TENS of thousands of Australians spend up to five hours a day watching porn.

That's right; a huge number of us may spend up to 35 hours a week watching online sex videos. That's almost as many hours as most 9-5 workers put in.



The addiction is having a crippling affect on personal lives and relationships, says Dr Phil Watts, who is a porn researcher and psychologist. He adds that the problem often gets worse over time, as porn can condition the brain to progressively seek out "harder" pornography.



"It can completely distort the reality of sexuality," Dr Watts says. "Sixteen-year-olds watch explicit 20 minute videos ... and view it as normal.



"Then they get a girlfriend at 17 and she's freaking out about [what they want them to do]."



For addicts, porn often serves as an escape from stress and day-to-day problems. But in reality it just adds to their issues, Dr Watts says.



"They're more sleep deprived, they're not satisfying their partner. It's compounding day after day."



Despite its potential adverse affects, pornography is not listed as an addiction in the psychiatrist's bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.



And while most porn consumers are not addicts, at least two thirds of men occasionally look at it.



Watching porn can condition the brain into creating attractions. A recent study by Sydney University researchers found 20 per cent of surveyed addicts preferred porn to having sex with their partners. 30 per cent admitted that their performance at work had suffered because of it.



Dr Watts - who is publishing a self-help book to cure porn addition - explains when porn consumption gets out of control it's hard for addicts to limit their usage. He adds abstinence is the best method of treatment.



"When it becomes a person's prime sexual outlet ... those are the warning bells," he said.