Pornography: Innocent Pleasure or Mental Terrorist?

Pornography is a subject that can seem very taboo. Many people still find it uncomfortable, and some may even consider it sacrilegious to talk about it openly. Sexuality is all around us these days. Modesty is almost considered a character flaw. You see women in gyms, or walking the streets, showing more skin than women in previous generations did in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Men are obsessed with building perfect bodies, having perfectly groomed hair, and strong jawlines—sometimes even resorting to plastic surgery to improve areas where genetics failed them. Winning the sexual attraction of the partners they prefer is the primary purpose for the aesthetics they are building or have already built. Yes, I'm sure the health benefits play a role in the desire to build incredible physiques, but the underlying benefit is gaining the attraction and admiration of the person(s) they desire.

A healthy sex life is an important part of a person's life. You should never be ashamed of wanting to roll around in the sheets with someone all night long. Maybe it's your spouse, future girlfriend or boyfriend, or just a lover you take from time to time. The former two are probably a better choice than the latter, but to each their own. Sex is an important part of life, and when used in the right ways, it can be the most amazing, endorphin-boosting, euphoria-enabling, and spiritually connecting act in this universe. But what about when it is used the wrong way?

Using sexual content to stimulate your sexual appetite can have lasting effects on your mental and emotional health. Masturbation paired with viewing sexual content can create a sensation that you might never be able to go without. Porn addiction can become so bad that people need to seek therapy or find support groups similar to Alcoholics Anonymous to manage their addiction. Yes, porn may not be as harmful to the body as alcoholism or drug addiction, but it can confuse your mind as well as your senses, and create rifts in relationships.

Health Concerns:

Like certain drugs, viewing sexual content, aka pornography, spikes your dopamine, which is your neurotransmitter for pleasure. An article in Sex Education Australia states, "Porn is so hyper-stimulating for the brain that it releases unnaturally high levels of dopamine. Trying to create these high dopamine rushes again and again can ‘wear out’ the system." The same article states that viewing pornography frequently can leave the body unresponsive to natural sources of pleasure. This can affect a person's intimate relationships by making healthy sex no longer interesting or stimulating, and promoting the need for more erotic or violent experiences to gain pleasure. It can also lead to physical challenges like erectile dysfunction. In some cases, due to the casual thought process regarding intercourse, the practice of safe sex may become more of an option than the standard, and this can lead to sexually transmitted diseases. In the article Pornography and Its Impact on Adolescent/Teenage Sexuality, it states, "The embarrassment that may follow from having a pornographic interest or engaging in pornographic behaviors may internalize itself, resulting in a decline in mental health and general life satisfaction. Pornography can excite the brain’s reward system, which can lead to severe brain alterations akin to those found in drug addictions." I bet you'll think a little longer before pulling out your phone or opening up your computer and shoving your hand down your pants moving forward.

Conclusion:

The ability to view pornography is not changing in the United States anytime soon. In fact, with social media outlets and apps such as OnlyFans, it has become easier and easier for people to access it. Extreme sexuality has become the norm in most parts of the world. The only thing society can do is try to regulate itself and its children. Add site blockers to hardcore pornographic websites and monitor what you are consuming on social media. You won't be able to get away from it altogether, but with some discipline and distraction, I'm sure you can give yourself a good chance to limit the content you consume, and eventually have enough willpower for it not to consume you. If you do feel like you have an addiction and you want to get help, there are places near you that focus directly on the problem at hand, and I'm sure they will make you feel comfortable. Do a quick Google search and don't be ashamed to head that direction, especially if you find it affecting your relationships or mental health.