When a person becomes hooked on pornography, the individual will continue wanting more and more until it is impossible to stop. With more free services, videos and content available online, streaming and on laptops or phones, it is no wonder porn turns into an escalating behavior in a short period of time.
Effects of Escalation
Pornography researchers have found the more a person watches or takes in pornographic material, the individual becomes used to it and stops becoming excited or aroused. The brain’s pleasure response has gone numb and it takes more varieties of porn to satisfy the impulses. When the brain is aroused by porn, the brain releases dopamine which makes feelings pleasurable. Dopamine goes through the brain and leaves a pathway created by a protein that connects arousal to pornography. Dopamine says to the brain ‘this is good, let’s do it more often.’ This builds a pathway that continues to escalate until an individual finally cracks under the pressure of addiction.
Cutting Back
Once an individual’s brain starts to cut back on dopamine receptors, many porn users need larger surges of dopamine. Some of the following symptoms kick in when an individual’s brain has become used to the presence and feeling of porn and addiction kicks in:
- Viewing porn more often
- Finding other means of attaining porn
- Searching for more hardcore material
- Novelties, shocking and surprising graphic material will be needed to attain the same high
- Feelings of excitement wane more quickly and more is needed more rapidly to feel a release from addictive hold
- Seeing or experiencing things that used to be viewed as morally reprehensible but now become arousing
As addiction goes deeper, people who consume it will become more impulsive and give into cravings more often without a care as to where or when it takes place. Whenever the person encounters a stressful situation, he or she is more likely to feel there is no better way to deal with stress than by turning to pornography for a temporary release as a distraction.
It then becomes a vicious cycle from which it is hard to get out from under the grasp of without professional help and support from loved ones. The longer it takes to get help, the more damage can be done to a person’s reputation, relationships and personal sense of self that develops as a result of addiction.
Lead Recovery Center supports young adults during recovery. There is hope and help available for addiction to pornography. Our programs are designed to assist you with anything you’re struggling with with the support of highly qualified professionals and programs. If you’re ready to give up an addiction or have a loved one ready to quit, call us at (800) 380-0012. We’re ready to help.
