Porn Overstimulates Your Brain
Porn Overstimulates Your BrainIf there was a contest to find the best way to control a person’s will, internet pornography would win 2nd place next to crack cocaine. Online pornography is much different than the porn magazines of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Those magazines of the pre-internet era was similar to light beer, while the internet pornography of today is pure grain alcohol “Everclear.” Using porn overstimulates your brain.
Internet pornography has a heightened level of stimulation on the brain that can change and shape itself to mimic neuropathways similar to those of an alcoholic or drug addict. There is a multitude of research on the link between compulsive porn use and the addictive power of orgasm. Scientists have found that in the moment of sexual ecstasy, the brain releases five chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline, and norepinephrin. These five “fab” chemicals can be as powerful to the brain as a shot of heroin.
Internet Porn: Three D’s
Patrick Carnes called the internet the three “D’s”: deep, dark, and deadly. Its deep because it continues to add more and more porn websites. Its dark because a person can find more and more disturbing images or videos. Its deadly because it eventually kills the viewer’s identify, ability to walk away, and desire for real relationship. With each new image or porn video, the brain releases those five fab chemicals, which tells the viewer: give me more, better, and different!
Porn Provides Powerful Novelty
In the world of internet porn, new and more stimulating sexual partners provide the brain powerful novelty without the risk of being rejected, criticized, or abandoned. As long as new material continues, the arousal continues and the chemicals fuel the desire. I have worked with men that have viewed pornography for 12 hours straight. With each new image or video, more dopamine is released and the vicious cycle of wanting more, better, and different continues. Internet porn is extremely addictive.
No Limit To Internet Porn
Internet porn also overstimulates the brain by giving the viewer as much as he can consume. In food addiction, the addict has a physical limit and with alcoholics, the addict passes out. Yet with internet porn, there is no bottom. The only thing to stop the sex addict would be if his internet connection is pulled or he is discovered by his partner. It is not uncommon for a addicted man to stay up the entire night viewing porn and not be able to go to work due to a lack of sleep.
Porn Addiction Counseling
Over time, the brain of the porn addict is physically changed and he is essentially addicted to his own brain chemistry. There is hope for healing and recovery! If you are identifying with having an addiction to internet pornography, please contact me to setup an individual counseling session to begin recovery. I can provide you with direction and tools for getting free from addiction to porn. There is hope!