Porn addiction withdrawal can be one of the most difficult hurdles you'll face in overcoming your pornography addiction. This is especially true if you have used pornography for some time. For many people, the first signs of porn addiction withdrawal are usually in the early stages. Here are some things to watch out for if you think you may be preparing to start experiencing withdrawal.
Watch out for a decrease in dopamine levels in the brain. Many studies have shown that porn addiction withdrawal is the same as addiction to cocaine or heroin. When there is an increase in dopamine levels in the brain, it causes a release of an opiate called dopamine. This is usually what results in the “alert” state that people often say occurs when they feel a craving coming on.
However, it has been shown that porn addicts suffer from a slower and longer recovery when compared to people with other addictions. Because of this, the symptoms of porn addiction withdrawal are not nearly as pronounced or obvious as those associated with other substances. If you're looking for signs of a loss of control, it's likely that you'll experience headaches, anxiety, insomnia, lack of concentration, and even weight gain. These are all indicators that the brain is trying to repair itself from the damage done by the excessive use of pornography.
While it's unlikely that any of these things are going to be a big problem for most people, keep in mind that the brain needs to be “reprogrammed” every once in a while. If you find yourself having problems functioning normally because of porn addiction withdrawal symptoms, then you may feel that you need to seek treatment to help repair the damage that has been done. There are many different therapies that you can get to help re-educate the brain and get it back to a normal state. In some cases, the damage may be so extensive that the brain will never be able to be trained.
One common symptom of porn addiction withdrawal is overwhelming emotion.
This may feel similar to a panic attack, especially if the user has had the habit for quite some time. The user may feel like their life is out of control, and they may feel the urge to just stop doing anything. If you have a loved one suffering from this severe withdrawal symptom, the best thing that you can do is talk to them about their situation. They may feel overwhelmed too and there isn't anything that anyone can do to help them feel better. That's why it's important to be supportive and listen to them as they struggle.
Overcoming porn addiction withdrawal symptoms is also much easier if the user knows how to psychologically battle the temptation to use the internet after hours. Porn is incredibly satisfying, and it allows the user to escape real life for a while. In many cases, this escape is filled with constant sexual thoughts and feelings. This combination can lead to serious depression, anxiety, and even mental illness in some users. There are different methods that can be used to combat this problem, and most of them revolve around learning new ways to block out these urges.
In most cases, though, the best way to overcome porn addiction withdrawal is simply to block out the activities and thoughts that provide the stimulation for the habit. This can be done by learning different relaxation techniques and finding ways to mentally fight against negative thoughts and feelings. It's not uncommon for recovery support groups to recommend hypnosis or other powerful mind-altering exercises. These may be helpful, but the most important thing is to find a way to block out these activities when the time comes.
In general, the best method for overcoming porn addiction withdrawal is to block out time and focus completely on watching porn. This can be done by watching videos of someone else engaged in an activity that is less enjoyable than watching porn. The brain needs to be trained to ignore the visual stimuli and replace them with something else – anything else will cause the mind to feel distracted. If you can find a product that uses this step, it will be even more effective.