HomeAnswersPsychiatryporn addictionI have intrusive thoughts after porn withdrawal. Why?

How to manage withdrawal symptoms after porn addiction?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Divya Banu M

Published At December 3, 2019
Reviewed AtApril 17, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have intrusive thoughts, blasphemous thoughts that keeps returning to my head. In the past I had porn addiction, and the day I forced myself to stop, I began having those thoughts. I already had OCD symptoms when younger but more subtle. I suspect I have some low serotonine so I am taking St John’s Wort and some Magnesium which are helping in my porn withdrawal and thoughts.

I had these thoughts for around 2 to 3 years and sometimes I do compulsions especially digital compulsions. My work is mainly on the computer, so even deleting or renaming files create some thoughts in my head. I hear about exposure prevention therapy and I was reading that we can record the thoughts and listen to them till they reduce the anxiety, but I cannot in record the thoughts which are blasphemous.

What do you think is the best therapy in my case? As I already have anxiety issues which led me to go to the emergency room (because of panic attacks, probably because of my past addiction post acute withdrawal symptoms), do you think those thoughts would go away along with the anxiety itself? Or should I treat them separately?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query with interest.

As you had OCD in childhood and anxiety disorder and taking St John's wort, Omega 3 , Magnesium and Vitamins (attachment removed to protect patient identity). You need to start SSRI group of drug (Fluvoxamine or Fluoxetine or Escitalpram or Sertraline) as St John's wort is not sufficient to manage your all the symptoms. SSRI will take care of OCD and panic attacks and anxiety disorder.

The therapy for OCD or blasphemous thoughts are exposure and response prevention and / or cognitive therapy. You need to visit your therapist to do these therapy as you alone might not be able to do these. You need not to take different drug for OCD, anxiety, panic attacks. Only SSRI group of drug will help you for these. But you can do different therapy for your problem like for OCD and anxiety.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ramchandra Lamba
Dr. Ramchandra Lamba

Psychiatry

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