Many people believe that pornography is not addictive, but the science proves that the complete opposite is true. We have previously talked about how porn is similar to drugs and alcohol in its addictive properties. We thought that in this post we should talk about the aspects that make porn addiction so unique.
A Novelty
One of the biggest factors behind the popularity of pornography is the fact that it offers novelty to viewers. Porn addicts never have to go far to find new explicit images, this is also what makes pornography so addictive in nature. On top of that, when addicts seek more extreme images, they are also readily available with a click of a button.
No Limit
There is a limit to the food one can eat, drugs one can smoke or consume or alcohol one can drink. There are no such limits on viewing pornography. With millions of websites dedicated to pornography, a teen addicted to pornography can view as much porn as he/she wants to.
Ease in Escalation
Just like addicts of drugs and alcohol, pornography addicts seek more arousing and stimulating material as they progress further into the world of porn. But unlike those other addictive materials, searching for new genres of porn is very easy.
Natural Aversion
When you are consuming food, drugs, alcohol, etc, your brain will eventually tell you that you have had enough, because all of these things will activate the brain’s natural aversion system. But when it comes to pornography, your brain won’t tell you to stop. This aspect coupled with the ‘limit’ factor, makes pornography one of the most dangerous addictive elements in the world.
An Inviting Habitat
Porn addiction is especially dangerous for teens, because at the age they are in, their brains produce high levels of dopamine. When they view erotic images, the levels of dopamine release increase. This makes them more vulnerable to become addicted to pornography.When their brain gets used to the stimulation that pornography provides, the habit is hard to break, even when they reach adulthood.
These are the factors that set pornography addiction apart from every other type of addiction. This is why teens addicted to porn require specialized therapy, to beat their addiction. Our Wilderness Therapy program has specifically been designed to provide teens with sexual compulsiveness issues the help that they require. You can contact us (800.584.4629) or click here to learn more about our porn addiction therapy program.