Pornography is a Depressant
In: Addiction|Marriage|Masturbation Addiction|Pornography Addiction|Relapse|porn addiction
You’ve most likely heard that alcohol is a depressant right? Well, so is pornography and masturbation. What do I mean? If you haven’t already experienced this then you will eventually if you are addicted to either porn or masturbation. There’s the excitement and then there are the low feelings of lack of self control that follow.
Alcohol is a bit easier for people to understand when it comes to analyzing an addiction. Its simple right, you’re putting a substance in the body that is unhealthy. Typically, anything that is unhealthy physically is also unhealthy mentally as you are not feeling the best you could. So how is pornography or masturbation similar to this?
If you agree that porn or masturbation can be addictive then you agree that they are not right for your mental and physical health. In other words they are foreign to a healthy lifestyle in general and cause more pain than excitement. Anything introduced to the mind is introduced to the body. When you engage in mentally unhealthy activities you will experience both mental and physical consequences. These consequences are usually in the form of some level of depression or lethargy.
So why build the case that porn is a depressant? The reason is that you can get “stuck in a rut” and not understand why. Alcoholics continue to drink because they have a continuous feeling of depression and start to believe there is no other way to relieve said depression other than to have another drink. The same applies to porn or masturbation. You feel low shortly after acting out or the next day and return to the only source of fast acting temporary excitement you know. Drugs and alcohol are not addicting because they cause pain. They are addicting because they are a constant cycle of temporary rushes and let downs.
There is a way out of this miserable cycle. It’s certainly not easy but it’s also not as difficult as you may think. In fact I would compare it, at least for some people, to trying to motivate yourself to go to the gym every day. Not easy but once you get in the rhythm of a routine you find it easier.
Just like with alcohol or drugs there is a detox and readjustment period you need to endure before gaining freedom from strong urges to return to the drug of choice. This period of time usually seems unbearable to most and hence the biggest reason for staying in the addictive cycle. The interesting thing is the body is very adaptive and can readjust itself in a matter of days or weeks. This doesn’t mean the fight is over but perhaps easier than before. There is always the possibility of relapsing if you get lazy, similar to getting lazy with your gym routine.
One biological fact I should point that may contribute to the depression associated with viewing pornography and masturbating is that studies have shown that about 4 times more prolactin(the hormone that relaxes you after orgasm) is released during orgasm with a commited sexual partner(spouse) than when orgasm is done alone. This contribues both to the addictive factor and the discontent factor since you’re not using the body as it was designed to be used. The reason for this is emotions. Emotions, even in guys, are a huge part of a sexual bond and a “full” orgasm. Without the proper emotional connection you are missing a huge part of the equation in a truly satisfying sexual bond. You are essentially trying to fulfill a desire and void within with something that will never satisfy you. Hence the addiction cycle.
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[...] admin wrote a fantastic post today on “Pornography is a Depressant”Here’s ONLY a quick extractYou’ve most likely heard that alcohol is a depressant right? Well, so is pornography and masturbation. What do I mean? If you haven’t already experienced this then you will eventually if you are addicted to either porn or masturbation. … [...]
I have four questions. Please reply.
I have not masturbated in 42 days now. My masturbation was linked directly to my pornography addiction. Although I do not masturbate no more I always think about doing it. My first question is do I eventually have to do it? And if I should do it, should it be to something addicting like pornography or just my imagination? I fear I might get readdicted to pornography & masturbation. One reason I feel I should do it is sometimes the thoughts get so strong, and the fact that I leak “fluid” even though I don’t recall having a wet dream. So does this justify doing it?
Its important for me to mention that I still have a major problem still with pornography because despite not masturbating I still look at it! Sometimes daily, sometimes every 3 to 4 days for 5 to 20minutes a day. I feel this is unhealthy after visiting your website because at first I justified because I felt I needed to see it to calm myself down, and due to my lack of imagination ( which is true because I feel the pornographic images have taken over any other sexual thoughts). My question here is would it be healthy to look at it once a month? Also how do I stop looking at it daily/or every 3-4 days and is this really damaging me or is it just merely my guilt?
And my last question is what’s next? If I don’t masturbate, and not look at porn for a long time what will become of my sexuality? WIll I return to a more innocent time when sexuality was all still very new to me?
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For anyone who wants to know how I stopped masturbating I literally used what was in another article without ever reading it. I used absolute will power and thinking about thinking about it. I found the first couple of days extremely hard, but as I’m on my 43rd day now I just don’t want to break my accomplishment and as well I feel I may get re-addicted. Here’s a fourth question, should I stop thinking about my “accomplishment?” Or will I reach a point where I don’t have to think about it at all?
Congrats on going 43 days, i recently got to 24 days but it was broken due to pornography. I have since slipped up twice in the last 6 days, and it just seems like the hardest thing is to get started. When i was on my run of 24 days, i just kept wanting to go without doing it and wanted to see if i could go a month without doing it, but now i’m sort of stuck. 1 day i wont even think about it and the next i’ll get a feeling like i know it’s coming, i just cant seem to get a handle on stopping it now. But i have confidence in myself, i feel like i can get a streak going of a couple days without and if i do then who knows, maybe i just might be able to beat this thing.
You’re doing yourself a horrible disfavor by continuing to view porn while trying to stop masturbating, that’s like continuing to see a mistress and stop cheating on your wife!
@ DS:
first of all, I would like to congratulate you on your 43rd day. and the reason you have lasted 43 days is because you have built momentum which helps you keep going. The answer to your question of should you stop thinking about your “Accomplishment”, think about it as long as it keeps you going to take it a step further i would suggest thinking about your next accomplishment.
It could be to stop looking at pornography, or something you feel passionate about.
Best wishes
I dealt with this same problem. When i went 24 days without masturbating, i went about 18 without viewing porn…eventually i lost control. It’s not easy to do, almost everyone has access to a computer and u get an urge sometimes. Hopefully he stopped and kept his streak going unlike me, but you have to keep a positive outlook or you’re gonna blow it.
i know i get depressed when i do it, and then i start to get upbeat about stopping my masturbation, only to do it again. What can i do? i just hate feeling helpless about masturbation. I feel like i cant control when i do it. Some times i’ll have a handle on it, and then i just get a feeling like i know i cant help it, and i end up doing it. Is there any way to stop that feeling?
I’m 15 years old and I’m addicyed to masturbation and have seen my share of porn. I hate it. The very thought of it makes me sick. I call myself a Christian, but I am hopelessly addicted to these things. It’s ruining my life. I need to stop. I masturbate about 2 or 3 times a day and it makes me feel tired and sometimes sick the rest of the day. I have tried to stop for years. I have failed every time. I feel embarrassed to tell anyone in my family about my problem. But I’m getting close to exploading. They don’t understand why I’m always in a bad mood and frustrated. It’s all a chain reaction to a horrible life. First I look at porn, which makes me masturbate, which makes me tired, which makes me not exercize, which makes me depressed. I need help. If anyone wants to contact me to help with advice.
Nathan, that’s exactly where I was when I was 15. I know that your post is a few months old now, and I would be thrilled if you are already able to tell me abou your success. But you should know that I went 3 years of being too embarassed to tell my parents that I had a problem with masturbation because I knew that they would not be happy with it. So many times I wanted to let it all out, but then I go scared and decided I could do it on my own, One day I got a burning feeling waiting for them to come home and I knew it wouldn’t leave unless I blurted it all out. So the second they walked in the door I told them before I could chicken out. And it’s what finally helped me to quit. They were disapointed, but supportive. I relapsed one more time, but I couldn’ disappoint my mom anymore. I’ve now gone 4 years without masturbating and it feels wonderful. Sometimes it’s been tempting to do it just once and that’s it, but deep down I know that can’t work. The longer I’ve gone the less I get tempted to masturbate.
Nate I too struggle with porn. Listen one word JESUS. For real man. Whenever u feel the need to go on the sides, Call on His Name, run out go out call a friend. Call his name call his name call his name. This thing is so hard and has us become slaves to it. We have become slaves to Pornography.WOW. We need to master it, its hard but we need His God’s power. Ask someone how to receive His Power. I myself will be trying this with you. WE NEED DELIVERANCE. It has a hold of us. I know many people especially Christians going through this. Isnt funny how its targeting Christians, ministers, Evangelist Pastors, people who work for the Kingdom???/ Its out to destroy us and master us. I cant let it. Write me back
I’ve always felt self abuse to be an unnatural act… and yet, if you go through the trouble to research this private subject, you will find widespread acceptance of masturbation as a healthy act. What a load of shit. I can tell you, after being an active member of the church, listening to both sides of the story, personally knowing the depressed, the blessed, and everyone in between, that masturbation is a lustful, sinful act. It is a waste of passion, only perpetuated by the cesspool that is the American social state. This act, this self-loving sin, will confuse this generation. Only a man no longer in contact with his most blessed and intimate gift, could arrive at the convoluted, back ass-wards opinion that beating off for nothing more than personal pleasure is healthy, fulfilling experience. I feel like that person doesn’t deserve a penis. Don’t look at pornography, don’t waste your seed vicariously on a 2-dimensional whore. Be a man. Find a real woman. Do what you know in your heart is true.
Hi
Today would be the first time in my life that i would actually admit to myself that i have a problem with masturbation and porn. this has been going on for years in my life and it had made a home for its self in my life some where and comes out when it wants to. It is really a depressant. I have struggled with this for a very long time. I need help. I am a christian, but each time i want to live that holy life, i slip and fall. i have been dying to tell my friends and family members but i am too ashamed to even say a word about it. it makes me sick. I sometimes hate my self for doing such an evil dirty foolish thing as this…I know to call the name of Jesus but i can’t seem to do so when i start. i am sick of this kind of life. I am single, hoping to be married one day and have kids, i am afraid that it would hinder me fro have a happy life. i need to stop this. i need help..ideas?