pornography is not an addiction.

There is this wonderful site called the art of manliness where they say pornography isn't an addiction.
"Currently the DSM-5, the Bible of psychiatric diagnosis (which, just like the actual Bible, is super controversial) does not consider behaviors like porn use, eating, or gambling, to be addictions.Only dependence on substances, like drugs, alcohol, and nicotine, are “officially” considered addictions. "

He further goes on to say- Given the inherent squigginess of the habit vs. addiction spectrum, I personally strongly believe that it’s better to frame it as the former. This is not at all to downplay the severity of compulsive porn use, nor to deny its extremely strong pull


Labeling impulsive behaviors as addictions may hinder an individual from feeling capable of conquering an undesirable behavior. “Addiction” is a very loaded – even scary — word. When we tell ourselves we have an addiction, we’re implying that we’ve lost control of ourselves, that our ability to make our own choices is impaired, and that it may even be impossible to change course. Something else is in the driver’s seat, so to speak.

Once you understand the science behind porn use, you can see it for what it really is: sexual junk food. You don’t give your bag of potato chips a menacing aura of power. They’re just potato chips.
If I thought that labeling compulsive porn use as an addiction could help guys quit, that’s how I’d label it. But I earnestly believe that it is quite the opposite.".

 

Yea of course it destroys lives and its terrible. It is an addiction indeed but that perspective never helps me because it makes me feel something I'd never get out of. I just look at as a habit controlled by a super stimulus.

 

You are just getting too attached to words. We are talking about getting the correct mindset and to inforce a positive attitude here to help us going so that namelessjohn doesn't post threads that he "lost the battle" or "the monster" finally had him in its clutches or quoting famous people on falling down and rising up again.
Central jake , of course its an addiction. The title was to get the attention of people to help all of us get moving and instill hope. We can't deny the harm it does to us but the situation is such that I'd say we should take both the sides of the same coin in equal spirits.

 

I Agree with Rocky_101. "What we Think We Become."

 

Yep just cause gets it. Its also what we don't think about because when you don't give PMO the importance you think it should be given, its eliminated from your head and no longer a part of your thoughts which also means we won't spend too much time on nofap either and there have been times for me when hanging out on nofap too much just wanted me to go relapse. Anything to which we give too much importance not to indulge in or to abstain from looks more glamorous. Prohibition is like invitation. Being too precautious isn't the answer either I've tried that.
I'm fully aware of the fact that its an addiction and I will continue to be aware of it.

 

I think addiction is too strong of a word in itself, however I feel i am addicted to P. It DID start off by being a part time habit, but it then became full time. An addiction means in my mind, to indulge in that which one is dependent on.

Sorry ppl, i guess this comes down to matter of opinion.

Peace

 

Read my above replies, smartass

 

These are things to help you keep going further down on the journey. OF COURSE ITS AN ADDICTION but not the one for which expensive rehabs are needed! I understand how tough it can be in the beginning because I've been through worse shit myself. That's why we are here. A support community.
If this isn't your cup of tea? Then don't drink it. Make way for people to whom this perspective might actually help. Its just a perspective and means of not going too hard on yourself. The title was to get attention which I honestly declared. We cannot deny the strong pull PMO has but considering t it as habit and sexual junk food helps me keep my priority in check. Addiction has always been a loaded word. Its important to be aware that its an addiction but don't give PMO the significance, attention, importance it deserves is what Brett tried to say in his article on the art of manliness. Go ahead and read that fully I've just copy pasted very few parafraphs of what he said.


And thanks for the link stranglethorn. Very interesting.

 

Of course. I'm sure even the guy who wrote the article realized that this addiction is beatable. That is why he offered this great idea or perspective to help young men give hope and strength and yet be aware of the consequences of indulging in it which is why he wrote a long article on the pitfalls of consuming pornography

 

I will take that as a compliment.
By the way my friends want me to try weed. What do you think I should do?
I don't really want to get into it but perhaps once in a while? It never really happens once in a while does it
And I've read articles that you can't get physically addicted to it. Don't know much about it.