Does Porn gives me health problems?
Ever wonder how pornography affects health? Are there adverse effects of porn consumption?
These questions have inspired a growing body of research concerning the widespread use of internet pornography. Never before has there been so much pornographic material available in human history that can be accessed quickly and at a low cost.
At the same time, sexual dysfunction cases are skyrocketing - especially among younger people.
Could there be a connection?
How Internet Porn Affects the Brain
Since humans (and especially men) are driven by novelty, internet porn provides a never-ending selection of “partners” that keeps their dopamine receptors - and erections - continuously “fired up”.
For those who don’t know, dopamine is a “feel good” neurochemical that gets triggered when you do something pleasurable. Pleasurable activities that fuel dopamine include eating high-fat and/or high-sugar foods, playing video games, smoking marijuana, and viewing pornography.
The Dopamine - Pornography Connection
Pornography provides a never-ending selection of “partners” that appeals to human reproductive instincts.
The variety of “mates” seen on their screens keeps viewers going until they are completely exhausted. As a result, their brains continuously release dopamine with negative consequences on neurochemistry function. These negative consequences of watching porn accumulate over time and especially affect younger people in the early stages of cognitive development.
The Addiction Journey
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Side Effects of Porn Consumption
When the dopamine pleasure response is continuously activated, numerous adverse effects occur that include:
- Decreased concentration
- Reduced memory power
- Social anxiety
- Dissatisfaction with everyday activities
- Willpower erosion
To learn more about the dangers of porn, listen to Gary Wilson, author of “Your Brain on Porn”, in the following video: “The Great Porn Experiment”:
Watching Pornography is Not “Real” Sex
Sex is not a strictly visual act. Real relationships involve tactile, emotional, and mental sensations that produce holistic sexual experiences.
While some people can view pornography without significant side effects, many individuals - particularly young people with highly “plastic” brains - may find that what arouses them online is entirely out of sync with actual sexuality.
Disassociation from reality is precisely what can harm your relationship with actual real-life women that behave completely differently from those seen in porn.
The truth is that the majority of women who “star” in pornographic content have been abused as children - some as young as ten years old.
Jenna Jameson, one of the most popular porn actresses of the 90s, claimed that she was gang-raped, and then groomed to work in strip clubs and pornographic films. Shelley Lubben, author of “The Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn, claims that most girls in porn have been sexually abused. Lubben herself was abused at the age of 9 and believes that pornography is “modern-day slavery for thousands of women and the millions of porn addicts who can't stop clicking”.
Finally, Traci Lords - one of the most recognized names in the industry - was raped at just ten years old and stated that “my entire childhood was shaped by traumatic sexual experiences that led me to porn”.
As you can see, watching, consuming, and purchasing pornography is unhealthy for everyone involved.
Thankfully, there are several ways to break free.
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Porn Addiction Treatment
Understanding why you are using pornography is the first step toward breaking the addiction. Several methods are currently available, including psychiatric treatment, behavioural therapy, and group sessions that provide support.
However, not all methods are private, and some can be expensive.
Breaking your addiction is safe, secure, and private with the LadderOut App - an AI-powered application that gives you the tools to break free from porn addiction.
Click here to discover how LadderOut works.
Ready to start breaking free from your pornography addiction?
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Porn Health Problems FAQ
Yes. Philip Zimbardo, PhD., a psychology professor at Stanford University and author of “Man, Interrupted”, believes that “arousal” addiction symptoms associated with porn use are easily mistaken for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), concentration problems, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression.
Absolutely. According to Philip Zimbardo PhD., author of “Man, Interrupted” and professor of psychology at Stanford University, extended pornography use rewires the brain and causes conditions that are often mistaken for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and depression.
Yes. According to a study, cross-sectional surveys suggest that internet pornography is related to adverse health effects for people of all ages, including declining mental health, lower quality of life, decreased life satisfaction, low self-esteem, and depression.
Not permanently. Brain circuits are rewired by pornography, according to Gary Wilson, author of “Your Brain on Porn”, by endless novelty, variety, and clicking. In addition, Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbardo Ph.D. believes that addiction to arousal while viewing porn mimics negative symptoms associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), low concentration, poor memory, and other mental health issues.
