How & Why
At what point does a person’s harmless scrolling become a porn addiction? How can a person discern when they’ve crossed that threshold? While some may have no issues admitting their habits, the stigma, and taboo associated with viewing pornography keep the vast majority of users from being forthcoming about the extent of their use. The result of which is a person who continues to develop an unhealthy relationship with their habits.
The psychology and physiology behind pornography addiction are fairly simple. It’s no secret that sex is often utilized as a way to escape reality or to numb the emotional centers of the brain. This is because sex, much like any other drug, releases dopamine and other endorphins into the body, creating an analgesic effect similar to that of opioids.
You may be thinking, “Having sex and watching porn are two completely different things!”
While you’d be correct, the brain doesn’t necessarily view them as different in any way other than the physical interaction. An easier way to understand this concept is by realizing that orgasms happen in the brain- not in the body itself.
So when a person is scrolling through a pornographic website, they are vicariously participating in the media they are viewing, which signals to their brain that they are engaging (or are about to engage) in sexual activity. The physical variable makes no difference with regards to the neurotransmitters being released.
Health & Morality
Debates surrounding the morality of porn consumption are endless and are ultimately unfounded on both sides due to the simple fact that since the advent of modern technology people are inherently drawn to pornographic media. According to Gert Martin Hald, Ph.D., and colleagues in The APA Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology (Vol. 2), international studies estimate that anywhere between 50%-99% of men and 30%-86% of women consume pornographic content regularly.
These estimates show us that it’s clearly not uncommon, nor is it unnatural for a person to have some level of interest in porn. You might even say that it’s an instinctual curiosity.
A porn habit starts becoming unhealthy when the line blurs between reality and fantasy. When expectations become unrealistic, fantasies start to evolve drastically and sometimes disturbingly, and a person becomes desensitized to most sexual stimulation.
This can lead to a complete lack of satisfaction when engaging physically in the real world. It may also create a physiological environment ripe for pornography addiction.
“Am I Addicted To Porn?”
If you find yourself asking this question, it’s probable that you are addicted to porn, or at the very least are on the path to becoming addicted. You may notice your desire to consume pornographic material strengthening, your preferences and curiosities evolving to different (oftentimes more morbid) levels, or even your habits beginning to affect other parts of your life, (i.e watching porn at work).
These are some of the telltale signs of active addiction to pornography.
However, there are more side effects that may surprise most people. It’s vital to remember that as with any type of addiction, coming to terms with the reality of it is the first step to recovery. Despite the taboo and stigmatization that accompany this particular addiction, being honest with yourself is paramount to gaining insight and finding the courage to seek help when it’s needed the most.
3 Unexpected Side-Effects of Porn Addiction
Skewed Perception
Ingesting pornographic images, videos, and even audio causes the brain to form expectations over a period of time. As mentioned earlier, the brain doesn’t discern the differences between what’s physically in front of you and what your senses are experiencing vicariously.
To the human mind, watching a sexually appealing video is no different than watching the same actions take place in person. This may not seem detrimental at first glance until you realize one very important distinction- Pornography is a fantastical representation of very specific situations.
A familiar term used in the porn industry is “kinks”, which essentially means that the actions being portrayed are a caricature of the ideals that they are based on.
They are situations being exaggerated to a severe degree. What this means for your mind is that once you become desensitized to a particular “kink”, the original concept becomes a barebones simplicity.
You become numb to reality and have to search for the extreme to feel the same endorphin rush as you would have previously felt. Of course, this will have a trickle-down effect on other parts of a porn addict’s life.
Sexual Dysfunction
The majority of those who use porn, whether often or seldom, do so with one goal in mind: sexual pleasure and/or arousal. It’s something of a conundrum that becoming addicted to pornography can actually decrease the likelihood of experiencing sexual pleasure over time.
Multiple clinical reports can be cited to support the incredibly negative effects that porn can have over a period of time and more so with a high frequency of consumption. These reports vary in symptoms and severity including sexual performance anxiety, premature ejaculation, loss of sexual desire with partners, early-age erectile dysfunction, and even an inability to reach orgasm.
Low-Quality Relationships
Despite the seemingly obvious contexts in which this effect may be taken, there are much deeper ramifications to behold than simply “porn is bad for relationships”. All of the previous detriments can certainly bear weight on a relationship and often do. However, the statistics regarding the quality of relationships shared by those who have at least one person addicted to porn are frightening.
A longitudinal study assessing multiple variables over a period of six years from 2006 to 2012, found that a high frequency of porn consumption (once a day or more) by men in 2006 was the second strongest predictor for poor marriage quality of the same men in 2012. “Poor marriage quality”, also includes sexual satisfaction according to both partners.
Porn’s effects on relationships can also be shared by partners, whereby many couples would utilize the material to gain ideas or maintain arousal during intercourse, which after an increase and consistent usage couples would require the material to have a satisfying sexual relationship.
Similar to previous examples, this would inevitably lead to a lack of sexual satisfaction or cause developing sexual dysfunctions in both partners.
Takeaway & Solution
It’s never easy to admit that we have shortcomings. It becomes even more difficult when the pitfalls we are experiencing are shrouded with stigmas and taboos. However, being honest with yourself is the most important part of discovering ways to improve your life in any aspect.
The details of pornography addiction aren’t as important as knowing when to seek assistance for yourself.
Choosing recovery begins with you. If you’ve found this information to be significant, then you may be enduring an active porn addiction. Perhaps your relationships are unfulfilling, your sexual appetites never satiated, or you’re simply concerned about the frequency of your porn consumption.
There are no reasons to be ashamed, but there are many reasons to find the help that best suits you.
If you need more information about how you can start your recovery from pornography addiction, reach out. We at Novus Mindful Life Long Beach, CA can assist you in your recovery without judgment and from an empathetic point of view.