PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION

DEFINED

Pornography addiction is defined as a psychological addiction to, or dependence upon, pornography, characterized by obsessive viewing, reading, and thinking about pornography and sexual themes to the detriment of other areas of one's own life.  With pornography addiction, there is a change in the brain's chemistry (dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin and serotonin) when pornography is viewed.
Pornography addiction can be legitimized as a chemical dependency:

"When an individual ingests or injects a ‘drug,’ that chemical travels to the receptors in the brain and other parts of the body, seeking to ‘mimic’ the body’s own natural neurotransmitters. In effect, the drug ‘fakes’ the body into releasing its own endogenous chemicals. Pornography ‘mimics’ sexual intimacy and ‘fakes’ the body into releasing a tidal wave of chemicals.

Arousal dependence [through pornography] may be compared to biochemical alterations related to excessive amphetamine use. Satiation effects [ hours looking at Internet porn] may be compared to those related to opiate use. Fantasy behavior can be related to such neurotransmitters as dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin, all of which are chemically similar to the main psychedelic drugs such as LSD"
-Dr. Randall F. Hyde / Bernell Christensen

SYMPTOMS

1. Viewing pornographic images – whether on-line, television or in literature
2. Unrealistic sexual expectations
3. Distorted fantasies regarding sexual experiences
4. Moodiness, bursts of anger
5. Sensitivity to sexual experience
6. Ignore or neglect friends and family
7. Lose track of time while viewing pornography
8. Anxious and irritable response when time is interrupted
9. Lying to employer or family members about pornography use
10. Guilt and shame surrounding pornography use
11. Use pornography to alleviate feelings of guilt, sadness and fear
12. Fantasize about pornography use

HEALTH RISKS

1. Loss of relationships
2. Job loss
3. Divorce
4. Pornographic images becoming “stuck” in one’s mind

Can lead to:

1. Misogyny: hatred of women
2. Pedophilia: sexual attraction to children
3. Erectile dysfunction: impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis

GETTING HELP

Proper treatment for pornography addiction is effective. 

If you or a loved one may be suffering from the effects of pornography abuse, call Alpine Treatment Services today.

RELATED ARTICLES:
http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Pornography
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65772
http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/pornography/A000000855.cfm
http://www.heritage.org/research/family/upload/85273_1.pdf

Source(s): helpguide.org, medterms.com

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