Are You Addicted to Sex and Porn? Take This Quiz to Find Out
November 23rd, 2023
Sex and porn addiction are serious conditions that can affect your mental health, relationships, and quality of life. They are characterized by compulsive behaviors that interfere with your ability to function normally and cause you distress. In this article, we will explain what sex and porn addiction are, how they differ from love addiction, and how you can assess yourself for these conditions using a simple screening tool.
What is Sex Addiction?
Sex addiction is a condition in which a person engages in excessive or compulsive sexual activity, despite negative consequences on their personal and professional life. It is not about having a high sex drive or enjoying sex, but rather about losing control over one's sexual behavior and using sex as a way to cope with emotional problems or escape from reality. Symptoms of sex addiction may include:
A strong desire or compulsion to engage in sexual activity
Spending excessive amounts of time or money on sex or sexual activities
Neglecting important obligations or responsibilities because of sex
Continuing to engage in sex despite negative consequences, such as health risks, legal troubles, or relationship problems
Lying about or hiding one's sexual behavior from others
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop or reduce sexual activity
Using sex to cope with negative emotions or stress
Sex addiction can lead to negative effects on an individual's mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Treatment for sex addiction may include therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes aimed at breaking the cycle of compulsive behavior.
What is Porn Addiction?
Porn addiction refers to a condition in which a person compulsively consumes pornography, despite negative consequences on their personal and professional life. It is characterized by an individual's inability to control their consumption of pornography, leading to negative effects on their relationships, work or school performance, and overall well-being. Symptoms of porn addiction may include:
A strong desire or compulsion to consume pornography
Spending excessive amounts of time viewing pornography
Feeling guilty or ashamed about the behavior
Continuing to consume pornography despite negative consequences, such as loss of interest in real-life sex, isolation, or addiction to other substances
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop or reduce consumption
Using pornography to cope with negative emotions or stress
Experiencing problems in your relationships because of your pornography use
Experiencing guilt, shame, or anxiety related to your pornography use
Porn addiction can lead to negative effects on an individual's mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Treatment for porn addiction may include therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes aimed at breaking the cycle of compulsive behavior.
How Sex and Porn Addiction Differ from Love Addiction
Sex and porn addiction are different from love addiction, which is a pattern of behavior in which an individual becomes excessively attached to the idea of being in love and may engage in compulsive, destructive, or obsessive behaviors in pursuit of romantic love. Love addicts often feel a constant need for attention, affection, and validation from their partners, and may experience intense emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms when their relationships end. Symptoms of love addiction can include:
Obsessive thinking about a partner or potential partner
Engaging in constant dating or sexual activity
Feeling compelled to stay in unhealthy relationships
Experiencing anxiety or depression when not in a relationship
These behaviors can lead to significant emotional distress and impair one’s ability to form healthy relationships.
Love addiction is not the same as having a healthy desire for love and intimacy, but rather a dysfunctional way of relating to others that stems from unmet emotional needs or unresolved trauma. Treatment for love addiction may include therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes aimed at healing the underlying issues and developing a healthy sense of self-worth and identity.
How to Assess Yourself for Sex and Porn Addiction
If you suspect that you may have sex or porn addiction, you can use the following screening tool to help you evaluate your situation. The screening tool is based on the PAST (Pornography Addiction Screening Test) questionnaire, which is a validated instrument for assessing porn addiction. The questions are adapted to include sex addiction as well. To use the screening tool, answer the following questions honestly and count how many times you answer "yes".
Do you view pornography or engage in sexual activity daily or more frequently?
Have you tried to stop or cut back on your pornography or sexual activity? If so, how successful have you been?
Have you ever felt that your pornography or sexual activity was out of control?
Have you ever neglected important obligations or responsibilities because of your pornography or sexual activity?
Have you ever continued to view pornography or engage in sexual activity despite negative consequences?
Have you ever lied about your pornography or sexual activity to others?
Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit or cut back on pornography or sexual activity?
Have you ever used pornography or sexual activity to cope with negative emotions or stress?
Have you ever experienced problems in your relationships because of your pornography or sexual activity?
Have you ever experienced guilt, shame, or anxiety related to your pornography or sexual activity?
If you answered "yes" to:
0-2 questions: You are unlikely to have sex or porn addiction. However, if you are concerned about your behavior or its impact on your life, you may still benefit from seeking professional help or support.
3-6 questions: You may have a mild to moderate level of sex or porn addiction. You may want to consider seeking professional help or support to address your behavior and its underlying causes.
7-10 questions: You may have a severe level of sex or porn addiction. You are strongly advised to seek professional help or support as soon as possible to address your behavior and its negative consequences on your life.
Remember, this screening tool is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis or treatment. It is only meant to help you assess your situation and guide you to seek appropriate help if needed. Sex and porn addiction are treatable conditions that can be overcome with the right support and resources. You are not alone, and you deserve to live a happy and healthy life.