Even if you don't call it an addiction, I still consume an unhealthy amount of porn imo. I worry that I wouldn't be able to get it up for a real person, not that it matters cause I'm too mentally screwed up to try hooking up or dating.
Start slow by starting to masturbate before turning on porn, remembering the last porn you watched. Slowly increase the amount of time before turning on porn. Then over time eventually you might be able to get off entirely by remembering what you've seen before. You can use that skill any time when with someone.
You think you consume an unhealthy amount of pornography, because that's the message that you're hearing from religiously-motivated sources. (Groups like "Fight The New Drug" are funded and staffed by Mormons, which meets all the criteria for a high-demand religion, AKA cult.) It's the way that you conceptualize your use of pornography, rather than your consumption of pornography, that is the problem. When you compare self-described "porn addicts" to average people that do not label themselves as addicts, their consumption is most typically either identical, or slightly below average.
Your anxieties about "[not] be[ing] able to get it up for a real person" are what is likely to cause problems because that's going to interfere with your arousal levels.
Bruh I haven't been brainwashed by religious messaging, I have an archive of like 20 gbs of super niche fetish shit because I've essentially over the past decade shifted what I consider normal way into the deep end. I'm not saying that porn addiction is a thing, just saying that overconsumption can still be a problem.
Surprisingly, porn use has damages outside of just puritanical BS taboo! Instant gratification, a decrease in drive to meet your needs in other ways, unhealthy associations with sex (because that actually exists outside of puritanical views, believe it or not), some pretty gnarly effects around the whole dopamine release and reward seeking thing...
The same "problems" would apply to video games, Facebook/IG/TikTok, etc., and even reading books. It's certainly true for people that are avoidant and use shopping or gambling, and yet those aren't addictions either.
Social media addiction absolutely exists, is a very recognized thing particularly in younger generations. Same for video games, you can absolutely be addicted to gaming.
Ya know what I lied, happened to find a pretty decent source for you. Specifically about Internet gaming disorder, another psychological addiction that's present in the DSM-V, and even has withdrawal symptoms associated with it. Here ya go.
...It's present as "a condition for further study", which is not the same thing as an official diagnosis. (source)[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201407/internet-gaming-disorder-in-dsm-5]
Sure, it's 'present' in the DSM-V, but it's still not a diagnosis.
Even if you don't call it an addiction, I still consume an unhealthy amount of porn imo. I worry that I wouldn't be able to get it up for a real person, not that it matters cause I'm too mentally screwed up to try hooking up or dating.
Start slow by starting to masturbate before turning on porn, remembering the last porn you watched. Slowly increase the amount of time before turning on porn. Then over time eventually you might be able to get off entirely by remembering what you've seen before. You can use that skill any time when with someone.
You think you consume an unhealthy amount of pornography, because that's the message that you're hearing from religiously-motivated sources. (Groups like "Fight The New Drug" are funded and staffed by Mormons, which meets all the criteria for a high-demand religion, AKA cult.) It's the way that you conceptualize your use of pornography, rather than your consumption of pornography, that is the problem. When you compare self-described "porn addicts" to average people that do not label themselves as addicts, their consumption is most typically either identical, or slightly below average.
Your anxieties about "[not] be[ing] able to get it up for a real person" are what is likely to cause problems because that's going to interfere with your arousal levels.
Bruh I haven't been brainwashed by religious messaging, I have an archive of like 20 gbs of super niche fetish shit because I've essentially over the past decade shifted what I consider normal way into the deep end. I'm not saying that porn addiction is a thing, just saying that overconsumption can still be a problem.
What do you consider "super niche" fetish stuff?
DM'd you about it. Nothing illegal, not a pedophile, but not comfortable talking openly about it.
Surprisingly, porn use has damages outside of just puritanical BS taboo! Instant gratification, a decrease in drive to meet your needs in other ways, unhealthy associations with sex (because that actually exists outside of puritanical views, believe it or not), some pretty gnarly effects around the whole dopamine release and reward seeking thing...
Cite your sources.
The same "problems" would apply to video games, Facebook/IG/TikTok, etc., and even reading books. It's certainly true for people that are avoidant and use shopping or gambling, and yet those aren't addictions either.
Social media addiction absolutely exists, is a very recognized thing particularly in younger generations. Same for video games, you can absolutely be addicted to gaming.
As for sources, they're but a Google search away, I'll take care of it for you. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C25&q=pornography+addiction+&btnG=
We're also not in a formal debate, and I'm not writing a paper to be peer reviewed, so that's about all you'll get for me.
See my other comment.
It is not a recognized disorder.
Ya know what I lied, happened to find a pretty decent source for you. Specifically about Internet gaming disorder, another psychological addiction that's present in the DSM-V, and even has withdrawal symptoms associated with it. Here ya go.
...It's present as "a condition for further study", which is not the same thing as an official diagnosis. (source)[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201407/internet-gaming-disorder-in-dsm-5]
Sure, it's 'present' in the DSM-V, but it's still not a diagnosis.