Porn Addiction and Withdrawal – Sex and Relationship Therapy

Robert Weiss, Ph.D., LCSW, CSAT

Alcoholics and drug addicts are known to sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms – delirium tremens, chills, fever, insomnia, night sweats, headache, nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), high blood pressure, depression – when they suddenly withdraw from drugs , irritability, anxiety, hallucinations, irritability, etc. Withdrawal from some substances is worse than withdrawal from others. Opioid addiction (including heroin addiction) and alcoholism often produce the most severe physical symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms can be life-threatening if not treated medically.

Typically, substance addicts dealing with severe physical withdrawal symptoms gradually withdraw from their drug of choice, meaning they are given a drug to manage the withdrawal by temporarily replacing their addictive drug of choice, and then they slowly and Wean yourself off this drug steadily. Typically, this process takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. For example, chronic alcoholics often taper their dose of chlordiazepoxide over the first week or two of treatment, while opioid addicts often taper their doses of “lesser” opioids such as buprenorphine Coffee (also called Suboxone).

But what about porn addiction? Do porn addicts get DT and hallucinate like alcoholics and heroin addicts? Usually, they don’t. However, this does not mean that suddenly stopping addictive sexual fantasies and pornography does not produce withdrawal effects. In fact, it almost always does to some degree, usually in one or more of the following ways:

• Irritability, anxiety, agitation, depression, etc.: Most porn addicts experience extreme emotional discomfort during the early stages of sobriety. Why wouldn’t they? After all, pornography has been their primary way of coping with any and all discomfort, including months, years, and even decades of seemingly benign feelings of boredom. When drug addiction is overcome, they no longer have this simple method of numbness and escape. Without this, they have to confront their emotions, which can be a very uncomfortable experience.
• exchange: When many porn addicts first begin recovery and treatment, they find themselves replacing (or trying to replace) their use of pornography with some other compulsive or addictive activity. Without pornography as a coping mechanism, they may turn to drinking, drugs, smoking, eating, gambling, spending, or any other pleasurable (and therefore escapist) activity.
• Loneliness and longing for connection: For most porn addicts, porn masks not only daily stress and emotional discomfort, but also underlying issues related to a desire for true emotional intimacy. Without continued interference from sexual fantasies and imagery, this long-term condition may surface and lead to intense feelings of loneliness, fear, isolation, and unhappiness.

During early recovery from porn addiction, even the smallest annoyance can feel like a big problem. Without a preferred coping mechanism, addicts tend to overreact and explode. They get angry, cry, fear, etc. at themselves and others. Therefore, it is not always fun to be around them. This is the main evidence of withdrawal from their (mostly emotional rather than physical) addiction.

That said, some newly sober porn addicts experience the opposite of withdrawal. this is called honeymoon or pink cloud. These lucky people find that as they embark on the path to healing, they suddenly lose all desire to use pornography. They are fascinated by the insights they are developing and excited about finally finding solutions to their deepest problems.

this interim stage of early recovery It’s great while it lasts. However, addicts who ride the pink cloud should be aware that their desire to use porn will return, and when it does, it will likely be stronger than ever. If you don’t anticipate and prepare for this situation, it’s easy to relapse or think something went wrong in your recovery. In fact, there is no need to relapse and recovery is no problem. Rather, it is a normal part of the recovery process and the addict simply experiences a delayed form of withdrawal.

Any porn addict who experiences withdrawal symptoms should talk about these feelings with a supporter who understands the porn addiction cycle. In most cases, this person will be a therapist, a 12-step sponsor, or a friend in recovery. Close friends and family who are not yet in recovery can also help. If withdrawal symptoms are severe (especially depression, dissociation, and anxiety), a therapist should be consulted as soon as possible. Severe, uncontrolled withdrawal symptoms can lead not only to continued viewing of pornography but also to other forms of severe self-harm.

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