Why I Stopped Watching Porn: People Share What Changed Their Habits

Pornography is a divisive topic. While some view it as a normal part of life, others see porn as addictive and harmful. But one thing is clear - many people decide to quit watching porn at some point in their lives.

These men's candid responses provide interesting insight into the various motivations behind this decision. From struggling with porn addiction to simply losing interest, people gave up porn for a variety of personal reasons.

Here are some of the most common reasons why men quit porn:

#1. Porn was affecting their relationships and sex lives.

One of the most prevalent motivations for giving up porn was its negative impact on real romantic relationships. As one user put it, "My dick stopped working for sexy time." He went porn-free for a few weeks and "was back to my 15 year old self." Others shared similar experiences of porn-induced erectile dysfunction and unrealistic expectations about sex, which improved after they quit watching.

#2. They realized they had an unhealthy addiction.

Many users self-identified their porn watching as a full-blown addiction. Whether it occupied hours of their day or warped their worldview, these users knew they had developed an unhealthy dependency on porn. Admitting this addiction was the first step toward recovery. As one person said, "Realizing how much it affects your brain" made them stop.

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#3. Ethical concerns about the porn industry.

Learning about the dark side of the porn world motivated some people to quit watching. From trafficking to exploitation of young women, the unethical reality turned people off from contributing views and money. One user said simply, "It's unethical."

#4. They lost interest in it.

Ironically, others stopped because porn had become boring. The constant novelty made porn feel repetitive and numb over time. As one user said, "It got pretty boring" so they naturally lost interest in watching.

#5. Finding a partner made them not "need" porn.

For some, a romantic relationship replaced the need to use porn for sexual gratification. Having regular sex with a real partner made porn less enticing for monogamous men. As one said, "When I started getting laid on a regular basis."

#6. Wanting to improve their mental health.

Many shared that abstaining from porn cleared their mind, boosted confidence, reduced social anxiety, and improved discipline. Ditching porn broke its addictive dopamine cycle and improved overall wellbeing. As one explained, porn promoted "instant gratification" that made "everything dull."

#7. Maturing and changing priorities.

A simple change in life stage also led some to leave porn behind. As interests and responsibilities shifted with age, porn fell lower on their list of priorities. One reflected that he had "kinda aged out of it" as his youthful partying slowed down.

As you can see, people decide to give up porn for many deeply personal reasons. While some cut out porn temporarily as part of a relationship or experiment, others made a permanent change to improve their lives holistically.

At the end of the day, it comes down to deciding what role you want pornography to play in your life, if any. There's no right or wrong choice that applies to everyone. But reflecting on the impacts of porn is an important exercise for all responsible consumers.

Source: Reddit