What does porn do to your brain? Can porn change or damage your brain in any measurable way? What are the psychological effects of watching too much porn? There’s a lot of information out there, so we’ve condensed it into this handy reference.
Does Porn Affect Our Brains?
Yes, porn does affect our brains—and it’s not good. The cravings experienced by someone hooked on porn can be like the cravings of a drug addict. With repeated exposure to porn, the portion of the brain responsible for decision-making and willpower actually begins to shrink. The chemical pathways of the brain designed for sexual pleasure are rewired to seek out porn instead of real sex.
So if you’ve ever felt like it’s hard to quit porn, there’s a good reason: it affects your brain! Let’s dig deeper into the science of porn use and the effects it has on the brain.
Porn, Dopamine, and More: What Happens When We Watch Porn
Your brain is an incredible biological computer, with billions of neurons processing countless bits of information, maneuvering your body, and shaping your emotions. It houses a whole pharmacy of chemicals, which work together to give you the experiences of pleasure, pain, and many other feelings. Your brain is also designed to adjust and adapt to different environments and stimuli.
In The Porn Circuit, Sam Black describes the various hormones and neurotransmitters involved when someone views porn and how each ingredient in this neuro-cocktail contributes to the problem:
- When having sex or watching porn, dopamine is released into a region of the brain responsible for emotion and learning, giving the viewer a sense of sharp focus and a sense of craving: “I have got to have this thing; this is what I need right now.” It supplies a great sense of pleasure. The next time the viewer gets the “itch” for more sexual pleasure, small packets of dopamine are released in the brain, telling the user: “Remember where you got your fix last time. Go there to get it.”
- Norepinephrine is also released, creating alertness and focus. It is the brain’s version of adrenaline. It tells the brain, “Something is about to happen, and we need to get ready for it.”
- Sex and porn also trigger the release of oxytocin and vasopressin. These hormones help to lay down the long-term memories for the cells. They “bind” a person’s memories to the object that gave him or her sexual pleasure.
- The body releases endorphins, natural opiates that create a “high,” of pleasure throughout the whole body.
- After sexual release, serotonin levels also change, bringing a sense of calm and relaxation.
This system works the way it is supposed to work when you’re having sex with your spouse. Together, you can experience a high, an alertness of sexual pleasure, and a deep calm afterward (norepinephrine, endorphins, and serotonin). With each sexual embrace, you are emotionally bonding to this person (oxytocin and vasopressin). Over time, a craving for sex is transformed into a desire for one another (dopamine).
Something very similar happens when your brain is “on porn.” Porn activates the same pleasurable chemicals in your brain that make sex so enjoyable and meaningful. But porn isn’t real sex, and it actually short-circuits the system with disturbing side effects. In this short video, Matt Fradd talks about our brains and the chemicals at work when we look at porn.
3 Ways Porn Affects Our Brain
Your brain is different when it’s on porn. The chemicals at work in your brain have at least 3 measurable effects that researchers have noted.
1. The brain is “tattooed” with porn.
Your brain is designed to remember important situations and events. When you see porn, your brain gets the signal that something important has happened. Consequently, porn can leave an imprint of the image on the brain long after is viewed. Many people who have quit looking at porn still have minds full of pornographic images—images that won’t leave. One of our readers recently commented, “Even though I haven’t viewed porn in quite a while, I still have very vivid images in my mind that make me want to go back to it.” This kind of experience with porn is extremely common.
Why is that? It’s because of the chemicals at work: norepinephrine, oxytocin, and vasopressin, which work together to form lasting memories. The effect on the brain is that looking at porn, even briefly, can leave your mind with a built-in library of images that you can’t erase. Neuroscientist Dr. William Struthers, the author of Wired for Intimacy, compares this to a “neurological tattoo, which is difficult to ‘unremember’ or to wipe away.”
2. The brain bonds to porn, not a person.
Sex is designed to bond you to a person. With porn, instead of forming a deep connection to a person, your brain ends up “bonding” to a pornographic experience. Your brain remembers where the sexual high was experienced, and each time you desire sexual stimulation, you feel a sharp sense of focus: I’ve got to go back to the porn.
In addition to this bonding, pornography gives the brain an unnatural high. Neuroscientist Dr. Donald Hilton says this is because porn is a “supranormal stimulus.”¹ In a popular TEDx talk, physiology teacher Gary Wilson explains that when men look at porn, they experience surge after surge of dopamine in the brain. The brain eventually fatigues, stopping the production of dopamine, leaving the viewer wanting more but unable to reach a level of satisfaction.
As a result, everyday pleasures stop causing excitement and the viewer seeks out more novel, more intense pornography to get the same high as before. This imbalance in the brain leads to many problems: impotence with your spouse, frequent masturbation with very little satisfaction, anxiety, fatigue, lack of motivation, inability to concentrate, and escalating tastes for more bizarre or novel porn.
3. Porn shrinks your brain.
Porn users’ brains are actually smaller than normal. Cambridge Neuropsychiatrist Valerie Voon was featured in the UK documentary Porn on the Brain. Her research demonstrates that the brains of habitual porn users show great similarity to the brains of alcoholics. A brain structure called the ventral striatum plays a significant role in the reward system of the brain—the pleasure pathways. It is the same part of the brain that “lights up” when an alcoholic sees a picture of a drink.² A German study found similar results.
Dr. William Struthers sounds a similar alarm, teaching that viewing pornography and masturbating actually weakens the region of our brain known as the cingulate cortex—the region that is responsible for moral and ethical decision making and willpower. This means feeling the compulsive “need” to look at porn.
It may lead someone to engage in increasingly risky behavior, such as looking at porn at work, consuming more extreme or even illegal porn, or acting out sexually in other ways—such as visiting strip clubs or soliciting prostitutes.
The Psychological Effects of Porn on the Brain
We can look at the effects of porn on the brain at a chemical level, but we can also look at the effects of porn from a psychological perspective. Sex addiction therapist and porn recovery expert Dr. Kevin Skinner says:
Our emotions are heavily influenced by the chemicals that run through our bodies. Consequently, when the pornography addict is viewing pornography he is altering his normal emotional state… When a pornography addict comes down off the rush from the chemicals dumped into the system, he is likely to feel more depressed and emotionally down.³
One commenter on our blog said, “I hope I can stop this as it leaves me depressed and makes me feel worthless. Whenever I wake up I feel like a pile of bricks and I can’t get up because of how I feel. It destroys me emotionally every time…”
Here’s a short summary of research into the psychological effects of porn on the brain.
Porn may increase anxiety or depression.
At Covenant Eyes, we speak with people every day who are experiencing depression and anxiety related to porn. Research has found a correlation between watching porn and anxiety and depression, particularly those who want to stop watching porn but can’t. One study of university students indicated a strong connection between compulsive porn use and anxiety.4
Some experts are dubious about the connection between porn and depression or anxiety. Nonetheless, they acknowledge that porn can affect relationships, which in turn can result in depression or anxiety.5
Porn can change sexual beliefs.
We start to desire what we see in porn. We start to need more novel types of porn to get the same high we got with our first porn encounter. The more porn is consumed, the more it changes how we see women. It can even lead us to think violence is sexy. Looking at these images and videos can “pornify” a person’s outlook on life. and how they see the world and women as sex objects. Studies show that porn can change the way people view women. A 2020 longitudinal study found, “Compelling evidence shows that frequency of pornography exposure is associated with negatively perceived body image and sexual body image.”6
Dr. Dolf Zillmann and Dr. Jennings Bryant found that people who watched porn were desensitized to violent sex and rape. People who watched porn had a lower view of traditional institutions like marriage and family.7
Porn often intensifies shame.
At Covenant Eyes, we often refer to the “shame cycle.” People trying to quit porn often feel a deep sense of shame that can drive them into relapse and further emotional bondage. The negative feelings associated with porn, rather than giving them the motivation to quit, often contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
A recent independent study had similar findings. A group of men surveyed reported feelings of shame regarding their porn use. They also reported feelings of shame related to the way porn had affected their sexual preferences.8
Pastor, counselor, and research Jay Stringer has found a strong connection between porn and shame, “For those of us who have struggled with pornography, shame is an all-too-familiar companion.” Shame can be both a result of looking at porn, particularly for those whose moral belief system says porn is wrong, and a trigger for further porn consumption.
Porn can lead to memory loss.
In some cases, porn may lead to memory loss. Sound crazy? One study concluded, “[T]hat pornography addiction may be associated with impaired recent verbal memory in juveniles.”9 Another study looked more broadly at short-term memory with a group of 28 healthy individuals and came up with similar results.10
If you’re hooked on porn, you may have the experience of looking up at the clock and realizing you’ve burned through a couple of hours looking at porn when you have other things you should be doing. The bottom line is, there’s reason to believe that looking at porn may make it more difficult to retain the information you need for important tasks, whether you’re in school or working.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The effects of porn are so powerful they can feel paralyzing for some people. On top of this, when trying to quit porn, many people also report withdrawal symptoms. These can include mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Some have even reported headaches. One commenter asked us:
I want to get better but my withdrawal symptoms get real intense… I can’t seem to think straight or catch my breath. I also get flu like symptoms for the first week or so. How long do I have to hold out for the withdrawal symptoms to subside?
These symptoms result from the powerful neurological and psychological effects that porn has on the brain. Effects like this rarely last long, but they can be intense. But don’t be discouraged! This doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. See our post, 10 Symptoms of Porn Addiction Withdrawal (And How to Manage Them). Here you’ll find practical help on what to expect when quitting porn, and strategies to ensure your success.
We strongly encourage you to find an ally for your journey, so you have someone cheering you on and helping you stay the course when things get tough.
Can I rewire my brain from porn’s effects?
It can feel overwhelming, but change is possible. You can rewire your brain. Tens of thousands of men and women have broken free from the grip of pornography and reclaimed their sexuality. Every day, we hear from people at different stages of the journey. Here’s what some of them are saying:
“I need to change to get my life, my hopes, and my future back. Today is my first day with this program.”
“I was sexually abused as a kid growing and I got addicted to pornography and masturbation at a very young age, I have tried to stop many times but failed. Covenant Eyes is the first program that has given me real hope. Now I can go without porn for months and gradually am getting to the point of total freedom.”
“Today is my one-year anniversary free of porn! That is after 50 years of looking at porn! It is possible to defeat this even for us older guys whose neural pathways are deep canyons. I thank God that it is never too late to heal!”
While porn has a tremendous impact on the brain, your brain has an incredible capacity to change and adapt. Even if your neural pathways are “deep canyons,” it’s never too late to start the process of rewiring. If you need help getting started, check out our blog post by sex addiction therapist Dr. Doug Weiss, How to Quit Porn: 6 Essential Steps.
¹Hilton DL Jr. Pornography addiction – a supranormal stimulus considered in the context of neuroplasticity. Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2013 Jul 19;3:20767. doi: 10.3402/snp.v3i0.20767. PMID: 24693354; PMCID: PMC3960020.
²Eric Schulzke. New UK study finds porn affects brain like drugs, alcohol. Desert News. 2013 Sept 25. https://www.deseret.com/2013/9/25/20526176/new-uk-study-finds-porn-affects-brain-like-drugs-alcohol
³Kevin Skinner, Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery, 34.
4 Camilleri C, Perry JT, Sammut S. Compulsive Internet Pornography Use and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of University Students in the United States. Front Psychol. 2021 Jan 12;11:613244. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.613244. PMID: 33510691; PMCID: PMC7835260.
5 Russel, Robyn. Is There a Link Between Watching Pornography and Depression? PsychCentral. 2021 May 28. https://psychcentral.com/depression/watching-pornography-depression
6 Paslakis G, Chiclana Actis C, Mestre-Bach G. Associations between pornography exposure, body image and sexual body image: A systematic review. Journal of Health Psychology. 2022;27(3):743-760. doi:10.1177/1359105320967085
7 Zillmann, D., & Bryant, J. Effects of Prolonged Consumption of Pornography on Family Values. 1988. Journal of Family Issues, 9(4), 518–544. https://doi.org/10.1177/019251388009004006
8 Sniewski, L., & Farvid, P. Hidden in shame: Heterosexual men’s experiences of self-perceived problematic pornography use. 2020. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 21(2), 201 212. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000232
9 Prawiroharjo P, Ellydar H, Pratama P, Edison RE, Suaidy SEI, Amani NZ, Carissima D. Impaired Recent Verbal Memory in Pornography-Addicted Juvenile Subjects. Neurol Res Int. 2019 Aug 18;2019:2351638. doi: 10.1155/2019/2351638. PMID: 31531240; PMCID: PMC6721264.
10 Laier C, Schulte FP, Brand M. Pornographic picture processing interferes with working memory performance. J Sex Res. 2013;50(7):642-52. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2012.716873. Epub 2012 Nov 20. PMID: 23167900.
I was stuck in the bonds of pornography for many years. I went through the Pure Desire curriculum which Dr. ted Roberts put together, and in that curriculum he talked about many of the physical, chemical things that happen in our brains during an addiction, and in particularly a pornography addiction. I had so much guilt and shame over the addiction but once I understood that there were things happening inside of my head that contributed to me continuing to look at it, it wasn’t an excuse for me, but it helped tremendously to know that there was more of a reason aside from me just being a disgusting pig as to why it was so hard for me to stop. If you are stuck in a porn addiction, understanding the things that Luke wrote above is really a key piece in not just breaking the addiction but in helping in your healing afterwards. Thanks for talking about this portion of the addiction Luke. I have always thought it’s a critical piece. My story is at http://www.openrivers.wordpress.com if you want to read more about my journey there. But I have got to tell you Luke, the things you put up here have really ministered to me. Thank you.
Thanks, Paul. We’ve had a great relationship with Dr. Roberts for years. He’s a wise man.
It is helpful to understand why porn is hurt to the marriage. However, I understand that porn is commit adultery.
I used to watch porn, but when I discovered that porn affects the brain, I started to crave on more information on how porn affects the brain, and when completely understood the affects, I felt different, like I didn’t even felt that I need to crave on mor porn, and porn wasn’t that interesting now, I didn’t even felt excitement or something when I last watched porn. I didn’t even felt that I needed to masturbate anymore, it became old for me. And now I can control the way I view porn. Oh and porn didn’t even affected my relationships on my siblings. I would still go out every day, whic I noticed that porn, doesn’t have affects on me now, after I understood the affects clearly. So now that porn doesn’t affects me. I still do the same things and feel the same.
I have been masturbating to porn for a year and a half and have a clinical depression from it and taking antidepressants and antipsychotics and sleep Meds.
It has destroyed my life.
Hi Sammy, I’m heart broken reading this. Porn is a monster that destroys lives, which you are experiencing. Other than the medical help, are you receiving any counseling for you?
Is Masturbation to porn the same as real sex if done once a day for lets say 10 minutes each. Would porn effect the brain more or would they be on par if done for 10 minutes each daily?
i used to watch porn but now iv understood that it affects the brain
My addiction started at the age of 13 when a guy up the road gave me a trsh bag full of porn magazines. The masturbation came at the age of 15. The consuming began in my mid to late 20’s and 30’s with trips to strip clubs and a swingers club. I’m 50 now. My life is pretty much beaten up and so much has been lost. I live alone, in an isolated area. Although I graduated college, I work at a minumum paying job. I have been trying to stop for 8 years now. I’ve taken an addiction class at a church with a friend. It’s getting much better and I’m determined to break free. It’s harder though, not having anyone that I am accountable to. I have to look into that situation more. I truely wish this information would have been available a couple of decades ago. But, I don’t know if I would have read it anyways. I was in deep. I still read up on the effects, the information is so helpful in this battle for the soul, and have no doubts, it is a battle for the soul. The hardest part is when you come out of the fogginess, and your brain clears, you become aware. Aware of all the time that was wasted on this filthy addiction. I’ve heard it said, SIN WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU FARTHER THAN YOU WANTED TO GO – IT WILL KEEP YOU LONGER THAN YOU INTENDED TO STAY – AND IT WILL COST YOU SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU INTENDED TO PAY.
My price was astronomically high, I don’t have much left in my life, but God’s given me one thing to hold on to, hope.
I doubt there is anything wrong with occasional porn usage in moderation. If you are addicted and it is ruining other areas of your life, then it’s a problem like anything else: alcohol, video games, etc. Some guys can’t get a girlfriend for whatever reason and it is nice for them to have a release. It’s probably better than going to a prostitute. There are other benefits of porn that aren’t mentioned. Rape and violent crime have dramatically decreased. Young men are more docile and the majority of young men now use porn. It is a tricky issue.
How to reverse these problem which is caused by porn. Does these blunders can be reverse or not ?
I’ve recently started my journey back to a pornless world
I am a woman who has been seeing a man for ten yrs & both being Christians all of our lives my 25 year marriage ended not from my husband using porn but from emotional abuse the guy I have been saying for 10 years knows every part of the emotional abuse that I went through and it took me years to get past yet but I never let it affect my relationship with him recently I happen to find a lot of porn on his phone something I have never battled with in my marriage or did I even imagine that it was something that he was hiding all these years he didn’t admit to anything I found it after about a week he admitted to it being the truth even though how could he deny it I wonder if he would’ve ever confessed to it I do not believe that he would have in fear of knowing it would end our relationship because I found it on his phone for years ago I didn’t go in detail to see how many times he had viewed porn for years ago I just seen that he had viewed it and one time was enough I for gave him he did not get counseling neither did I but two months ago when I found it I just found so many sites I was overwhelmed and it was over a long period of time I met a very bad place I am in counseling for me I know I have to forgive him through God I make that choice to forgive but if you could help me understand from a man’s point of you how can someone that you see every day tell you they love you and ask you to marry them but viewing porn every day I am reaching out to you because your story blessed me so I have no one else I can go to I’m seeing a female counselor I just couldn’t imagine myself betraying him in this way I do not put myself above it but I just need some answers he has downloaded the covenant eyes app on his phone but if you could help me to understand and just every day terms how can someone say they love and know about all of the emotional abuse you went through in your marriage and often speaking very negative of my ex which I did not defend my ex because it was true but now the pain that I went through in my marriage it would be a cakewalk compared to the devastation of finding not just regular porn but triple X and just so many porn sites I was overwhelmed if you could help me please do thank you God bless
Hey there.
I think shame is at the root of the problem you’re facing. There is so much sexual shame in our culture, especially in Christian culture, and it creates an environment that’s perfect for creating the situation you describe.
Women are taught to ignore their sexuality and to blame themselves for anything that goes wrong in a relationship. Men have been taught to deny, repress, and ignore their emotions (“big boys don’t cry”), to feel deep shame about their sexuality, and then they’re taught that it’s inevitable that they will act out (“boys will be boys”). This is a toxic stew that is not easy to undo.
I would say that he probably needs therapy for himself to uncover this and heal. CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) is a great option.
I would suggest that you check out the resources at Bloom for Women, where they take a trauma informed approach for partners.
Keep in mind that forgiveness is not an excuse for him to ignore your boundaries, and forgiveness on your part doesn’t guarantee that the relationship can be mended. Here, here, and here are some articles on boundaries that you may find helpful.
I hope that helps,
Kay
Thank you and this makes a lot of sense and helps me very much. I’ve struggled with porno addiction for years, and it helps very much to know some of the exact physiological reasons porno is so harmful. I’d read Dobson’s interview w/ Ted Bundy and, as frightening as that was, I ignored the advice and continued perusing violent porno for years. But for God’s grace and for responsible men of God like you who’ve helped me, I could have and probably would have become a sex offender. The temptation is still there, but the Lord is on my side and He is bigger than any addiction. Thank you to everyone at Covenant Eyes, etc. for giving me much-needed truth in the fight against my sinful desires. Also praise be to the King of Kings, my Savior Jesus Christ.
So glad to hear another story of God coming to someone’s rescue!
I am a Sponsor in a 12 Step program for sexual addiction. I try to provide current information to help sponsee know just how dangerous Sex Addiction is to the body and the mind. I would like to know what information you recommend that I use to let them know the harmful effects i that porn has on the brain. I really enjoyed the article on ” Brain Chemicals and Porn Addiction.” Addiction”,
Try our free book, The Porn Circuit.
Dude freaking out should of been recovered months ago, having a long flatline
I have a questions for you in regards to this subject
This article didn’t make sense. Sexuality is USUALLY related to a desire for relationship. Most people I’ve known who use porn prefer the relationship to the porn. In the case that they don’t, but are in a relationship, something deeper is going on (e.g. conflict in the relationship). What’s not addressed in this article is the shame placed on most self-identified sex addicts by religious systems. In my experience, when the shame is removed the “addiction” stops. More recent research debunks the findings in this article. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/women-who-stray/201307/your-brain-porn-its-not-addictive.
Interesting theory. I have no doubt that religious shame is a contributor to many people’s experiences. That’s a separate article for another day.
This article mentions groups like YourBrainOnPorn, a completely secularist group that is now helping many men who are suffering from porn induced ED, experiencing major withdrawal symptoms and a variety of other problems. Secularist men are drawn to groups like this, not because they are feeling religious shame, but because their symptoms have started to harm their sex lives.
As for the study you’re citing, I recommend reading Dr. Donald Hilton’s rebuttal.
Tim, men don’t need religion to feel shame for sin. Our own conscience will alert us to that which is unnatural and un-Godly. If we listen to our conscience, if indeed we have one anymore, we will not need church to tell us when we do wrong.
But the benefit of CONVICTION (constructive shame) on men who feel no shame over their perversion of God’s gift of natural sexuality, is an essential alarm loud enough to get through to them, as a fool headed towards a cliff on a very pleasurable road would need.
Sexuality is ORIGINALLY related to (indeed – DESIGNED for) a desire for relationship, to form and solidify the bond between parents to make a stable home for their offspring, the natural result of sex, which is, after all “reproduction.”
But nowadays, with cheap stimulation of the brain’s sexual centers at every turn, the USUALLY which you reference is now the rarity, not the rule. Shamelessness is actually what defines our porn-addicted society, not its deliverance. Research that suggests otherwise is thoroughly unreliable, in the same was that Nazi anthropological studies on the sub-human nature of Jews was.
Porn has reprogrammed our society, and it takes focused resistance to keep from being perverted in our brain chemistry so that we don’t crave fake relationships in pictures and videos and fantasies that we ourselves can control. That perversion is the new norm in the West.
Removing shame is not the answer. Answering it is. The “Check Engine” light on your car should lead you to diagnose the problem, because, PROBLEM there is! Remove shame as though it were the enemy, and you set a new generation of young men on a downward slope into oblivion, WITH NO SHAME. Would one remove smoke detectors from a hotel? That is a CRIME! So is the removal of shame over sexual immorality.
Hitler himself derided the Christian faith for the way it made men feel guilty for doing what was “natural.” This is a path of destruction, no matter whose “research” one cites.
Tim, stay with CE articles and ponder them regularly as you contrast them with Psych Today writings. Test your own heart by the words of each, not what you want to be true, and you will see clearly. Brutal honesty with yourself always produces fruit.
Those of us who have escaped porn’s grip know the value of CONVICTION if we respond in the right way. But pure shame only beats one down with no hope of rebirth or renewal. Learn the difference.
You can learn to hate your “Check Engine” light, or heed it.
Yes that’s true I also think that if a religion have some rules for seeing a girl or touching her ……..than obviously a man would watch porn for his sexual intentions.
I don’t argue that religion contributes to shame as guilt, but I know plenty of non-religious guys who still feel that way about their porn addiction. I think the shutting down of neuron receptors -down regulation- due to excessive use of porn and masturbation is a big contributor, as you don’t need religion for that. For the record, though an addictmyself (together with sexual molestation it was made available to me from age 8), I really believe that ANY use of porn is excessive.
This article makes perfect sense. The article on psychology today that you referenced doesn’t debunk the facts stated by Luke as there is nothing to debunk. This article states nothing about religion but rather describes the chemicals involved in the whole sexual experience and how that can have a detrimental effect on a person’s behavior that can have a negative impact on a healthy psyche. Porn addiction is a clinical mental disorder where a person’s daily life is negatively affected and people seek psychological counseling to get control. Watch the TEDx speech that Luke mentioned in the article and the other articles he referenced. You will find that some Psychologists come from different backgrounds and view the topic from a different angle but statistically, porn and sexual actions can have a negative affect on people and their sexual relationship for the reasons outlined in this article.
This is a good article, but a slight clarification is in order: porn and other addictive behaviors don’t necessarily decrease the amount of dopamine released, it down regulates dopamine receptors (d2 receptors especially.) this is a neuroplastic change that is reversible if you give your brain a break from overstimulation for a few months.
Thanks for the clarification. If it helps, that’s kind of what I meant, but I didn’t want to get too technical on people.
where did you hear this? It gives me hope that my motivation can come back and my life can be normal again, but could you offer a link with an article that proves this?
My name is Jayden Tuma i am 14 years old and addicted to pornagraphy. It started about one or two years ago when my cousin showed me a playboy magazine and as soon as i say the first couple of pages i was hooked on it. My mom has already found out about it but no matter what i can’t stop (and i really want to stop,heck my mom even threatened me saying the next time she found out that she would send me to a rehab center). I’ve read many articles about how bad porn is for your body and mind but pornagraphy is to addicting. If you guys know any website that can help me stop looking at porn that would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Jayden. Thanks for sharing. I would highly recommend you read this other article about how porn impacts the brain on our blog. It addresses why you often feel like you don’t have any real willpower when it comes to porn. It also gives you practical ideas about how to (1) cut yourself off from porn, and (2) build up your mind so you can create new, good habits to replace the bad ones.
I also encourage you to talk to your mom about this after you read this article. It would be sad if this issue was causing a rift between you and her. Help her to see that you want to make a plan to stop using porn and there are tools available to help people overcome, but you need her help look for potential area of weakness. Hopefully, she’ll be really happy that you are making an honest effort and taking real, concrete steps to change.
The key ingredient to any strategy you use is humility. It is too easy, in the heat of the moment, to give into temptation and throw out all your plans. This is why right now, while you have a clear head, you need to make an escape plan knowing the day of temptation will come. When you are at your best, plan for your worst.
Please let us know if we can help more!
Hi Jayden, I was also 14 when i got caught up in the bad habit of masturbation and it nearly ruined my life, thanks to the saving power of God that gave me hope to fight on.
its really a good thing you desire to cut this off as early as possible. Its already more than one year that you posted this comment and i do hope you got that victory.
Praying for you. Only the power of Gods forgiveness that sets us free!
I do appreciate your desire and willingness to ask how to break free from this bad sinful habit.
Thanks Luke, your articles have really been an encouragement.
your brother
Nwike.
Nigeria.
great article , i am addicted on pornography and masturbation for more than 15 yrs ,Is there any way to stop this bad habit. I tried many times to stop it but all of them are failed . the longest period of prevention ofwatching porn and masturb was 1 month . and i felt depression during the days with trials of prevention of masturbation . thx excuse me for my bad english.
So sorry to hear that. I can identify. My porn habit lasted for years, and it was a difficult habit to break.
I highly recommend you read our book, Your Brain on Porn. Have you read it yet?
Hi, please consider recogmending people look at the nofab academy for help and support.
Hello, I’ve noticed that pornography use causes incredibly significant declines in an individual’s working and short-term memory, problem-solving ability, common sense, long-term memory, attention, decision making, ability to suppress urges, concentration, focus, and general intelligence. This is due to the considerable damage done to the frontal lobe and prefrontal cortex of the human brain. Having experienced this myself, I can personally attest to my lack in motivation, interest, and noticeable declines in my overall intelligence. While I never became addicted, I noticed I could not think with the same mental clarity I had before, I could not seem to find interest in things I loved, and being an intellectually gifted and generally happy tennager before, those traits tended to massively decline over time. My spiritual relationship was practically in shreds and while I remained a committed Christian, the guilt and shame of what I engaged in, and the fact I could never break free really hurt my ability to experience the beauty of Jesus Christ. But, after I had confessed my yearlong struggle to my Christian parents, I was finally able to break free, experience clarity, think clearly, and have permanent, colossal boots in memory, intelligence and intellectual aptitude, motivation, decision making, etc. My common sense and problem-solving ability was back! I could experience an open relationship with my wonderful parents and have multitudinous amounts of social relationships with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Above all, I could experience the incredibly captivating beauty and glorious nature of God’s presence, his love, and could really experience a burning passion for God in my Christian walk. I’m so happy I followed the tug of the Holy Spirit and finally confessed my year-long struggle to my parents.
I now understand the powerful nature of porn, its detrimental impact on the brain, and how it sucks a person into its sadistic world filled with countless lies.
Yet, I have one question, knowing porn can ruin a person’s personality and destroy their intelligence, how is it that some porn stars have high IQ’s (Asia Carrera)? Of course, this doesn’t justify the nature of what they’re doing, but how is that even possible, knowing what it can do to a person and having experienced it myself?
Thank you and God bless you!
I think the answer to your question is that IQ is not solely dependent on one’s moral beliefs or one’s addictive tendencies. Furthermore, just because someone acts in pornography does not mean they are actually addicted to anything sexual. Some people just do porn for the money or the fame; it is a job, a career.
Only God can save the people frome there addiction
hi
I really enjoyed your article, iam actually struggling the evil pornography for almost a year now, It actually makes me feel inferior and less important before God and my peers. i need a final and permanent solution please. Thank you sir
Remember the good news about Christ: God has come near to us through His Son. In His death, he bore the sins of the whole world so that united to Him, we will not be condemned. In His resurrection, He lives with God forever, paving the way to the Father in heaven. United to Him, we aren’t merely forgiven. We are adopted into His family: the favor Christ experiences now is the same way the Father looks at all those who are united to Jesus in faith.
If you are in Christ, you belong to God. As far as God is concerned, you are already His. God’s love for you cannot be overstated. He loves you with an endless love, and you have done nothing to merit it or deserve it. He loves you despite all your unlovability, despite your lingering sinful desires. Though in your sin you are undeserving and undesirable, He loves you when your mind disavows it, your heart dodges it, and your soul dismisses it. He loves you right now as you are, not as you think you should be.
I highly recommend you get a free copy of our book, Your Brain on Porn. It addresses a lot of these principles that lead to freedom.
I have had a problem with porn for about 10 months, and about two weeks ago i quit. I have experienced decreased motivation, depression, and anxiety from dealing with this issue. I used to be a highly motivated teenager with an interest in science and math, but now i don’t feel as motivated as I used to.
My question is can my motivation come back? I know it is related to the dopamine in my brain, but I am worried that my brain won’t be able to change back to the way it was. Is the change permanent or can it be reversed with time?
Thank you, and God bless
It can absolutely change, yes. I would recommend reading this article.
Hello! I found this article very helpful!
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20130801/is-pornography-harmful/#?insight%5Bsearch_id%5D=3f0c3683-bba4-478a-a160-5716b18bbbf1&insight%5Bsearch_result_index%5D=1
i watched the video, your brain on porn, read the book , the porn circuit and i have got fair knowledge about how porn and masturbation spoils our mind and body. thanks to you people for shedding the light on this subject. but, i still have the problem. i have been porn and masturbation addict from 15 years, tried thousand times to quit and failed. when i get tempted the of knowledge of brain chemicals doesn’t help me to stop masturbating. is there any practical thing to overcome the strong urge? please help me…
Great question.
I’ll post some links that might be a big help to you:
1. Neuroscience Speaks: How Using Porn Destroys Your Willpower
2. What Are the Practical Steps to Quitting Porn?
3. How to Take a U-Turn on the Porn Superhighway
4. The Great Masturbation Hoax: Is Not Masturbating Unhealthy for You?
5. The Apostle Paul’s Secret to Fighting Sexual Sin
please go http://www.nofap.com
I’M also fighting with this sinful desires but to no avail, today’s my 4th week of quitting masturbation,but I don’t experience any change of how it has left a great loss of my memory and intelligence, I feel so exhausted.these habits have made me failed my final exams for about three times.It really pains me,and sometimes I feel to commit suicide.please help me out.I really hate my self now. I really need you urgently.
Hi Oscar.
I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time, and I’m glad you’ve reached out for help.
It sounds to me like you have a lot of stress and pressure in your life right now.
First, I want to ask you to PLEASE SPEAK IMMEDIATELY to a family member or close friend about the thoughts of suicide that you’re having.
Secondly, I want to ask you to CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY to ask about medication that can help you through this hard time.
And then I’d like for you to know that you can text a number of different hotlines, to communicate with a trained crisis interventionist when you are feeling like harming yourself: Crisis Chat, National Suicide Prevention, Common Grounds, and Crisis Chatline are just a few.
Finally, I want to tell you that you are God’s precious child. He loves you and cares for you and has plans for your future, that are for your good. I know that things are tough right now, but please don’t give up. Take the next breath, and keep taking the next breath. Talk to your family and friends and your doctor, and get help. There IS help. You CAN feel better and get well. Please don’t give up right now. Please take the next steps toward healing.
I will repeat this information in a personal email to you; I wanted to post my recommendations here, though, in case they might be helpful to someone else who feels like you do.
Blessings and prayers, Kay
Thanks to the author, Mr. Gilkerson for starting the public discussion here about this extremely important topic. He raises very good points in the article, I’d like to add a bit about dopamine.
Recent studies reveal that brain dopamine receptors are getting drained by online porn consumption, leading to more cravings with porn. This ‘numbs’ our brain’s reward circuitry, making higher levels of stimulation necessary for us to feel good again. This leads to a large variety of mental and eventually physical symptoms too, such as erectile dysfunction.
I got lucky to get accepted into a scientific program testing phase that, among other things, evaluates the effects of porn consumption on our brains. From what I know the program is due to be launched soon at http://revivedme.com.
I got a highly detailed analysis which points out that porn consumption is in fact one of the major reasons for my various symptoms such as general fatigue, loss of motivation, excessive anxiety and so on. I’ve been following their detailed recovery instructions now for 5 weeks and things are definitely turning better now. I can feel my motivation slowly getting restored and overall I feel better and happier. I also used to feel consistently sick, but now I’ve noticed I feel healthier too. My erectile dysfunction is getting better but still persists. According to my analysis it should not even start to properly heal until the 8th week so I am very optimistic.
Several years ago in a discussion with Oz Guinness, he stated that the philosophy that follows postmodernism is that everything in life is chemical. Next up, we select a marriage partner, or sex partner because of a chemical attraction: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pheromones-sex-lives/ What did we ever do before brain science explained it all. The church needs to develop a purity pill to offset the chemical imbalance. Give me a break!
“We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated.6 Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.” Richard Lewontin
Towchdoun! That’s a really cool way of putting it!
Excess of masturbation leads to disturbance in the love life?? Please tell me about this how this affects love life nd what are its sideeffects on brain??
Hello, here is a blog post from today that explains some of the impacts of masturbation: https://www.covenanteyes.com/2016/05/23/masturbation-health-benefits/
-Chris
Covenant Eyes
I have seen porn from 2002.In this year,I enter high middle school.One night,I open the porn website and see the sexy images.After that,I have seen the sexy movie and image until now.I try to delete the sexy video,report the sexy website to Chinese government to try to break the outer environment.Because I can’t stop myself to see the sexy video,image and tele-books.I don’t have girlfriend yet.I’m 30 years old,No girlfriend in 30 years.After seen the porn,each time I will masturbation.I will chat more with you later.If you have fund in field,support me.I will open the class in my city,in Changsha,to teach other males how to break the porn habit.Looking forwards to your reply.
Hello Mack – I’m sorry to hear this, but total recovery is possible with a lot of hard work. You will not be victorious on your own. Seek real accountability with someone who will speak to the heart and not just the behavior. Read this blog and tell me what you think: https://www.covenanteyes.com/2012/04/23/how-to-quit-porn-6-essential-steps/
Peace, Chris
Should United Nations Organization ban on online reading, watching Pornography? Is it possible?
How to control myself from reading, watching Pornography?
I’m not sure about the UN, but for your personal question, please read in our blog for other helpful tips, like this one: https://www.covenanteyes.com/2010/05/13/3-biblical-strategies-for-fighting-lust/
You’ve got it in one. Colnud’t have put it better.
I m Indian. lives in small town. now I m 18 years old ..I feel very weak after musterbration…I m low weighted too…I look so shavy bcuz thinness. I started musterbration since last 2 years..and my willpower is lowest.
Hello, Chetan – first, thank you for being honest. I couldn’t tell from your post, but do you want to stop masturbating? If it’s something you’ve done for many years, it is possible to stop, but it will be very difficult. Here are some steps in this blog post that might be helpful: https://www.covenanteyes.com/2010/07/14/three-steps-to-kick-the-habit-of-masturbation/
God is FOR you!
Chris
I dated a guy that was doing porn. I learned in the years of dating him that he has been doing porn for 43years and counting. One time I woke up in the middle of the night and saw he was in his office quickly changing the screen, he heard me get up. One of our many times we had an argument and he had sent a sweet email apologizing so I went straight to his apartment thinking that we could work out our differences. Long story short: he showed me soft porn as he watched me with wide eyes looking quickly at the screen and me to see if I would get aroused. I was not amused and he was mad because he did not get sex. He wanted make up sex. He has Covenant Eyes on his computer but it apparently did not cover all the sights: you tube and whatever sights he uses. He has used sex to manipulate his wives. He gave up alcohol addiction but refuses to give up his porn and sex addiction. He will lie and say he is no longer a porn addict or sex addict.
So in essence a person devoutly religious gets the same rush of brain chemicals when they go to church and see all the iconography, the idols of Mary, and the half naked image of Christ. They get an addictive rush that binds them to the feelings of moral superiority the get by making and breaking promises each week, with the assurance that they are forgiven.
Trading one crippling addiction for another does not seem healthy nor a cure. Christianity is rooting in denying the carnal desires we evolved with. If you care to do research on your religion, you would know that early founders of the Church were ascetic and thought sex was disgusting and that marriage was a little better and preached permanent abstinence. Only the pure so to speak could be good Christians and so was born celibacy. The more I delved into the history of Christianity and its theologians, the more ridiculous its stance on sex became. Sorry, I have enjoyed porn for over 40 years. I am a multi degreed professional, raised two kids, have never accosted a woman and am no Ted Bundy. Sorry but his execution side interview with Dr. Dobson was just another example of how the man manipulated people right up to the day they fried him. Apparently the majority of people agree with me and demonstrate it with their wallets. In Europe they’ve know porn has been a healthy outlet for sexual impulses for nearly fifty years. I have been watching the theologians try to reinforce their hatred of Porn since the seventies, and they move from one scientific revelation after another trying to get some purchase in their fight, but always failing to do so. Now it isn’t that it makes you a rapist, or killer, now it turns you into a brain drug addict unable to function in normal society. That recalls the old claims in the 1800’s that masturbation would turn you into a drooling idiot. If that’s the case Catholics and Mormons with large families would be suffering from the same affliction it seems since they need to climax often in order to have so many offspring. It seems to me as a scientist that the Lord or evolution would not make orgasm inherently detrimental to the human body or psyche, that would be self defeating. Rather it is arguably up there at the top of human drives, behind food and water. Our drive to sex is why we are so successful as a species. Religion on the other hand seems to be way down there at the bottom, something people only reach for when they are scared or near death, when all the other primal drives are gone and the conclusion is foregone. Having owned a bar and seen alcoholics, you might want to know that not all alcoholics are addicted to the drug. In my experience more people who drink to excess are suffering from an underlying mental defect like bipolar disorder or depression. They can stop when their problem subsides or is treated with drugs. Most do not even know they have a problem, but drink only to cope with this unknown thing going on in their heads. My wife was one of those. So generalizations and trading one addiction for another like AA tries to get drinkers to do heals no one.
Hello, Keith – it sounds like you’ve done a lot of work to try and understand all different sides of this. Is it possible that you’re a man who can watch a little porn and not allow it to overrun his life? I’ve just never met someone who can do that. Set religion aside. For me, the dopamine took over, and regardless of my degrees, will-power and self-sufficiency, I just wasn’t able to keep it fenced in. Porn took me over – my thoughts, it caused me to treat my kids and wife differently. I looked at all women as hyper-sexual beings. It’s not that orgasm is bad – it’s just that orgasm releases oxytocin, which causes my brain to bond with the source of the stimuli. If the source is a person, then I’ll bond to the person. Evolution would say that’s in order to keep the species going. Creationism would say that’s in order to create a one-flesh union with my spouse (as God intended). If porn becomes the stimulus, then whether you believe in God or not, the brain forms some sort of attachment to the porn.
You’re right that nothing fires up the brain’s reward center like sexual stimulation. You can believe that’s due to evolution or God. Either way, even evolutionary thinking would point towards porn as a distraction from the “real thing” (and only the real thing can keep the species going).
I’m no trying to talk you out of it. I’m just saying that I just don’t know anyone who can keep porn in check. It always leads to worse and worse stuff. Even illegal stuff sometimes. Maybe you’re different.
Peace, Chris
Helo. I have struggling porn for more than 3years. But its hurts to say that till now i am still in the path of it. Still a slave and lost of hope to be free from it. I have once thougth to commit suicide coz i couldnt stop. Do ypu think i should have end it that way?
Hello, Quiwata – I’m proud of you for leaving your comment on the blog because this is a very difficult area. I’m deeply concerned about your comments about suicide – here’s the truth…you have unmeasurable value! Your life is a precious gift and a blessing to this planet. Please find someone you can talk to about your struggles. Whenever you feel tempted, turn that trigger towards something else, even reaching out to someone you trust (I know it’s uncomfortable to talk to someone about this, but think about how much better you felt after posting this comment? Multiply that by 1,000 and that’s how it feels to speak openly with a loving, trusting person about your struggles). If you don’t have anyone you can talk to, and you start to have suicidal feelings again, promise me you’ll call this number: 1-800-273-8255, if you are in the United States. If not, please find that trusting friend.
God is for you! Quiwata, you can get through this, and it will be hard work, but it’s worth it. Remember the strength you have in Christ – Romans 8 can remind you. The cross of Jesus Christ IS strong enough to overcome everything. Even this.
Peace, Chris
One of the articles hyperlinked in this text on erototoxin was linked to a piece from Wired entitled, Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack? Ryan Singel dated 11.19.04. A sub link was then blocked by Covenant eyes. Perhaps a different link could be suggested . thanks
pls i want to stop masturbating,am addicted to porn n masturbation.pls help
Hello, Anthony – can you please read this article?
It lays out specific steps you can take. Breaking free requires a combination of Jesus Christ and firm decisions. Some call it “grace driven effort.” I pray you well.
Chris
How do i knw wen am addicted to porn n masturbation
Hello, Anthony – can you please read this article?
It lays out specific steps you can take. Breaking free requires a combination of Jesus Christ and firm decisions. Some call it “grace driven effort.” I pray you well.
Chris
Guys see it’s actually CHRIST we need,but take note we have a free will and it can’t be easy to stop.
Is there a way by which the damage caused to the brain as suggested by the above article be cured? A positive reply to the question will be help full. Thank uh for the support
The short answer is yes. Neurons that fire together long enough eventually learn to wire together. But, it takes time. It’s not difficult for someone who is addicted to porn to log 1,000 hours. How long of NOT looking at porn and rewiring time does it take to offset 1,000 hours of filth? I don’t know. But, start today!
Peace, Chris
i used to watch porn but now iv understoid the effects and iv stoped
I’ve been numbed by excess porn I bearly feel my emotions it’s rough for me to cop each time I feel like getting better I go back to watching porn
This is the truth that addicts need in order to be free..thank you so much Sir Luke for the information this is exactly the resources i was looking for inoder to fight this addiction.God bless you Sir
The key way of stop porn addiction
Deep breath with meditation therapy
And concentrate to your brain need to
Change the neurons either porn you
Most loving things or habits that’s change
Ur lifestyle
Does Masturbating without porn harm our brain ? Is it normal to masturbate once or twice a week without porn ?
I wouldnt take this research as gospel. Porn is no worse, or more addictive than sexual intercourse in general. By its very nature, any activity which is pleasurable is inherently addictive. Therefore all types/ forms of sex are addictive, and all pleasant tasting food/ beverages are also addictive.Anything which releases dopamine is addictive. People naturally and invariably seek to revisit activities/ experiences that generate a release of dopamine. This is natural behaviour. Just because you are having sex with your wife rather than watching porn, it doesn’t mean you wont get sick of it and seek more novel sex acts with your wife to maintain your sexual arousal. Just as with porn, people develop a “tolerance” to regular sexual activity with a partner, such that they will either not become aroused by their partner any longer, or require their partner to partake in more novel or extreme sex acts.
Great job! However, there needs to be some kind of menu system to go back and review days. I am very busy, and getting overwhelmed keeping track. I have taken to copying the links into a Word document, along with the text, so I can go back and review.
Otherwise, great job, thanks
I can’t help but wonder if the use of porn contributed in some way to the development of my Parkinson’s Disease since the Dopamine (or I should say lack of it) is a huge factor in my Parkinson’s.
Hello. I see many guys here and just wanted to let the women reading this know that girls can get addicted too. I’ve been addicted to porn since before I truly knew what it was. I remember being in 2nd grade and 3rd grade and watching it hours a day while telling my parents I’m doing homework. At first I didn’t know the effects it could have on me. Here I am 10 years later and still addicted but now I’m trying to stop. I’ve tried multiple times now. I’ve been trying for almost a year now and I’ve been struggling but I’ve recently learned that struggling is NOT giving in and that it’s good to struggle, because struggling means that I’m not giving in. I pray that for this year I can take my porn addicting as a one day at a time thing as Covenant eyes is teaching me. I pray for all you women and men out there to know that although porn isn’t a drug it can be especially when you add masturabtion to it. It may be pleasurable but stopping is powerful and quite a relief. Question is are you ready for that relief because I finally am and it took many MANY years. God bless all this reading
This article was very informative. These resources provided by Covenant Eyes are so helpful. It is painful to discover some of this research and to know how much pornography impacts the brain and life in general. However, the only way that anyone (including me) can finally overcome this addiction is to face the truth and confront this issue from a fully informed perspective. Thank you, Covenant Eyes!
Consciences are not completely inate, they come from outside experiences. Only turning to our consciences to turn away from porn is foolish. If you need help you need to change your external experiences thus changing your consciences.
Hello you can call me Young Money and im in the process of breaking free from porn I really need help. I could stop dor a week but after rhe week i lose control. I really need help
Hi friend!
Thank you for reaching out and asking for help! That is not an easy thing to do, and I commend you for your courage and desire to change. Before you do anything, first, pray. Ask God to give you the perseverance to fight this addiction. He will be your strength through this!
Then, do you have a close friend, leader, or mentor whom you can reach out to? I would encourage you to share with them your struggles, and ask them to walk alongside you in this fight. Using Covenant Eyes together is a great place to start!
Be strong! Fight hard. Porn can be defeated!
Blessings,
Moriah
I got exposed to pornography when i was 14, I battle the addition for many years, affected all my behaviors when comes to women in general, i was unable to commit to one single woman, i thought things will change once married, but didn’t, it was a long and hard battle, till my marriage (alnost 12 years) came to a blink from divorce, pornography and its effects being one of the reasons… I had to change, I seek for help, I got the help I needed, and as part of keep myself in the line I came in contact with covenant eyes family… i don’t have any issue with pornography anymore, but I need to keep both eyes open, pornography it’s like a bug, all it need it’s an ad, picture, a word, a sentence, a small thing to bring back those memories stored from the past… then the devil whisper, if God is not part of story, fully and truly, we can step out and fall again.
Thank you for the article… keep up the good work! God bless
My brain wont heal,its almost fall 2021,not just a young person issue.Still going through horrible withdrawal of lower back pain ,increased acne,weight gain,brainfog,headaches,memory impairment,destzed junk,frequent urination,lethargy,fatigue,flatline,semen leakage,mood swings ,my mom tells me something and less then a minute ill forget .Or shell tell me to do something and ill have problems rembering,i even forgot it was mothers day one yr?I Couldn’t imagine have alhezmers or dementia,on a side note robin williams had a porn addction,just saying ,hopless in wiscosin,stubbled into a relationship long distance with a girl ive known since childhood,kept making xcuses not to visit her,we broke up in sept 2017 and we dont talk anymore ,she called me a hot mess and told my sister i need someone else.She def.Making me feel worse and wasnt helping .She also told me she watches porn and even told me a sight she watches on porn hub,maybe her brain is all jacked up.Of course she never mentioned if she ms to it or not.Im still in a flatline and its 2021,ive tried many suppmnts lytorosine,mucuna ,ldopa etc.Aswaganda ,sams e,dopamax you name it nothing helped ,even tried nero star tms therapy was told it rebalnces nero transmitters in the nucleas accumbins,including dopamine,but i guess its more about the death grip.was put on weak wellbutrin bc i was told it works on dopamine,im done with big pharma and i take suppmnts bc my seratonin levels are also low ,gary said some guys are never going to heal,havent celebrated new yrs in god knows how long .The 90 day reboot is a lie,on ssi disabilty bc cant hold a job,no way i could remember even simple tasks,los my job bc of this garbage2014.Havent been social or even left the house since god knows when ?Almost the 7 yr anniveary of robin williams death,a miilion ssri meds ,but apparntly nothing for dopamine,i even asked to be put on levadopa as a off label parkensens but for depression.David leys ignorance on this topic is beyond insaine and his anolgies are beyond crap,on katie couric and doc.Chasing the carboard butterfly .Seriously starting to understand sucide,pretty sure i had this issue on are last dells trip 2013,the lines are blurred,another withdrawal is eyefloaters.49 still no change and man boobs,and i know its not low t bc you dont flatline and piss semen from low t .Back pain ,i wanna go on a trip next yr,possibly new yrs 2022 or summer 2022 ,been invited to many things but declined bc of this,cant make people stop every 2 minures to pee,been to several therapists bev.Doctors etc ,most are clueless ,put me on all kinds of crap ,done with them ,one idiot put me on a dopamine antognist called haderol.Stopped going to him ,he also is about as clueless about it and dopamine,miss being me.Everone says the brain can heal,including terry crews whom apparntly went to rehab in 2010,but terry crews can afford it,i can not,im sure insurance wont cover it,or least not all of it.He also talked about it on wendy williams show and dr.Phil ,his wife almost walked out bc of this.Seriously guys its summer 2021 still no change,thinking about another tms therapy round 36 treatments,thanfully insurance covers it .Wonder if chster Bennington had this issue ?He offed himself in 2017,same yr criss cornell,and same yr of my breakup whom i thought was supposed to be the one ,god must hate me,someone Please tell me this is fixabile ,was hoping to get back my ex but apparntly that aint happening,probably happy were she is.
Todd, thanks for reaching out to us! I’m grieved to hear about your struggles and the painful situation that you’re in. You are not alone, we are here for you, and there are many who are going through the same struggles as you. I pray that you’ll be able to find community, friendship, and support for your journey. Please look into the Samson Society for a support group where you can connect. If you haven’t already, you may want to join an online community like NoFAP to surround yourself with others who have gone through similar struggles. Better yet, join a local community, such as a church or Sex Addicts Anonymous group, where you can connect in person.
Don’t give up! Recovery is different for everyone, and it sounds like there are a lot of different factors contributing to your struggle. You are valuable and you are loved. You were created in the image of God, and He can save and heal you! Every situation is different but no situation is hopeless. If you are thinking about suicide, PLEASE call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255. There are people who care about you and want to talk with you.
Blessings,
Keith
Thanks
I have been panic sexual sense the age of 5 how would porn affect me?
Hello Kenneth,
Thanks for your comment! The studies that I’ve looked at, generally speaking, show negative effects of porn across many different sectors of the population. The precise impact that porn has on your specific brain can vary a lot depending on your circumstances, your biology, and other factors. However, the more research comes out, the convinced we are the porn negatively affects everyone in some way.
Blessings,
Keith