Is There A Connection Between Depression & Porn
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Depression has become a major world-wide mental health issue. Studies have found that the problem is immense, regardless of the degree or classification of depression.
The Mayo Clinic explains that “depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest…It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.”
Depression
It’s likely that we can all identify at least one person in our lives who has struggled with depression at one time or another.
But on a national, or even an international scale, how big is the problem?
- According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. among 15-44 year-olds.
- More than 18 million adults in America are affected by depression in any given year.
- In 2017, the World Health Organization reported that over 300 million people world-wide struggle with depression.
- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that depression is the primary cause of suicide. They noted that one person every 12 minutes commits suicide in the United States, totaling more than 41,000 deaths per year.
- Severe depression is rated in the same disability category as terminal stage cancer.
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Medicating
Depression is treated in a variety of ways. Some individuals seek out professional help – either from a counselor or other medical professional. Others choose to manage their pain through various other sources – such as pornography.
For those struggling with porn, they’ll often try to justify it because of their own personal desires or lack of intimacy within their marriage.
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However, the viewing of pornography is not about sex. As Dr. Ted Roberts, founder of Pure Desire Ministries shares,
“Sexual bondage is not about sex. It’s about how you’ve learned to medicate the pain in your life.”
As a result, it is not uncommon to discover that someone struggling with pornography also struggles with depression. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that “regular porn users are more likely to report depression and poor physical health than nonusers are…The reason is that porn may start a cycle of isolation…Porn may become a substitute for healthy face-to-face interactions, social or sexual.”
It’s not just a problem for adult porn users. The Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences cited research showing “that twice as many 10-17-year old online seekers of pornography reported clinical features of major depression compared with their peers.”
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The Link
The roots of the link between porn viewing and depression are two-fold: does pornography trigger depression, or does depression cause a person to seek out pornography? The answer is ‘both’.
According to The Recovery Village, “People who have become isolated due to symptoms of anxiety or depression may use porn to counter that loneliness and isolation…People who are addicted to porn often struggle with depression and anxiety after using porn. This can lead to chemical imbalances in the brain that can cause withdrawal symptoms. Feelings of guilt, shame or moral conflict over porn use can also trigger anxious thoughts and negative mood states.”
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Many pornography users turn to porn to self-medicate emotionally or physically painful or traumatic abusive experiences from childhood. For some, painful words such as, “You’re worthless,” “You’ll never amount to anything,” or “I hate you” have become an identity that they have accepted for themselves.
Now, those individuals often find themselves seeking out porn in an effort to subdue those painful thoughts and memories.
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Identity In Christ
If you use porn, you may often feel that you are ‘not good enough’ as a husband, father, or in other relationships. This can even cause you to feel inadequate within your relationship with God. But God’s love and grace for you is boundless.
Even if your natural father said you were worthless, the Bible assures you that your Heavenly Father considers you priceless.
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Here are just a few Bible verses that can help you see your worth in Jesus Christ.
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) – Whatever happened in your past does not define who you are now. God values you so much that he sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins – all of them. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you began a new life at that moment.
- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) – You are no longer condemned or separated from God. You are His son and He has a purpose and a plan for your life.
- “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) – You are a work in progress. You are worth God’s effort to free you from pornography and continue to grow into the godly man you want to be.
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) – Realize that God is with you in your battle with pornography. He won’t leave you to fight on your own.
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Stand Strong
You can overcome your porn usage and feelings of depression. You may feel like you are surrounded by darkness, but millions of men around the world have fought those same battles and are now living a porn-free lifestyle and rejoicing in their freedom.
Related Article: How To Get Over Porn & Find Lasting Freedom
One of the areas that depression feeds on is isolation. When you isolate yourself, your mind can dwell on all the negative thoughts about your past and feelings of worthlessness. One proven way to defeat your porn usage is to become involved with a small group of godly men who have also wrestled with porn and know what you are going through. They will support and encourage you as you move toward recovery.
Some of the most successful small groups use the 10-week Conquer Series study as their foundation. This dynamic cinematic series features solid Biblical teaching, powerful testimonies, and insightful scientific information. An interactive study guide and online journal are also available to keep you focused daily on the teachings.
Paul Easton of Castle Hill, Sydney, Australia said,
“This ministry has changed my life. God’s grace and love have just given me such freedom. I have been searching for healing for many years. Confessed to my wife years ago, yet still kept going back, the usual story. I have found such deep healing, and figured out…that this is a journey of a lifetime with our Lord, together with my accountability partners.”
Get started on your path from the depths of depression and porn to the freedom in living as a highly valued son of God.