Porn Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

Porn Addiction Withdrawal: What Happens?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5) does not formally recognize porn addiction. However, porn addiction is a behavioral addiction and can be treated, no matter how many of the common warning signs you’re experiencing.

Similar to substance abuse, viewing porn increases the brain’s dopamine levels. Continued use of pornography can lead the brain to depend on a steady dose of dopamine. When the brain stops receiving regular dopamine—like when a porn addict quits their pornography use—the brain produces a neurochemical reaction that can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Since porn addiction withdrawal symptoms are mostly psychological, they are not considered life-threatening.

However, when not appropriately addressed, porn withdrawal symptoms can result in the person resuming their use of porn to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.

“I noticed when I stopped masturbating that I would still find myself on the websites I used to use for sexual release. And I sometimes would still view these sites without masturbating. It became apparent that these websites and feelings were deeper than I realized. I was running to them in times of stress. And that’s when I realized I needed more help and started therapy for porn addiction.”
– Anonymous Porn Addict in Recovery

It’s important not to underplay how pornography withdrawal highlights the amount someone depends on porn to help regulate emotions and cope with challenges.

What Are the Most Common Porn Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms associated with porn addiction and the severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person.

Some of the most commonly reported withdrawal symptoms for porn addiction include:

• Mood swings: Craving something and not being able to satisfy that craving can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and agitation
• Anxiety: Feelings of anxiety can be even more intense due to the discomfort of withdrawals, potentially resulting in panic attacks.
• Insomnia: Someone who watches porn before bed to relax and unwind may find it difficult to fall asleep at night without the help of pornography. Additionally, it may lead to racing or obsessive thoughts, making it difficult to sleep.
• Cravings: It’s common for us to have cravings when our brain no longer has access to something familiar. These cravings can get more intense the longer the brain is deprived of what it wants.
• Depression: Some people turn to pornography as a coping mechanism for other emotional issues. When they eliminate porn, they no longer have that form of escapism, which can lead to feelings of depression.
• Loss of libido: Porn provides unrealistic depictions of sex and sexual interactions between romantic partners. Someone who has spent significant time watching porn may experience a reduced sex drive or even erectile dysfunction in their real-life sex life.
• Fatigue: A side-effect of insomnia, someone struggling to sleep at night may experience feelings of fatigue.

Timeline for Porn Withdrawal Symptoms

Much like the withdrawal symptoms themselves, the timeline for how long the symptoms may last for chronic porn users can also vary based on various factors.

Factors that can impact the porn withdrawal timeline include:

• Length of their porn use
• How much porn they consumed per sitting
• The type of porn they were watching
• The method of consumption (phone, computer, magazine, social media, etc.)

Someone with a mild porn dependence may only experience withdrawal symptoms for a few days.

On the other hand, someone with a more extreme porn addiction may experience lingering symptoms for weeks or even months.

Porn Withdrawal vs. Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal

While porn addiction is a behavioral addiction and drug and alcohol addictions are substance addictions, the way the brain reacts to quitting the addiction “cold turkey” is similar.

In both cases, the substance or behavior produces elevated dopamine levels, causing the brain to want to repeat the activity to continue receiving dopamine.

However, if the brain suddenly stops getting the extra dopamine hit it has become used to, you may experience withdrawal symptoms due to this sudden chemical change.

The biggest difference between porn withdrawal and substance withdrawal is the severity of the symptoms.

Thankfully, porn addiction withdrawal symptoms are not as dangerous as substance withdrawal since they are primarily psychological.

Managing Withdrawal Symptoms for Porn Addiction

Most people can manage porn addiction withdrawal symptoms on their own.

Some ways to manage symptoms of porn withdrawal include:

• Exercise: Exercise can improve your mental health and overall well-being.
• Build relationships: For many, an unintended consequence of porn addiction is the strain it puts on their relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners. Repairing those damaged relationships can help relieve some of the stress and anxiety of porn addiction withdrawal.
• Find a hobby: Another healthy way to use some of your new free time is to focus on old and new hobbies.

Treating Symptoms of Porn Addiction Withdrawal

Unlike substance use disorders, no detox is needed as part of the recovery process for porn addiction. Someone suffering from porn addiction can begin treatment right away.

Some of the most effective ways to treat a porn addiction are:

• Therapy: Both individual and group therapy for porn addiction can help the person identify the underlying issues that led to their addiction and learn healthier ways of dealing with those triggers in their daily life.
• Medications: While no medications are currently FDA-approved to treat porn addiction, drugs like naltrexone (Vivitrol) are being studied to treat behavioral addiction withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe medication that helps with some of the side effects of porn addiction (e.g., antidepressants).
• Support groups: Support groups such as Porn Addicts Anonymous (PAA) can provide a support system throughout porn addiction recovery.

Getting Help for a Pornography Addiction

If you or a loved one has a porn addiction, you can find the help you need or even seek confidential medical advice for a treatment referral. Visit the Porn Addicts Anonymous (PAA) page for meeting times and locations in your area.

You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit their online program locator to find addiction treatment options in your area.

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Written by

Jessica Miller

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

Reviewed by

• Fact-Checked
• Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.