How Do Porn Stars Feel About Porn Addiction?

Most societies have mixed views when it comes to “porn use” and porn addiction. Some people feel think that porn is “just a form of entertainment” and “no big deal,” while others think it is immoral, damaging, and a “homewrecker.” Many people believe that porn stars love to have sex and display it on a screen or in a magazine. Although this may sound like a dream for a porn star, this could not be further from the truth. A common misconception is that using porn is not harmful, in unto itself. To the average person, porn is nothing but a “fantasy,” and the porn industry is nothing but a fun, sexy, safe, and professional business – nothing more and nothing less.

And, regardless of the numerous studies and harrowing personal accounts of being exploited and exposed to sex trafficking, through the porn industry, many people still hold onto the notion that “porn use” is harmless and “make-believe.” The common sentiment nowadays is that “Porn does not hurt anyone. People use porn for entertainment, boredom, or as an “escape” from their everyday problems.” What people do not understand is that the porn industry is filled with exploitation, coercion, sexual violence, and addiction. And, that “porn use” can and often does lead to porn addiction – in some “heavy porn users.”

“Porn users,” who get wrapped up in porn and feel a “connection” with porn stars, risk becoming addicted to or dependent on porn. And, while the porn industry, in general, can be seedy, the biggest danger comes from believing that it is okay to heavily engage in “porn use.” Thus, it is important to understand that although porn stars are “playing a role” on a screen or in a magazine, the effects of excessively watching porn can have determinantal effects on the user’s life, and the life of the porn stars. More specifically, porn stars, like “porn users,” are at risk of harm whether they know it or not.

Wondering what porn stars really think about “porn use” and porn addiction, keep reading because this article will give you a real perspective, from porn stars, on the effects of “porn use” on themselves and porn addicts.

What is Porn Addiction?

Porn addiction involves non-stop urges to use porn. Over time, these urges become compulsive. Thus, porn addiction involves “obsessive thoughts” about using porn – and using porn to alleviate the “obsessive thoughts.” Porn addiction can cause tremendous damage to one’s life. The good news is that porn addiction treatments can help you let go of your dependency on porn.

What Do the Statistics Say About Porn?

• Approximately 4 million porn websites boast 72 million visitors (worldwide) each month. 
• Approximately 25% (or 68 million people worldwide and 40 million Americans) search on the internet for porn each day.
• The US porn industry produces between 4,000 and 11,000 films each year and earns 9-13 billion dollars in gross revenue each year. 
• Approximately, 200 porn production companies employ 1,200 to 1,500 porn stars. 
• Porn stars typically earn $400 to $1,000, per shoot, and are not paid based on distribution or sales. 
• The porn industry (in California) employs approximately12,000 porn stars.

Who is Tasha Regin?

Rachel Swimmer, also known as “Tasha Reign,” is an American porn star, nude model, producer, and Playboy and Penthouse sex columnist. She is also a journalism and women’s studies UCLA grad. In 2010, Tasha Reign filmed her first porn movie. She was just 21 at the time.

Regin went on to perform in many porn videos and movies. In 2012, Regin received the XBIZ Award for her work and launched her official membership site (www.TashaReign.com). She also appeared on the cover of “France’s Hot Video,” an adult industry trade magazine. Moreover, she was a red-carpet correspondent at the 28th annual XRCO Awards.

Also in 2012, Reign later became illusioned with the porn industry, so she launched her adult production, titled Reign Productions, so she could create and direct fun and exciting, sex-positive porn. The first porn movie under her production company, Reign Production, was called, “Tasha Reign is Sexy.” And, in 2014, Reign introduced a line of adult novelty items.

Reign is vehemently against the unlicensed distribution of porn videos, and as a result, sometimes, searches the internet for illegally posted clips or movies that feature her porn work. She was once featured in a broadcast story about copyright infringement in the porn industry. In late 2016, Regin opposed the passing of a proposition that would have introduced a law that would force porn stars to always wear condemns during sex scenes. It did not pass.

In 2018, Regin suggested that porn workers, including porn stars, receive better training and support. She cited the “MeToo” movement as the “empowering” force that led to her becoming more “vocal” about injustices and inequalities in the porn industry. Regin has also been vocal about her opinion when it comes to “porn use” and porn addiction. Tasha Regin does not believe that porn is inherently evil or dangerous – as long as porn actors and actresses are treated fairly and with respect. Regin continues to work as a porn star, claiming major success from it.

Reign also recently collaborated with Lisa Ling for her CNN show. According to Regin, the show was mostly about people, who are addicted to porn, and those, who engage in NoFap. Reign admitted that she has empathy for addicts, including porn addicts. She said the following, “Addiction is serious and real, which is why it is important to address it. and porn is something you can be addicted to. I feel like Lisa Ling’s documentary made viewers feel like porn is such an issue for addicts, and that addiction might be more common than you think. I guess I just did not get the ‘negativity’ associated with porn.”

Do Porn Stars Actually Enjoy Sex on Set or Are They Just Pretending?

In Tasha Reign’s opinion, most porn stars do really enjoy sex and do not see anything wrong with using porn – as much as one wants to. At least, this has been her experience with porn. She usually does not “fake” the good time she is having during porn videos and movie shoots. Reign enjoys the sex she has on set because it allows her to “create” chemistry between her and her co-star, whenever necessary.

Regin tries to be “authentic” while “performing” on screen because “porn users” and porn addicts can tell when porn stars are being “fake.” She believes that every “user” deserves a real “performance,” especially when it is “paid content.” There have been many times when Regin felt like she should not get paid for the movie or video because she had so much fun doing it.

Reign, like many other successful porn stars, does not feel like “porn use,” per se, is a problem. 

Reign believes that using porn can be beneficial for couples. For instance, porn allows its “users” to experience sensations and activities they would not necessarily see in their bedrooms, like threesomes, orgies, group sex, role play, extreme sex, etc.

Reign believes that excitement, “novelty,” and adventure are essential for a satisfying sex life – porn helps couples achieve this need for excitement and sexual satisfaction. Porn sets the mood and makes sex more pleasurable than the actual interaction between the co-stars.

If the mood on the set of a porn video or movie is good, and the “culture” feels fun, fresh, and supportive, most porn stars actually enjoy the scene. However, there are times when porn stars are simply “acting” – at least in Reign’s case. More specifically, there have been times when she finished a scene, video, or movie, and wished that she had asked for more money or thought harder and longer about doing the scene, video, or movie in the first place.

When something is amiss or lacking with her co-star, Reign tries to find something “attractive” about him or her, so that she can “get into” the scene – or at the very least be authentic. She, like many other porn stars, will focus on something that is “attractive” about her co-star’s face, smile, eyes, body, lips, ears, nose, etc. The purpose of doing this is to conjure up some type of spark that will help her get “turned on” and complete the scene, video, or movie.

So, according to Reign, the short answer to the question of it porn sex is real or “fake,” the answer is it depends. It may be real or it may be “fake,” and this determination may vary from video to video or movie to movie. It depends on various factors, such as the mood on set, the “culture,” the co-star’s attitude, behavior, and personality, the respect or lack thereof, support or lack thereof, etc.

Some days, porn stars are so “into the co-star, mood, and scene” that it is an extremely satisfying experience. However, on other days, it takes all they have to get through the scene. Most of the time, it’s a little of both – real and “fake.” Still, for most porn stars the good days outweigh the bad ones, which causes them to keep returning to work.

Reign equates “performing” on a screen to having real-life sex with a flesh-and-blood partner – sometimes, it takes a while to get into the mood with him or her, and sometimes, this happens almost immediately. It just depends. Sometimes, the sex is for you, and sometimes, you do it for your partner. That is okay too because sex should be a fulfilling experience for both partners, and sometimes this includes compromising and making sacrifices. This is life.

Do Porn Stars Experience Abuse?

Yes, porn stars can experience abuse.

Substance abuse, degradation, and abuse are widespread in the porn industry. According to the New York Post, porn stars have been dying at alarming rates due to drugs, sexual assaults, and physical violence. These “stars” are also constantly subjected to verbal and emotional abuse of their bodies. Understand that porn stars are often viewed as “objects” – not flesh-and-blood people, who have feelings. Verbal abuse is especially prevalent in the porn industry with approximately 91% of porn stars reporting being regularly called humiliating names.

Besides verbal abuse, almost all porn stars have experienced some level of physical abuse as well. Why? Well, most people have a certain perception of porn stars (often unfavorable). As such, these individuals are often viewed as “objects,” whose main purpose is to provide “porn users” and porn addicts with sexual excitement and/or sexual satisfaction. Many times, the fact that porn stars are human beings gets lost in translation.

Because, porn stars are viewed “as less than” other women and men, they are constantly at risk of physical abuse and sexual assault from people in the industry – and “porn users” and porn addicts. Porn stars are also subject to abuse from the general public (when people find out that they are porn stars), family members, friends, paid subscribers (“porn users” who become obsessed with a porn star),” and/or abusive romantic partners. Loved ones and friends often use the professions of porn stars to “beat them down” or “prove a point” during an argument or disagreement.

Do Porn Stars Come from Broken Homes?

It is possible, but not necessarily as common as people may think.

A common misconception is that porn stars enter this profession because they were sexually or physically abused as children and become porn stars because of unresolved trauma. And, while this may be the case for some porn stars, it is by no means the “norm.”

According to a 2013 study, although about half of female porn stars did experience child sexual abuse or molestation as children, another half did not. One major porn star, Jenna Jamison, refutes the notion that most porn stars enter the profession because of child abuse, molestation, or trauma. Jenna explains in her book, “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star,” that she entered the profession out of choice, and does not want to be portrayed as a “victim.”

The researchers also found that female porn stars tend to have more “off-set” sexual partners in a year than the average woman (who is not a porn star) has over a lifetime. For instance, female porn stars report having approximately 74 lifetime sexual partners, as compared to women, who are not adult film industry workers and have approximately 5 lifetime sexual partners.

Moreover, female porn stars appear to be more likely to engage in substance abuse and have a history of drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or even porn addiction. They are also more likely to smoke pot. And, surprisingly, female porn stars tend to enjoy sex more, have higher self-esteem and support, were more spiritual, and were more likely to identify as “bisexual,” than women, who are not porn actresses.

What Do Porn Stars Think About “Porn Users” and Porn Addiction?

Porn stars, in general, have mixed views on “porn users” and porn addicts. Some porn stars believe that porn is actually a good thing. These adult film industry workers believe that using porn – even excessively can help “spice up” romantic relationships or take sexual encounters to another level.

These porn stars truly believe that couples should use porn (even excessively, in some cases) as a “sexual aid” to improve emotional, physical, and sexual intimacies. Porn, in this case, can keep romantic relationships fresh, new, and exciting, thereby, reducing the risk of “cheating.” These individuals either do not see “heavy porn use” or porn addiction as a serious problem or do not think it is a problem at all.

Ironically, other porn stars see porn as it truly is – damaging. These individuals recognize the dangers of using porn – dangers that include broken families, failed romantic relationships and marriages, financial issues or debt (from paying for porn), low self-esteem and self-confidence, an inability to achieve sexual satisfaction without masturbating to porn, loss of employment, legal ramifications, etc.

In other words, these workers acknowledge that porn can wreak havoc on a person’s life, possibly leading to porn addiction. Yet, they continue to promote the myth or “fantasy” of porn because they need the money. These porn stars view “heavy porn use” or porn addiction as a serious problem but feel powerless to stop it from destroying lives.

Can Porn Stars Become Addicted to Porn?

Contrary to popular belief porn stars can become addicted to porn – just like anyone else. The only difference is porn stars become addicted to “performing” sex acts on screen. In other words, they become addicted to the “sensations” they feel while engaging in sexually-explicit acts.

Some porn stars become addicted to the feeling of being “wanted,” “loved,” and “adored.” Yet, other porn stars become addicted to porn because of the success it brings them. So, there are several ways a porn star can become dependent on porn. Thus, “porn users” can become addicted to porn by watching it on a screen or looking at it in a magazine, while porn stars can become addicted to it by participating in it.

How Can I Get My Porn Addiction Under Control?

The good news is there are several ways you can wrangle your porn addiction under control. Porn addiction help can include lifestyle changes, like healthy foods, regular exercise, and adequate sleep; natural remedies, like mindfulness meditation, yoga, and acupuncture, and self-help tools, like porn addiction support groups and forums, anti-porn blocking software, moving your electronic devices into an open space so that you cannot easily engage in “porn use,” journaling, sharing your concerns with a trusted loved one or friend, and talking to a porn addiction therapist can help you quit porn.

Common porn addiction therapies are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), along with addictions therapy, individual therapy, trauma therapy, group therapy, couples or marriage therapy, family therapy, grief therapy, etc. In some cases, porn addiction therapy may be combined with medications, like SSRI antidepressants, especially if depression, anxiety, or another mood condition is involved.

One self-help tool that may be especially beneficial for porn addicts is Stop Together. Stop Together is an online porn addiction recovery program that can help you get back on your feet. Stop Together offers a wide range of self-help tools, resources, advice, and information that can help you stop using porn. With the right tools, you do not have to be consumed by porn and you can stop leaving in a “fantasy world,” and start living in the real world.

References

• Massarella, L. (2018). Why porn stars are dying at an alarming rate. New York Post. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2018/01/23/why-porn-stars-are-dying-at-an-alarming-rate/
• Lubben, S. (2021). Ex-porn star tells the truth about the porn industry. Covenant Eyes. Retrieved from https://www.covenanteyes.com/2008/10/28/ex-porn-star-tells-the-truth-about-the-porn-industry/
• Griffith, J. D., Mitchell, S., Hart, C. L., Adams, L. T., & Gu, L. L. (2013). Pornography actresses: An assessment of the damaged goods hypothesis. Journal of Sex Research, 50(7), 621–632. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.719168
• Reign, T. (n.d.). Tara Regin bio. Huffpost. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/author/tasha-reign
• Daytona, J. (2021). Tasha Reign podcast. Adult Empire Blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.adultempire.com/2021/06/05/pornstar-tasha-reign-podcast/
• Hess, A. (2012). Porn stars are molested about as often as accountants, a new study finds. Slate. Retrieved from https://slate.com/human-interest/2012/11/porn-stars-and-childhood-molestation-new-study-says-porn-actresses-are-sexually-abused-about-as-much-as-the-rest-of-us.html