book a session with one of our speakers today.