YOU’VE BEEN EXPOSED!
What Porn Has to Do With Your Brain
Porn Can Be Progressive
What’s the Attraction?
Do You Have a Problem?
What Porn Has to Do With Your Brain
Your brain needs endorphins and encephalins, (naturally occurring opiates produced in the brain). These opiates make you feel good.
There are manufactured substances that mimic these naturally occurring chemicals (drugs, alcohol etc.) but there are many healthy, natural ways a person can get these brain-chemicals.
When a person gets these ‘feel-good’ chemicals, they want more—these chemicals can become as addictive as alcohol or other drugs.
Sexual feelings and desires are a natural part of each person. The pathway of sexual arousal and release is one of the most powerful pathways with little need of reinforcement. Because it is so powerful, it also needs the most protection so that it can occur in the situation that is the healthiest for those involved.
When a person views pornography (sexually explicit material for the purpose of arousal) all those feel-good brain chemicals are running all over the brain. When the individual becomes aroused, and feels a need to experience sexual release (usually by masturbating or having sex.)
When pornography is combined with sexual release, as in masturbation, and the naturally occurring drugs are set free all over the brain, this is a high reward for the brain. Because it is not a chemical imitation, it’s even more addictive.
(Source: Brain Pathways, Douglas Weiss, Ph. D.)
Addiction—The first stage is addiction: Using pornography as a sexual stimulant, followed by sexual release, most often through masturbation. It begins controlling your life.
Desensitization—This is beginning of the tolerance stage, where what was first perceived as gross, shocking, disturbing and wrong begins to appear acceptable.
Escalation—Over time, addicts require more explicit and deviant material to meet their sexual “needs.”
Acting Out Sexually—A person begins to act out the behaviors they’re viewing. [There are different levels of acting out. For example: peeping Tom, stealing, compiling a collection, sexual predator, molestation, rape, etc.]
What’s the Attraction?
Some people are lured into pornography because they are curious. Usually, they want to know how to act or what sex is all about.
Other people are interested in pornography is to find out what the human body looks like.
Some people are attracted to pornography because:
• It covers us feelings of pain/stress
• It allows them to escape
• It allows them to feel intimate
Do You Have a Problem?
Think about it, and be honest:
Do you experience:
1. A pattern of out of control behavior.
2. Severe consequences due to sexual behavior.
3. Inability to stop despite adverse consequences.
4. Persistent pursuit of self-destructive behavior.
5. Ongoing desire or effort to limit sexual behavior.
6. Sexual obsession and fantasy as a primary coping mechanism.
7. Increasing amounts of sexual experience because the current level of activity is no longer sufficient.
8. Severe mood changes around sexual activity.
9. Inordinate amount of time spent in obtaining sex, being sexual, or recovering from sexual experience.
10. Neglect of important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of sexual behavior.
(Carnes, Patrick Don’t Call it Love. New York: Bantam, 1991)
• Do you pursue pornography for sexual arousal and release? In the light of brain chemistry that we discussed, it is safe to say, that any intentional viewing and pursuit of pornography is an issue that can have serious consequences.
• Has your habit increased? How has the habit or frequency changed over time? Remember, addiction happens in a progression. What will happen if the present trend continues?
• Have you tried to stop? If you’ve tried to stop, but are unable, you are dealing with an addiction. This is especially true, if there has been some adverse consequences (embarrassment, humiliation) and you still couldn’t stop.
• Does what you used to look at not satisfy? If you find yourself wanting to look at more graphic images, you are moving into the desensitization stage. Remember the roller coaster. Where will this lead?
• Do you lie about your use? If you do, you’re probably trying to convince yourself that you don’t have a problem. The reality is you probably do.
• Another important step to start thinking about is why. Why do you look at porn? What do you get out of it? Comfort? A high? Stress relief? What are you conditioning your brain to?
