Yes, Pornography IS an Addiction!!
Do I have your attention now? I mean it's easier to see something visually right like the picture above?
Yes, viewing pornography is an addiction. And in this country (and around the world even) many don't view it as an addiction. It's not harming anyone right? So it can't be bad like drugs or alcohol, right?
Oh so very wrong. Those who view porn do it to get the same release that say a cocaine user or alcohol user does. Look at the picture above. See how the brain responds with the dopamine in almost identical ways? Look again! Viewing porn actually releases more dopamine than some other addictions like cocaine, food, morphine.
And the thing is, our minds are wired to store visuals. So, unlike these other addictions which require an item to be inhaled, ingested, drunk, etc in order to product that high - a person addicted to porn can do it without needing an item. Once a visual is stored in memory, one can retrieve it. And with the visual is also stored what happened when the visual was first viewed. And voila. How the cycle continues.
Pornography addictions is so vastly growing. With the internet, we can pipe these images right onto our computers or ipads, or phones with only a small search. It's so accessible and can be done right in the privacy of your own home.
But beware, like with other addictions, your need to have that high will increase. And often the urge to view porn and masturbate will come more often esp with triggers and users will often risk more to get that high. Many a people have LOST THEIR JOBS from viewing porn at work. Many a marriages have been destroyed because a man would rather masturbate than make love to his wife.
The human being was created to crave intimacy. When those needs are not met, many turn to pornography.
We thrive on intimate interactions and relationships with others. When our need for intimacy is neglected, our lives seem unpredictable, hostile, and stressful. The desire to escape or take flight from this stress can be overwhelming. When these conditions are present, we’re more likely to seek sources of release through addictive, and often, abusive behaviors. Unfortunately, when the “vacation” from the stressful environment is over, we return to the same, if not worsened, conditions–the negative emotional environment in which we repeat our cycles of addiction.
“With sexual addiction, instant sexual gratification becomes the addict’s most important, all-consuming pursuit. Part of the elevated mood generated by the activity may involve risk. Special routines and patterns may be followed that increase excitement, usually concluding in a sexual event…over which the addict feels absolutely no control.” (P. 295 Darryl S. S. Inaba, Michael E. Holstein, William E. Cohen, Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, CNS Publications, Inc., July 2000, Edition Number: 4.)
Pornography is an illusionary solution to meet the intimate needs of any participant. It shortcuts the natural process of being physically, emotionally, and spiritually close to another. The sensations are superficial. The bitter irony is that pornography and the use of the Internet for sexual expression actually increases the likelihood of separation from others: the exact opposite of intimacy.
I think this visual is very telling. Look at the search engine request figure. Look at the misconceptions...it's OK because I'm over the age of 18 and it's not illegal right? I could actually give you lots more figures but I think you get the picture. I got the visuals from http://pornographyaddiction.com. It's loaded with information so please check it out and become educated.
Treatment for pornography addictions can be a tricky one. But with attention growing about this, centers are really starting to take a much more aggressive approach with pornography addictions. Just as a side note, recoveryBox was first created for pornography addictions and was later expanded to incorporate lots of other addictions. In some areas, porn treatment centers are co-mingled with places where sex offenders are required to undergo treatment. Be careful of where you select treatment. As with all programs, if it's not a good fit for you then find somewhere else. But seek help!
And now I bring this full circle. Why was this the Random Resource ThuRsday? Because even possessing an item in the house can lead to a relapse and it's so easy. So go clean out the attic! The closet! Wherever you have it stashed. If you are not at the stage where you can clean it out because you feel too tempted then ask someone you trust to do it for you.
Check out next week's Random Resource ThuRsday where I offer ideas and resources to protect your eyes, hearts, self, family and children from pornography.
Want recoveryBox, the iPhone app for Addiction Recovery. There are multiple sex addictions to select from. See which one meets your needs and download it now. Be accountable to someone!
