Sometimes I am of the opinion that the presence of a smartphone and an unlimited internet connection can do more damage than good. Children are exposed to a variety of materials that they do not have access to at this point. The problem is that pornographic content is served to their needs on a vibrant platter. Everybody regardless of age or gender is becoming addicted to it. The accessibility to social media is yet another problem making matters worse. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep a tab on it. The activity that started with a jolly note lasting only a few minutes, is now taking over the entire duration, causing the youngsters and the old alike hooked to their gadgets. The trend doesn’t end here. The porn industry is also involved in other kinds of activities stimulated by pornography. People addicted to porn get into an activity that gives them pleasure in the wrong way. Addiction to porn is extremely addictive and is growing at a rapid rate.
Children as well as adolescents and older adults are engaging in sexual activities that affect their mental health in a negative way. The problem begins in the very early years of children and then progresses into an addiction as they grow old. It is a true addiction. The addiction to porn is a prelude to sexual blunders and sexual addiction. Addiction to porn can cause issues with erectile dysfunction and early ejaculation and other sexual problems which are more psychological than physiological.
The Dopamine rule
Whatever activity gives you joy is taking place because your mind releases Dopamine which is a pleasure hormone. When someone is in an addiction it causes an abrupt increase in Dopamine levels, resulting in a “High” feeling. Every time a person is exposed to addiction there is an increase in Dopamine which causes the individual to desire ever more from the drug or substance or activity. This Dopamine connection isn’t only restricted to substances of abuse. It can be applied to sexual activity as well as watching porn. In essence, every addiction is directly related to Dopamine release, which makes the user a slave to the addiction. That is why the addict is caught up in the addiction web and discovers it is nearly impossible to break free from it.
Four easy steps to conquer porn addiction using the RRRR method
Many have written about the best way to beat the addiction to porn. Every time someone attempts to overcome it, they fall into the trap. It is possible to wonder where one could have gone wrong in the strategy even after following the proven techniques. This is the way an addiction develops. Therefore, a simple method of coping is necessary, along with the right support and resolution. Here’s how to do it with the RRRR method.
First R – Reduce
The most damaging aspect of porn is that it begins by watching a brief clip of a few seconds and is continued for the duration of watching it all night and day. At the point one starts to realise this, it’s past the point of having spent long hours watching porn. It has a negative impact on productivity. There is no doubt that for youngsters and adolescents, it can affect their academic performance. The sudden increase and decrease in Dopamine levels affect their ability to think.
Therefore, the first step is to reduce the time spent watching porn. Of course, it’s not as simple but with just a little effort and commitment, it’s possible in the end. It is impossible to be able to stop watching this all of a sudden. Because your brain will keep craving it, and when you are completely devoid of it, it’ll result in anxiety and unrest. Therefore, rather than halting it altogether, it is better to reduce the duration of watching porn.
Second R – Replace
The reduction in time spent alone won’t aid. Your mind requires an equal amount of dopamine you are addicted to giving it the same pleasure that it was deriving from watching it. Therefore, it will always push you to return to your activity. Thus, it is important to make sure that you replace the remaining amount of time by engaging in other pleasure-offering activities to ensure that your brain gets the dosage of Dopamine.
Imagine a person watches porn for six hours every day. Reduce it to 4 hours and substitute the two hours of time with exciting activities. You can engage in athletics, go to the gym or swim, engage in healthy hobbies, take in comedy films, learn how to paint, or work in the garden. Every other activity that you do will produce similar amounts of dopamine. This will allow you to manage your time and energy to do more productive tasks. You can gradually reduce the amount of time spent watching porn and replace it with more exciting activities over time.
Third R – Reward
Our brain is as stubborn as a child. To encourage children to listen to us, sometimes we must adopt the positive reinforcement method, i.e., by rewarding the child for being attentive to us. In the same way, one can reward yourself with rewards when one is capable of reducing the amount spent watching porn. It is important to set goals that are realistic like not watching porn, or cutting down on the amount of porn watched for six consecutive days instead of cutting it down completely. On the 7th day, you can reward yourself by rewarding yourself with a favourite activity, a favourite meal, a favourite food item, or just anything that you love the most. This can stimulate the reward system within the brain. And slowly you can increase the duration of cutting down on watching porn as your mind will listen to you now.
Fourth R – Revive
It is easy to fall victim to addictive behaviours and bad routines. However, to overcome it, and also to develop new habits, it requires good exercise for 21 days. It’s a daunting job, of course, when it comes to giving up on addictions. If you are determined to quit, there are still “weak days” when you may be a victim of the flawed dopamine addiction and fall back into the habit. It’s perfectly normal. It can be difficult to give up addictive behaviours. You may even find yourself blaming yourself for taking such a risk to quit the activities that give you pleasure. It’s okay and it is important to keep going with the process of getting rid of addiction.
Every time someone falls back into the habit then tell yourself “It is okay” and then do the same process. This is the process of reviving that a person can get up every time they have an unfortunate fall. It is all about determination as well as dedication and commitment.
Final word
Pornography is a source of confusion about sexuality and sexual interactions. It can trigger fantasies about sexuality, which affects one’s sex life. According to Sigmund Freud aptly stated, “Sex is energy released”. However, this energy must be channelled and released effectively. The addiction to porn is among the biggest killers of productivity and can cause guilt afterward. Porn addiction causes unwanted stress and anxiety. It can lead to self doubt regarding one’ gender due to exposure to various pornographic content. Hence, vouching for proper guidance and support from a family member or a mental health expert who is adept with addictions will give you fruitful results.
Get help at TickTalkTo
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