Your brain on porn

People are susceptible to many forms of addiction. The most common include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine,  sugar, various drugs, screen time, and many others.

However, there is one addiction that often receives less attention despite its significant psychological effects on many people, particularly boys and men. It can influence their lives for years and affect nearly every relationship they enter into.

This addiction is pornography, or simply porn. It is widely available for free, and many people believe there are reasons behind that accessibility.

Gary Wilson, teacher of anatomy and physiology described this issue in his book “Your brain in porn”.

https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/

He first glimpsed the scale of the problem when his wife online forum was deluged by men claiming to be addicted to porn – but he stresses that he has no religious or moral agenda: “I am not trying to start some kind of moral panic, or to say what is and isn’t ‘natural’ in human sexuality. If you don’t feel you have a problem, then I am not about to argue with you.”

But his experience is that increasing numbers of men do have a problem with the particular speed and endless variety of internet porn, hundreds of thousands of them turning to various help forums to address symptoms ranging from anxiety, obsessive behaviour and erectile dysfunction right through to chronic depression and suicidal thoughts.

DOPAMINE LOOP

“It has made me continuously watch more and more and at higher resolution,” admits one addict. “It sometimes becomes a whole day affair looking for the perfect one to finish on. It never, ever satisfies. ‘Need more’ the brain always says…such a lie.”

The problem, explains Wilson, is that our brains are wired to release the “go-get-it” neurochemical dopamine for each novel “mate” we encounter, which helped our ancestors continue to widen their gene pool.

But faced with today’s internet deluge of endless sexual novelty, our hunter-gatherer brains struggle to adapt, producing a dopamine binge which overrides our natural reward circuitry, and in turn creates a build-up of DeltaFosB.

DeltaFosB is the brain chemical linked to the numbed pleasure response found in almost all addicts, when real life simply doesn’t cut it any more. For the porn addict, ever more extreme images are required for arousal, says Wilson – creating a sexual habit associated with “being alone, voyeurism, clicking, searching, multiple tabs, fast-forwarding, constant novelty, shock and surprise.”

REAL CONNECTION

Compare that with the elements of real flesh-and-blood sex – courtship, touching, smells, pheromones, emotional connection, actual human interaction – and it’s easy to see how porn addiction can become a lonely kind of hell. Particularly if, like our children’s generation, you risk getting hooked from an early age.

But the good news from what Wilson has called the “fastest-moving, most global experiment ever unconsciously conducted”, is that the effects of high-speed internet porn addiction are reversible.

UK STUDY

A recent study shows, that in the UK, 82% of men watch porn regularly, while a third of British males say they first watched it before the age of 15 – some as young as six.

Fear or lack of intimacy is especially common in men with porn addiction, including for many already in relationships. Nearly 60% of men reported, that watching porn has negatively impacted their relationship and sex life. An even higher number believe porn has caused them issues with erectile dysfunction.

https://www.menshealth.com/uk/mental-strength/a69687605/porn-addiction-crisis/

HOPE OF FREEDOM

This is especially reassuring because the effects of pornography addiction can be more severe when exposure begins at a young age. Adolescents are at a stage of heightened dopamine activity and increased neuroplasticity, which may make them more vulnerable to developing compulsive habits. Fortunately, research suggests that, although recovery may take time, the brain can adapt and regain sensitivity to natural rewards, such as social interaction and real-life relationships.

This is another reason why parents should pay closer attention to what their children are watching on their screens. Monitoring online content, maintaining open communication, and encouraging healthy activities can help young people develop positive habits and make informed choices.

IT, DB