Masturbation / Question
Published: January 6, 2006
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have a porn addiction and I don't want to confess it to my parents, I need on some tips to help me stop. My mom was saying she was going to get a blocker thingie to stop from bad sites and pop-ups and stuff, I think that is a really good idea but it has been over 3 months since she said then, can you please help me here, I am getting sick of this porn addiction. From, Porn Addict
Signed: Addicted to Porn
Dear Addicted to Porn,
TeenHealthFX is very impressed that you are able to acknowledge that the amount of time you spend watching porn may be a problem for you. Feeling addicted to anything, whether it is alcohol, drugs, gambling or porn, can certainly feel scary at times because it can feel so out of control.
Porn addiction has become more and more of a problem through the years, especially now that it’s so easy to access through the internet. Excessive use of pornography can be problematic for several reasons. Some people put so much time and energy into searching for and looking at porn, that it gets in the way of other areas in their lives, such as school, work or spending time with friends or family. Excessive use of porn can also alter in a negative way a person’s views and expectations of how sex and dating relationships should be. For some people who deal with depression or have significant difficulty coping with stress, excessive use of porn may be used as a type of escape or way to try and temporarily feel better.
TeenHealthFX understands that that it can be difficult and scary to “confess” any kind of addiction to the people who are close to us. People often feel ashamed of their addictions or feel that they should be able to deal with these addictions on their own. But try and remember that many people deal with different kinds of addictions and that you are not alone in this. An addiction is nothing to feel embarrassed about, and an addiction is usually easier to deal with when you have support from professionals and the people you love.
Even though it may feel like a tough conversation, we recommend you discuss this with your parents so they can help you in whatever ways they can. Your parents can take steps to make sure that your access to porn on the computer and on TV is limited. Your parents can also set up a meeting with a therapist so that you can discuss the behaviors that concern you, as well as learn whether or not these behaviors do in fact mean that you have an “addiction” or a problem with porn. If the therapist does agree that the amount of time you spend watching porn is a problem, he or she could talk with you about various ways to deal with this.
If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Statistics show that giving a teen a credit card does not teach them to be financially responsible or to encourage self-restraint, but actually promotes a “spend now and deal with the consequences later” mindset.
