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Hijacking Your Brain:

This system works the way it is


supposed to work when youre having
sex with your partner. Together you
can experience a high and the deep
calm afterwards (norepinephrine,
endorphins, and serotonin). With each
sexual embrace you are emotionally
bonding to this person (oxytocin and
vasopressin). Over time a craving for
sex is transformed into a desire for
one another (dopamine). But porn
short-circuits the system, literally
hijacking your brain. First, instead of
forming a deep connection to a
person, your brain ends up bonding to
a pornographic experience. Your brain
remembers the sexual high, and each
time you desire sexual stimulation, you
feel that sense of focus, an internally
driven high.
As stated above these chemical
pathways are more radical and
damaging in an adolescent brain
mainly because the brain is still
developing. Since the brain is
unfinished in its development the
destructive effects of pornography can
hinder its continuation of growing.

How To Get Help


Pornography addiction is like
any other addiction in that it
can be cured. There is
healing and through our
program at the Rehabilitation
& Sex Recovery Center.

CALL NOW FOR HELP AT:

1 -8 00 -END -PO RN

PORNOGRAPHY:
THE DANGER TO
ADOLESCENT
BRAINS
REHABILITATION & SEX
RECOVERY CENTER

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Pornography is not
harmless
entertainment

How is Pornography Addictive:


Rather a destructive
addiction
Many individuals wonder how does porn affect the
brain? Many individuals they wonder how porn
affects the sensitive brain of a developing
adolescent. Many individuals conclude that
pornography is harmless. However, pornography
is not as harmless as they would think, and is in
fact destructive to an adolescents brain because
it is an easy thing for them to become addicted to.
Biologically, as humans, we are meant to respond
to stimuli. However, depending on the stimuli, it
can cause either a positive or negative reaction
within the human body. This is especially true of
adolescent brains. According to research,
pornography is a stimulus that can have very
negative effects on an adolescents brain.

A brain structure called the ventral


striatum plays a significant role in the
reward system of the brainthe pleasure
pathway. This is the part of the brain that
lights up when an alcoholic sees a
picture of a drink. When watching
porn, dopamine is released into the region
of the brain responsible for emotion and
learning, giving the viewer a sense
of sharp focus and craving. It supplies a
great sense of pleasure. The next time the
viewer gets the itch for more sexual
pleasure, small packets of dopamine are
released in the brain telling the user to get
that fix. Norepinephrine is also released,
creating alertness and focus. It is the

brains version of adrenaline. It tells the


brain, Something is about to happen, and
we need to get ready for it. Sex or porn
also triggers a release of oxytocin
and vasopressin. These hormones help to
lay down the long-term memories for the
cells. They bind a persons memories to
the object that gave him or her the sexual
pleasure. The body releases endorphins,
which are natural opiates that create a
high, a wave of pleasure over the whole
body.

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