There is a chemical in your brain called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which means it sends signals from one cell to another. When a person engages in a behavior that is followed by a reward it activates the dopamine pathway. The purpose of the pathway is to remember the reward-motivated behavior. When there is pleasure involved, your brain remembers this and each time you come to a situation where the dopamine pathway was activated, your brain will release more dopamine before you engage in that behavior.
For example, the first time you view porn, you don’t know beforehand whether or not it feels good. Once you start engaging in the behavior, it feels good so the dopamine pathway is opened up and starts sending pleasure signals from one cell to another. Fast forward to the next time you view porn. Before you even view the porn you start thinking about viewing the porn. Your brain has remembered this reward motivated behavior so the dopamine pathway has already opened up sending pleasure signals from one cell to another.
Before you know it, certain things will trigger the release of dopamine without you having to even think about it which then forces you to think about it when the dopamine pathway is opened up. This is called a trigger.
The problem with all of this is that if you start to chronically view porn, your brain is constantly flooded with dopamine and in an order to regulate, the dopamine receptors get smaller. When your brain has too little dopamine it doesn’t feel good and this is where you may start to feel sad, lonely, depressed, or unmotivated. The only way to get out of that feeling is to get more dopamine to the brain so you watch more porn.
If you’re feeling this way, it’s not your fault. Like any addiction, it’s not a matter of self control and you can now see why there is science backing the fact that an addiction is a brain disease. The brain is what is called plasticity which means it can change based upon your environment and the information that you take in. This is good news because you can literally change your brain by not watching porn.
Porn addiction is fed by other negative habits.
I've changed my workout routine as well as most of my habits that support a healthier lifestyle. My day is occupied with much more productive activities now. As a result, my porn consumption has dropped dramatically.
Porn can feed this negative loop.
Hi @colinhoward - we completely agree that negative loops can form. However, I would caution against stating porn addiction is only fed by other negative habits. While it is true that it can be fed it doesn't always have to be. Porn addiction, in and of itself, stands on its own as an addiction. Hope what I said makes sense!
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To see pornography does not have anything bad, although nothing in excess is functional for our nervous system. Effectively addictions develop in the way that the explanation, however, abstinence by the absence of activation of neurotransmission, is not specifically specified in depression, and also this substance can be activated with food and other activities that generate reward. , so we would replace the addiction, meals like chocolate and activities such as video games, even simultaneos are tools for some people who are going through sorrows for love breakups, job losses, and because active dopamine
I understand what you're saying but it comes across as a bit broken - however what you are saying is actually wrong. I'd suggest doing some research on the subject. I would never suggest that stimulants be used for helping those in emotional distress.
Being a specialist in the area is that I make such an exhibition, I do not say that the stimulants, called psychoactive drugs, designer drugs, among others, if there are no daily behaviors that generate the activation of point neurotransmitters. And yes, in psychotherapy we apply it. In fact pornography is not bad, it is even a tool to live sexuality in old age, so that the adolescent or the early adult full of taboos knows sex from another perspective. My apologies if you uncomfortable my comment, the intention was that the visualization of another way, since as well as it establishes the addiction to pornography can also happen with any other activity
Hi @marynes5 thanks for clarifying - I understand the psychotherapy aspect of it and yes you are completely correct in that front. As for the pornographic aspect I'll post some stuff later tonight that might change your mind on that front.