Porn is an extremely addictive habit that damages our relationships and compromises our wellbeing.
People watch porn everyday, yet many struggle to find what they’re searching for online. We will explore why it can be challenging and how you can maximize your browsing experience.
1. It’s fake
Pornography’s depiction of sexuality is idealized and sensationalized, rather than accurately reflecting reality. Instead, its focus lies on what looks good versus how it feels and its content can often be degrading or violent.
Porn is filled with violence against both men and women, exploits their degradation and humiliation for financial gain, and promotes misleading messages about what consent really means. Furthermore, porn is frequently associated with drugs, abuse, and coercion.
Porn can be highly addictive and researchers have discovered that people who watch it regularly are more likely to initiate sexual relations earlier and with multiple partners than others, engaging in riskier types of sex that increases their risks of sexually transmitted diseases.
Though most pornography relies on fantasy, some videos contain real actors fabricated with plastic surgeons and Photoshop professionals at great expense.
Deepfakes, or doctored videos that use software to swap someone else’s face onto that of a pornstar, have long been an issue; now the threat has escalated dramatically with artificial-intelligence (AI) software which seamlessly replaces one person with another’s in existing videos while matching facial expressions exactly.
Deepfakes can be a serious challenge because they can spread throughout online platforms without anyone knowing who created them, leaving victims no legal recourse against these false stories.
Women, in particular, often become the targets of malicious deepfakes that aim to go viral; most don’t know who’s behind these schemes.
Maya from Los Angeles was recently featured in a malicious deepfake and didn’t know who created it until HuffPost reached out; since then she’s had to deal with the consequences of appearing in video without her consent.
She’s been receiving messages from strangers asking her out. With no way to prove who posted the video, and with no clear direction on how best to move forward in her life.
Lawmakers have recognized this problem and are working on legislation to punish platforms for hosting malicious hoax videos – although even this will likely not protect women fully from them.
2. It’s degrading
Video porn is particularly degrading because of how it dehumanizes women by depicting them as sexual objects for men to use, teaching that women exist only to meet male needs and nothing more. Furthermore, this content often leads to negative body image issues and makes people feel inferior about themselves.
Conversion therapy exemplifies this sentiment, with attempts at altering people’s sexual orientation through sexual contact being outlawed by many countries for its risk.
This approach ignores the fact that women’s sexuality comes from God alone, not any particular man, leading them to feel powerless over their body and contrary to how God intended us all to live our lives.
Gonzo porn poses another significant danger: normalization and encouragement of abuse and rape. According to studies, its content can encourage audiences to view rape and sexual assault as acceptable and should even be enjoyed by its victims.
Psychopharmaceuticals may also be harmful for those struggling with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Drugs may make emotions go numb while distracting people from reality – leading to risky behavior that harms both themselves and others.
If you are having difficulty managing your emotions, contacting a therapist could help. They will devise an individualized treatment plan just for you and guide you through any obstacles which might be hindering your life.
People compelled to watch porn can also develop physical health problems due to their habit of watching it, increasing their risks of obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure – conditions which may result in strokes and death.
People struggling with addictions or compulsive disorders must be carefully treated and monitored. A reputable therapist may be able to assist in helping overcome these problems and learn more effective methods for handling emotions – this is especially important if a mental disorder such as anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder exists.
3. It’s addictive
Pornographic media use can be a serious mental health concern that has potentially life-changing repercussions, leading to depression, anxiety and self-loathing — similar to alcohol and drug addiction.
Pornographers tend to spend more money than necessary on porn, and may feel ashamed of their behavior; thus avoiding social situations where they fear they’ll be humiliated or judged for it.
Porn addiction causes withdrawal symptoms similar to any substance abuse – depression, anxiety and even irritability can occur as soon as they can no longer watch their favorite shows or films.
As soon as your brain recognizes sexual stimulation, dopamine will be released in your body to create that sense of pleasure you seek in porn watching. Over time, however, your tolerance will build and you may need to watch more frequently for that same high to remain.
Research shows that habitual porn users’ brains resemble those of drug and alcohol abusers due to using the same reward system and stimulating similar regions in the brain that drugs and alcohol do.
Addiction is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition as an ongoing pattern of compulsive behavior involving substances or compulsive activities that negatively impacts relationships, work life and everyday living.
Addiction relies heavily on the brain’s reward system and dopamine release; when your brain receives an intense surge of dopamine, this will trigger memories and pleasure sensations in response. Over time, your body adapts to this surge of dopamine which explains why those who use drugs or alcohol tend to develop addictions over time.
Reward systems and dopamine production play an integral part in controlling behavior, with those addicted to porn seeking more or more extreme forms of the content they enjoy to get that feeling they crave.
Some behavioral addictions, like internet porn addiction, are similar to substance addictions but more subtle. They typically start when someone feels bored, lonely or anxious and can quickly escalate into full-fledged problems without the person knowing.
4. It’s dangerous
Recently, the porn industry has been linked with many issues facing individuals and society at large; however, any evidence linking these events may be hard to verify.
Researchers have also demonstrated that watching porn can alter the way your brain works – similar to drug addiction in that it hijacks reward pathways in the brain.
Your brain releases high levels of dopamine when viewing pornographic material, leading to feelings of euphoria and happiness – leading to feelings of escape as well as an unhealthy cycle of self-destructive behaviours.
Numerous individuals who start watching porn become addicted, which can be very risky. Similar to cocaine or methamphetamine use, porn hijacks reward pathways in your brain and produces feelings of high.
Long term, watching porn can also have serious health ramifications. Studies have demonstrated that watching this type of content increases your risk for sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and increases mental health problems that could potentially lead to suicide attempts.
Porn can also lead to sexually aggressive behavior among some men. According to studies, those who consume large amounts of porn are more likely to commit sexual violence because it exasperates preexisting sexual behaviors and beliefs.
Research has also demonstrated how frequent porn use can make people cynical about love in general and reduce trust between romantic partners. Such behaviors are all harmful, particularly to those already suffering mental health problems.
Studies have also demonstrated that frequent viewing of porn can heighten men’s preexisting misogynist beliefs and myths relating to women. This includes misconceptions such as thinking women secretly want coercion into sexual acts or that rape is part of everyday life.
In some instances, this can even push people towards violent crimes such as rape or sexual assault. It’s essential to recognize this is a real issue and address by both society and the porn industry as soon as possible.