Accessibility, anonymity and availability are major contributors of the growing pornography usage among youth. The wide usage of pornography has grown rampant so as to becoming a “normalized” activity among peer groups. Parents are put on the hot seat to address these matters and may avoid the conversation with their teens, furthering the chances of their teens spiraling into addictive consumption of porn. Research studies suggest that most pornography and sexual addictions begin as early as 8-10 years old. The issue here is the stigmatization of human sexuality, which is considered as “gross or embarrassing” whereas in reality it is natural, healthy and desired milestones in human development. The consequence of this pervasive silence has caused many to fall into a serious addictive pattern, they seek treatment/intervention only once significant damage has taken place.
How does occasional porn consumption reach a point of hampering life functioning?
At first, the usage of pornography is normalized and considered “harmless”. There is denial about it being a problematic behavior. There is active oblivion and the realization that it could be an addiction only registers once the person attempts to very unsuccessfully cut it out of their lives. By this point, the realization is met with the need for support, however the stigma and shame attached to pornography silences its many targets. A vicious cycle begins as pornography viewers use it as a means to escape the very shameful emotions prompted by it. A 2020 study found that 56.6% of participants reported found that compulsive pornography use was associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Today people use porn as a mood modifier. If you are feeling bored, anxious, lonely, angry, sad or have any other negative emotion, you can turn some porn on and instantly escape from that discomfort. —Mark Queppet.
Viewing porn harms the brain by training and wiring it to crave and gratify the pleasure instantaneously without delay, teaching it to avoid or escape discomfort. This coping mechanism is maladaptive and doesn’t allow a person to develop self-control in other areas of life as well. Emotional distress or uncomfortable situations is the fact of life. Learning to accept setbacks and face them with resilience will help boost and enrich one’s life experience. If the skill of emotional regulation is not learnt, the individual will continue to resort to pornography as an unhealthy quick fix. This may lead to self-isolation, living a double life, hiding or keeping secrets, depressed moods, anger, irritability, over possessiveness toward technology, neglecting personal responsibilities etc.
One may need a reality check in order to truly discard the habit. Apart from the fact that pornography portrays people as objects of pleasure and distorting how sex is supposed it be, it also has adverse consequences according to several research findings published. It is a proven fact that watching porn causes essential parts of the brain to shrink, deteriorates quality of relationships, causes greater mood issues, makes one less motivated in life, less able to enjoy sex and even creates a sexist mentality.
Hence, families and communities need to educate young teens about the dangers of pornography and provide a set of protocols on how to respond when they are offered opportunities by their peers and other sources. Read our next article to know about how to distinguish between an inappropriate behavior and addiction.
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