Man Within Podcast 1056 - Are You Porn Addicted or Porn Compulsive? (And Does It Really Matter?)
Dec 4, 2025
Sathiya delves into the distinction between porn addiction and compulsive use, highlighting why labels can be misleading. He shares common justifications people use to minimize their issues and discusses the lack of recognition for porn addiction in the DSM-5. The focus shifts to identifying problematic porn use through its impact on mental health and relationships. Sathiya warns that simply reducing frequency doesn't equate to true recovery, urging listeners to seek solutions and community support regardless of labels.
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Why People Reject The 'Addict' Label
- Many people reject the label 'addict' even while meeting addictive behaviors and criteria.
- Dismissing the term often prevents them from taking appropriate recovery steps.
Listeners Minimizing Their Struggle
- Sathiya describes audience members who say "I'm not addicted" while listing classic addiction behaviors.
- He contrasts that with a friend's gambling minimizations to show similar denial patterns.
DSM-5 Omits Pornography Addiction
- The DSM-5 does not include pornography addiction, which complicates clinical recognition.
- That omission affects diagnoses, insurance coverage, and public perception of prevalence.
