It’s OK to admit you have a problem
There is no shame in admitting you have a problem, and I feel like society should be recognising this too.
Some Background
The issue with a lot of psychological addictions these days is that the internet has managed to make it easier than ever to access whatever we desire. Whatever your opinions on why mental health issues have drastically increased over the last decade or so. In fact, 1 in 4 of us (1) will experience a mental health problem every year. We cannot discount the effect of being ‘Always Online’.
We walk around with these mobile computers in our pockets, we always have instant access to the Internet. We may find ourselves pulling up our phone at work or an important family event, somewhere where it’s entirely inappropriate to do so. As a Society, we are so unaware of how reliant we are on these technologies, from personal experience, I feel lost without my phone in my pocket and I even hear ‘Ghost Notifications’ in which there aren’t any notifications on my phone but my mind has tricked me into hearing it.
So how does this affect me?
While the phone or the laptop isn’t bad within itself, having compulsions to use these devices constantly, to the point we don’t feel ok without them, is a recipe for disaster. Now what harm can be done by mixing two compulsions together? More than you realise.
Pornography is now an easily accessible form of adult entertainment, whereas it was much harder to gain access to 20 years ago. You can access websites with free pornography on any phone, laptop, TV or even smart fridge these days with a touch of a button. Most of us are watching this adult entertainment for pleasure, there’s shame in admitting that’s what we use it for.
So let’s set the scene, you have unlimited access to the internet, wherever you are, whenever, with the lack of self-control to keep it out of your hand, and you can gain regular pleasure from watching Pornography; It combines into one overwhelming addiction. It’s a vicious cycle that is so easy to fuel, the ‘dosage’ can be increased freely and can go completely hidden in someone’s life.
So why shouldn’t I be ashamed?
In the United States alone, over half of the population have been exposed to some form of pornography, and 1 in 4 of them are watching porn regularly (2). Now a fourth of the population does not like much until you realise how many people reside in the United States Of America. Let’s suggest there are 300 million people currently living in this country, that would mean that 75 million of those are watching porn regularly.
For something like this to be so prevalent, there really shouldn’t be a stigma for someone saying ‘This isn’t what I want’. In the same way Alcoholics Anonymous has become destigmatized, I feel like modern attitudes are starting to turn on sexual addictions. For example, a well-known subreddit for those trying to curb their porn addictions has garnered over 1 million followers (3).
In Conclusion
Compulsive and addictive behaviour should never be encouraged, facilitated or minimized. The stigma that surrounds these behaviours are needed in society to ward off those who may be vulnerable to getting involved in these acts. However, those who have truly acknowledged their addictive and destructive behaviours, and are actively trying to pursue a life without them, should at least receive some sympathy rather than being wrote off like a crashed vehicle after a bad accident.
One Last Thing
I haven’t written much in a good few years, so I am a little rusty when it comes to this, if you feel like I need to back up more of my claims with sources, or I need to rephrase some things, please let me know. I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to read this article, it means the world to me even if one person has read this.
References
(1) NHS England (2016). The Five Year Forward View For Mental Health. NHS England.
(2) Cox, D., Lee, B. and Popky, D. (2022). Politics, sex, and sexuality: The growing gender divide in american life. [online] The Survey Center on American Life. Available at: https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/march-2022-aps/#Views_About_Premarital_Sex [Accessed 21 Jul. 2024].
(3) Reddit ed., (n.d.). No Fap Subreddit. [online] www.reddit.com/r/nofap. Available at: http://www.reddit.com/r/nofap [Accessed 21 Jul. 2024].
