Addictions

Substance addiction can develop towards various substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, or drugs, and treating it is crucial as it significantly impacts overall health and well-being. Continuous substance use can lead to severe illnesses, such as liver failure or cirrhosis. Severe substance abuse problems broadly affect a person's life, including close relationships and work ability.

Substance addiction can be identified through interviews and tools like the AUDIT questionnaire, provided the individual answers honestly. If necessary, substance addiction can also be confirmed or ruled out through liver tests or drug screenings.

Gambling addiction is a condition where a person feels a compulsive need to play money or digital games, even when trying to limit their gaming time. This can lead to shortened sleep, causing fatigue and difficulty concentrating during the day, for example, in studies or work. Often, a gambling addict has no other hobbies besides gaming, which can lead to a cycle of social exclusion.

If you notice signs of gambling addiction in yourself or someone close to you, it is recommended to seek help from occupational health care or school or student health services. These services can assess whether further treatment is needed.

Pornography addiction typically develops in men aged 20-40 whose sexual life with their partner has started to decline. It may also stem from a long-term habit of watching pornography that began during adolescence.

Watching pornography becomes problematic if it turns compulsive and no longer brings pleasure, if it disrupts the sexual life of a relationship, or if real-life relationships lose their appeal.

When is watching pornography excessive?

Even experts have differing opinions on online pornography and potential addiction. Some refer to studies showing that watching online pornography can be liberating and beneficial in many ways, while others emphasize the potential harms of excessive viewing.

Recognizing pornography addiction

Defining addiction is always challenging, and an increasing number of people may find their own pornography viewing disruptive and seek help for the issue.

Addiction is generally linked to the definition of addiction, where a person suffers from a specific behavioral pattern that is compulsive, disrupts personal relationships, daily tasks, and even self-care.

When a partner watches pornography

Defining addiction related to online pornography requires caution. It is a highly personal matter what one considers disruptive pornography viewing. Enjoying sex and engaging in it frequently does not necessarily mean someone is addicted.

In a relationship, a partner may unjustly and out of hurt label the other as a sex addict or pornography addict. In such cases, it is more about differing attitudes. One partner may inherently disapprove of pornography or feel jealous and perceive it as a threat.

In other relationships, one partner may watch pornography daily without it bothering the other or disrupting the sexual life of the relationship. In some relationships, online pornography can even be a shared source of enjoyment, adding spice to the sexual life.

Development of pornography addiction

Typically, a person suffering from online pornography addiction is a man in his thirties, either single or in a relationship.

Many men are visually oriented. Studies have shown that watching pornography not only causes arousal in the brain but also releases dopamine, which can be addictive. For some, it is a way to take "me time" or relieve stress, and they may not notice how their use of online pornography begins to increase. After several months, most of their free time may already be spent watching it.

Since the internet is full of diverse and ever-changing materials catering to different preferences, there may be a need to watch increasingly extreme content.

Recognizing pornography addiction

Over time, one may become desensitized to watching pornography, and arousal with a partner may no longer be possible.

For young single men, it may be challenging to find real-life body types and female ideals that match their preferences shaped by the endless offerings of the internet. This may only become apparent to some men later in a relationship.

Treatment for pornography addiction

It is easier to break free from online pornography addiction than from addictive real-life sexual behavior. Therapy is available regardless of age. However, it requires personal motivation and a genuine desire to address the issue.

For example, a gradually developed "habit" can be dismantled through active work, making the individual aware of their behavioral patterns.

Therapy for pornography addiction

In therapy, the focus may include:

• Stressful situations in daily life
• Work-related stress
• Communication and conflict dynamics in a potential relationship
• Triggering and sustaining factors – what happens internally when online pornography takes over?
• The significance of sexual desire – is masturbation related to online pornography devoid of desire and automatic, no longer associated with sexual pleasure?

The duration of therapy depends on how prolonged and automated the behavior is and how easily the individual expresses themselves to the therapist. Sometimes, just a few sessions are enough, while in other cases, the issue is worked on for several months.