Counseling Men Blog

Advice for men – and the women who love them!

Addicted to Pornography - A Guy Confesses He's Addicted

Dr. Kurt Smith, LMFT, LPCC, AFC
July 24, 2019

man-knows-he-is-addicted-to-pornography.jpgPart 2 of 3

Being addicted to pornography is a problem for many men. Unfortunately, there are a lot of men and their partners that have a hard time recognizing pornography as a problem. For many it seems normal for a man to watch porn - the truth is that it’s not. Porn viewing causes issues for men in their personal lives and in their relationships.

Most men will ignore the signs of a problem with porn addiction until they not only have to contend with their porn problem, but also the other aspects of their lives that have been damaged. By the time they accept there’s an issue and do something about it, there can be a lot to untangle and it can take a lot of time and work. Just check out Jay’s story below to see what I mean.

Take Our Partner Rater Quiz

How Men Ignore Becoming Addicted To Porn

Jay never saw pornography as a problem. He certainly didn't think he was addicted to pornography. Looking at porn is pretty normal guy behavior he thought.

Once in a while he'd wonder if he could be addicted to pornography, but he'd quickly rationalize the question away. How could he be addicted to pornography? He didn't obsess over it, he didn't plan his whole day around looking at porn, and he didn't have an expectation or anticipation for the next time he could look at pornography. He just wasn't like that.

Take Our Partner Rater Quiz

What Jay didn't see was how routine looking at pornography had become for him. He didn't see that, just like the addictive patterns described above, he also was dependent on porn. Pornography gave him a little pleasure, sometimes for only a couple of seconds, in his otherwise stressful, demanding, non-stop life. And he needed that.

Jay almost never got on the computer with the intention of going right to porn. But he usually ended up there. He did like to check his email every day - mainly to see if any buddies had sent him any new porn clips. Also, just like the addictive behavior he believed described someone who is pornography addicted, he'd became religious about checking his email. It never occurred to him that his irritability and constant fights with Charlene the week the computer wasn't working were because he couldn't get into his email or online to go to some of his favorite sites.

Real Problems Caused By Pornography

As Jay became more addicted to pornography things with Charlene got worse. Of course, in his mind, one had nothing to do with the other. Eventually, however, she convinced him that they needed help – counseling. He didn’t really see the need, but agreed to go to make her happy.

Take Our Partner Rater Quiz

Jay's awareness of his problem changed after he began men's counseling at Guy Stuff. He’s begun to see there was more going on than he realized and that his behavior was anything but normal. Here's what he's shared with me about his being addicted to porn:

  • "It was a distraction."
  • "It became an escape. I'd get lost in it."
  • "I'd sit down to check my email real quick and before I knew it 2 hours had gone by."
  • "I'd go to it out of boredom."
  • "It was almost instinct to click on pics."
  • "It became a game to find pics to fulfill a fantasy."
  • "It wasn't an obsession. I never thought, 'I can't wait to get home to get on the computer.' It wasn't like that for me."

As Jay and I continued to work together, he's confessed that,

Lusting after women is huge for me. It's my biggest challenge. I live a life of fantasy. What could be. Not just with porn, but in my work, my relationship with Charlene, my whole life."

Jay was starting to understand he had a number of things he needed to work through, and that porn addiction had not only exacerbated existing problems but caused many, many more. The behavior he thought was “no big deal” and “just a normal guy” thing, had nearly cost him his relationship with Charlene and his family.

Are there any parts of Jay's story you can relate to? If you're wondering if you could be addicted to pornography, and maybe even denying it like him too, talk to a professional counselor who knows porn addiction (be careful, though, not a lot of counselors really know how to treat an addiction to porn). Get an expert's opinion. It's too easy for us to talk ourselves out of the truth. Just like Jay.

(Read Part 1 of Jay & Charlene's story - What Porn Addictions Look Like and Part 3 Porn Addiction Help - A Wife Finds Her Husband's Porn).

Editor's Note: This post was originally published September 12, 2012. It has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Take Our Partner Rater Quiz

Looking for More? Check Out These Articles

Read Comments from Others with Similar Experiences - Click 'View full post' below or scroll down

Additional Related Articles

Porn
Why Your Boyfriend Watches Porn Then Wants Sex With You

Women ask Why Does My Boyfriend Watch Porn Then Want Sex With Me? See what a relationship counselor for men says about men Watching Porn And Wanting Sex,

Porn
Is Porn Cheating?

Wondering if Porn Is Cheating? Find out what psychology experts say about whether Porn Is Cheating.

Porn
Handling A Porn Addiction Relapse

Breaking a porn addiction isn’t easy. Learn how to handle relapses here.

1 2 3 17

45 comments on “Addicted to Pornography - A Guy Confesses He's Addicted”

  1. I'm thinking about how porn causes a man to view his partner as less attractive. He loses his partner as his beautiful one. How sad. What is REALLY important, though is that a woman never lose herself as "beautiful". Ladies, do not let this blinded man be your mirror. He is lost....See your own beauty. He is to be pitied for having a diminished sense of beauty such that he has lost you....What a loss. Don't lose yourselves and your own beautiful vision. Hold on with all your might and let him go.

  2. It's a shame but a fact of life now that our kids are growing up with easy access to porn via...phones pc laptop's. Because they see it. and the harder stuff to . They think what many find abnormal behavior to be very mainstream to them. we are in a society that actually allows sex in everything. look at the commercials fighting a generation of porn addicts is the way it's going. they push the boundaries every day more and more they drag teenagers into their web and they are hooked .......

  3. I have managed in 57 years never to see a pornographic movie. The first time I saw anything close was when I found my husband's porn stash. I was blown out of the water. I personally do not have porn pop up anywhere in my world. Why is that? I constantly read about this, but it doesn't happen to me...has only happened on two occasions in my whole life. Of course, it is in places like magazine stands etc..., but I don't experience this onslaught of porn I read about....It seems to me that it's a choice and that it's about protecting children from it by not letting them have all the devices that bring it into the home and their lives....I don't know....If there really is NO WAY to protect them, then the only hope is to teach them to manage it somehow. Just thinking.....

  4. If men reduce beauty to a very limited visual blueprint...they will become impotent...unable to appreciate all the phenomenal, sensual experiences of this world....no this universe. They will not be able to hear the sounds that are so exquisite that call us to the wonder of only God and beyond....They will not be able to feel anything emotionally....they will not be able to sense at all a real woman sitting right in front of him.....How very tragic. Men, don't let your lives be taken this way...Clain this gorgeous life back....one step at a time. There are many beautiful women waiting...and one to love you especially for you....Just do it.

Share Your Thoughts & Join the Conversation
Your email address will not be published. Please –
- Write 200 words or less
- Be respectful (No profanity, attacking others)
- Be careful about sharing identifiable info

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Take the First Step Today

Don’t put off getting the help you deserve. Whether you’re looking to improve your relationship, navigate a tough life transition, or gain better control, Guy Stuff Counseling is here to support you.

Join Thousands of Subscribers

Stay informed with expert insights on relationships, mental health, and personal growth – plus updates on our newest offerings. Sign-up for our monthly newsletter and get exclusive tips, resources, and the latest info from Guy Stuff Counseling!
Contact Guy Stuff Counseling
At Guy Stuff Counseling, we specialize in helping men and their partners navigate life's challenges with expert guidance and proven solutions. Discover compassionate counseling tailored to your unique needs – because everyone deserves a fresh start.
Contact Us

© 2026 Guy Stuff Counseling & Coaching, APC, All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy  |  Sitemap  |  Do Not Sell or Share My Information
Featured logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

envelopekeyboardlaptop-phone linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram