We got a psychologist to reveal how much porn is too much. You’re welcome!

What is a woman’s life without stigma right? And if nothing else was left, then watching porn is yet another stain in the image of the adarsh Indian woman. However, publicly-available data has a different tale to tell.

According to a survey conducted by a very prominent porn site, India contributes the fourth-highest share of women audience to the world’s total number.  And thanks to this lockdown, media reports suggest that India alone has seen a surge of 95% when it comes to traffic on porn websites.

If all this isn’t enough to prove that we should come out of the closet and accept that we do watch porn, then we don’t know what is. By the way, watching porn is totally harmless—unless of course, you get addicted to it. 

But the question arises: how much porn is too much?
Well, if we talk about scientific research then there isn’t much data out there to answer this question. However, a study published in the journal Sociology suggests that watching porn for leisure and fun is not a bad idea. In fact, it helps you destress by releasing happy hormones.

Unfortunately, there is no literature on the optimum number of hours of porn watching. So, we got in touch with Dr Bhavna Barmi, a renowned clinical psychologist. And she says that spending four hours a week on porn is alright. But this doesn’t mean you watch it all in one go. She says: “We want to promote a healthy and constructive schedule for sexual activities befitting a positive lifestyle.”

When it comes to porn, less is more
This is mostly because too much porn can actually be bad for your mental health and relationships. You see, too much of it can lead to unrealistic expectations which can put a lot of undue pressure on you while you’re in the act. 

In fact, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health watching too much porn and frequently masturbating can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

Watching too much porn can also lead to behavioural changes, as suggested by a study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences. That’s why you need to know when to switch it off.      

Here’s how you can have a healthy relationship with porn
Dr Barmi suggests these five tips to keep in mind:

1. Don’t overdo it because people who watch more porn have less successful sexual reactions with their real-life partners.

2. Don’t watch porn all the time, as it makes you dependant.

3. Talk to your partner about what you’ve been watching. If you are in a relationship, watching porn together can be a fun way to spice things up.

4. It’s perfectly natural to fantasize about sexual scenarios you would never want to engage in real life. So don’t be harsh on yourself.

5. If you find that you need more and more graphic material to get off, then this is a sign that you are becoming desensitized and need to back off. Also, if you feel like you are neglecting your responsibilities in order to stay home and watch porn, then that’s another red flag to pay attention to.

The final word
Watching porn is good for your sexual and mental health, as long as you limit your viewing you’ll be fine.