Regular porn-users who try to stop suddenly can suffer physical withdrawal-like symptoms such as headaches, chills and even nausea, experts have discovered.
The researchers made the discovery while studying problematic pornography use (PPU) — compulsive porn-watching that interferes with everyday life.
The phenomenon, sometimes called porn addiction, has previously been linked to erectile dysfunction and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
However, scientists now believe up to two thirds of people with PPU can also suffer health issues if they try to ‘go cold turkey’ and cease porn use.
Similar problems are seen in drug addicts when they try to stop using narcotics and the team are now researching how common the condition is among porn-watchers and how long the symptoms last.
A review of 14 studies by researchers in Brazil published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, revealed that people with problematic porn use experience withdrawal-like symptoms
PPU is a form of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, defined by the World Health Organization as a failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges.
This could be to the point of neglecting relationships, personal health, other interests and responsibilities.
Typically, the disorder would be diagnosed if problems had persisted for six months or more.
In the case of PPU, the sexual impulse is to masturbate to pornography.
People suffering from PPU may have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to reduce their porn consumption and may also find little satisfaction from their habit.
Recognising many of these ‘symptoms’ were similar to those reported by drug addicts, a team at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, set about researching whether PPU was also linked to other health issues.
They discovered that, as with drugs and other compulsive behaviours such as gambling addiction, PPU could trigger physical withdrawal symptoms.
After reviewing 14 separate studies they concluded that it did — in fact, 72 per cent of people with PPU are hit by withdrawal.
One study found 57 per cent of participants experienced ‘cravings’, while 52 per cent also experienced heightened emotions, difficulties in focus and nervousness.
A smaller number — roughly one in 20 — reported sleeping difficulties, headaches, sweating, chills, sickness when they tried to quit porn.
Other studies also found participants abstaining self-reported symptoms such as depression, ‘brain fog’, feelings of loneliness an restlessness.
The researchers discovered that in most cases people had ‘intense cravings’ to masturbate to porn that caused them to relapse.
Problematic porn use is a form of compulsive sexual behaviour that can lead to sufferers neglecting relationships, personal health, other interests and responsibilities
They noted that several of these withdrawal-like symptoms were seen in regular users of porn who weren’t classifies as severe enough to have PPU.
Following the review authors called for further research to investigate onset, characteristics, duration and proportion of withdrawal-like symptoms.
The UK has the second highest incidence of internet pornography searches in the world, with an average of 16,600,000 searches for porn taking place each month.
Almost two thirds of young people now regularly use online pornography, according to Paracelsus Recovery, a leading mental health and addiction clinic.
A quarter of 16 to 21-year-olds first saw pornography on the internet while still at primary school. By the age of 13, 50 per cent had been exposed to it.
Meanwhile, research suggests one in ten adults may now suffer PPU, with higher numbers in young people. They may watch porn for up to 12 hours a week.
The reason watching porn can become a compulsion isn’t fully understood.
One study found 57 per cent of participants experienced ‘cravings’, while 52 per cent also experienced increased emotionality, difficulties in focus, nervousness
However it is know that watching pornography triggers the release of dopamine — a brain chemical related to pleasure and motivation.
This can make viewers want to watch it again and again.
The brain later releases another chemical called dynorphin — this is designed to counteract the effect of the dopamine.
When a person used to watching a lot of porn suddenly stops, dopamine and dynorphin levels become unbalanced, triggering withdrawal symptoms, some experts have suggested.
