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What are clear symptoms and signs of porn addiction?
In this powerful article, we're going to discuss the signs of a porn addiction with the hope that you can identify it, turn from it if it's present in your life, and choose God's way of healthy sexuality, free from sin.
But, what is a porn addiction?
What Does A Porn Addiction Look Like?
A porn addiction occurs after frequent porn use to the point where a person can't stop watching it, even if they want to, and when it interferes with their relationships, daily life, and health.
While it's not sinful for a man to be shirtless at the beach or doing hard labor, watching a person with lustful intent or if that person is using their looks to sexually tempt you is, infact, sinful.
In Scripture, porn addiction and pornography (which usually includes masturbation) fall under the sins of the lusts of the eyes, and the lusts of the flesh and may also involve the sin category of the pride of life.
University Scholars on Obscene or Lascivious Imagery
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Obscene / Lascivious Imagery |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Aquinas (University of Paris, 1225–1274) | Summa Theologiae II–II | Aquinas teaches that intentionally seeking out indecent images or spectacles excites lust and is therefore sinful. Visual stimuli that deliberately stir desire are morally harmful. |
| Desiderius Erasmus (University of Paris / Cambridge, 1466–1536) | Enchiridion Militis Christiani | Erasmus warns that lewd pictures and erotic literature corrupt the imagination and weaken self-control, leading the mind toward impurity. |
| Martin Luther (University of Wittenberg, 1483–1546) | Lectures on Genesis | Luther condemns deliberate “unchaste gazing,” teaching that seeking out indecent images feeds sinful desire and must be resisted. |
| John Calvin (University of Paris / Orléans, 1509–1564) | Institutes of the Christian Religion | Calvin argues that indecent spectacles and provocative images invite temptation through the eyes and undermine purity of heart. |
| Francis de Sales (University of Padua, 1567–1622) | Introduction to the Devout Life | De Sales warns that impure pictures and suggestive representations easily mislead the imagination and stir sensuality, making them spiritually dangerous. |
God wants you to be free of all ungodly addictions and sins.
Today, in our discussion, we're going to look a bit more on:
- the symptoms of a porn addiction,
- what porn addiction looks like, and
- how to break free by the power of the Holy Spirit
1. You Avoid Intimacy And Choose To Watch Porn Instead
The Bible says that the marriage bed is undefiled and that we should not give Satan opportunity by abstaining from sex in marriage unless agreed to by both partners for a short while.
- Do you find yourself choosing porn over your spouse?
- Do you prefer to use pornography to satisfy your sexual needs as opposed to the spouse that God gave you?
If so you need to repent (change your mind) and turn to God's idea of healthy sexuality and have intercourse with your wife (if you're a man) or your husband (if you're a woman).
2. You Can't Stop
The bible says that when you commit sin you become a slave to it.
John 8:33-35
- 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
- 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
- 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
So if you find that no matter what you do, you can't find yourself pulling away from pornography use then you may definitely be looking at an addiction to porn. And if you desire freedom Scriptures have the answer.
1 Corinthians 6:18
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
3. Do You Feel Angry When You Miss A Session?
If you find yourself feeling angry because you can't watch porn or get sexual release from it, then you may be looking at a porn addiction. And God has the answer to this.
4. Are You Constantly Overtaken By Thoughts of Pornography?
- Do you find yourself at work constantly lusting over the video that you watched the other day?
- Do you find yourself hoping that your supervisor or colleagues can leave the room so you can visit a porn site?
Then you're showings symptoms of porn addiction because this is a classic sign of an addiction to pornography. Don't let the enemy get the best of you. Get your freedom today!
John 8:31-32
- 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
- 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
5. Is Your Spending Wasteful and Excessive?
Do you find yourself purchasing porn videos online?
- Do you visit sex shops and pick up sex toys and videos like you've seen in videos to imitate the actors?
Then you may be in the throws of an addiction to porn.
6. Your Physical Health is Suffering From Your Constant Use
- Is your physical health suffering because you're spending too much time on the computer or phone.
- Are you forgetting to eat as a result of your porn use?
- Are you forgetting to brush your teeth, bath or just take care of your general hygeine?
- Do you find yourself eating the bare-minimum or not eating as healthily as you used to because you're forgoing meal preparation for quick snacks and fast food so that you don't spend much time away from the computer, phone or video?
If so, the enemy is using pornography to destroy your health. You need to cut porn out of your life.
Matthew 5:29-32
- 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
- 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
- 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Scholars on Overcoming Porn Use
| Scholar / Field / University | View / Contribution on Overcoming Pornography Use | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| Mark D. Griffiths — Behavioral Addiction Psychology, Nottingham Trent University | Applies behavioral-addiction models; recommends CBT, impulse-control training, and structured habit replacement for reducing compulsive use. | Research on behavioral and online addictions |
| Samuel L. Perry — Sociology & Psychology of Religion, University of Oklahoma | Finds that shame cycles worsen compulsive use; emphasizes open communication, community support, and healthier moral frameworks. | Addicted to Lust |
| Brian Willoughby — Family & Developmental Psychology, Brigham Young University | Connects attachment insecurity and relationship skills to problematic use; supports goal setting and relational therapy. | Peer-reviewed studies on pornography and relationships |
| Joshua B. Grubbs — Clinical & Personality Psychology, Bowling Green State University | Studies perceived addiction and moral incongruence; argues for addressing cognitive appraisals, self-regulation, and guilt patterns. | Longitudinal research on pornography and perceived addiction |
| Valerie Voon — Neuroscience & Psychiatry, University of Cambridge | Uses neuroimaging to identify reward-circuit involvement in compulsive sexual behavior; supports CBT plus habit-retraining and, when appropriate, medical interventions. | Neuroimaging studies on compulsive sexual behavior |
If You're Looking for True and Lasting Freedom From Pornography, There Is A Solution.
His Name is The Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray:
Father in Jesus' Name, Thank you that I can come to you at my weakest moments knowing that your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Thank you that you are my deliverer. Lord I need help from this. I don't know what to do, but I know that you have the answer in yourself. Please give me the strength to overcome this sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to see men and women for who they are and not as objects of lust. If there's any childhood pain or rejection, trauma or abuse that have predisposed me to this, I pray Lord that you would forgive me and heal me. By your strength, Lord I forgive those who have hurt me, and I thank you for your forgiveness to walk in newness of life, free by strength and love. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross to save me from my sins, reconciling me to God, and giving me the gift of righteousness in you. Fulfill your perfect will in my life, O God, in Jesus' Name. Amen!
