Treatment for the Addict
Treatment for a pornography addict may very well require professional guidance and, certainly, a strong system of support. In reality, there is nowhere in our society that a pornography addict can go and not encounter sexual triggers.
As with food addiction, abstinence is generally not an option. Therefore, a pornography addict will need to learn to control the addictive, compulsive impulses and to retrain his thinking about sexuality. Common examples of dysfunctional beliefs that a pornography addict may buy into include:
I am unlovable the way I am.
It is not possible to have my needs met with another person.
Sex is the most important need in my life.
The sexual desires I have are bad and unforgivable. Therefore, I must satisfy them in secret.
Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy can be helpful in changing these self-destructive thought patterns.
What are antiandrogens?
Antiandrogens are medications that inhibit the biological effects of androgens. Androgens are sex hormones. Anti-androgens may reduce sexual urges, erections, and fantasies. Typically, these medications are used in more extreme cases when the compulsive sexual behavior may be harmful to others. A pedophile who lures children into pornography might be a candidate for this type of treatment.
If the Internet has been a vehicle for pornography, there are many blocking and filtering programs that can be purchased for installation on one's computer. These programs are helpful for the addict who wants to resist temptation and also for protecting kids from viewing pornographic material.
Twelve-step support groups such as Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.), and Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), have also been helpful. Each addict will need to identify her particular triggers and devise strategies to manage her responses or to avoid the triggers.
As with other addictions, pharmacological treatment for obsessive thinking and/or for co-occurring mental health problems may be beneficial. Medications that have been used to treat compulsive sexual behavior include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.
In addition to treating the compulsivity, the medications themselves often cause sexual side effects such as lowered libido. Mood stabilizers such as lithium, antianxiety medications, and naltrexone have also been used.
