‘I’d try to hide it as best I could’: a UK man on his struggle with porn addiction

Ben Lennard talks about how his pornography use began to interfere with his life – and gradually get out of control

More than half of UK therapists report rise in out of control porn use

Ben Lennard would often make jokes with his friends about pornography, the kind of banter men in their mid-20s often share.

But in hindsight, he now understands the humour was a deflection tool trying to mask a problem that was destroying his life.

“I have a lot of banter with friends and people around me, I have a humorous side,” he said. “So for me, when I was watching it, even if I was out in public or there were people around, I’d just be humorous about it. But no one knew the addiction. I’d try to hide it as best I could. I just saw the funny side to it that no one would think to question it.”