What you are relating isn't scientific information, though it may help you in some way, it isn't necessarily accurate or helpful to others.
You have oversimplified the function of dopamine to the point that you have said something misleading. It isn't a drug. You also get a "hit" of dopamine when there is a loud, surprising noise, and any number of similar situations. Including good, natural situations. Including normal sex. This doesn't mean that "your dopamine levels get out of whack".
When you say that 'life just becomes more dull' and 'distracting yourself from negative emotions' it sounds like you are describing dysthymia or depression more than anything specific to porn. The link between monoamines (like dopamine) and depression has been known at least since MAOIs were first prescribed for depression. Of course, if you feel terrible about yourself for looking at porn once a week then that won't help any ongoing problem you have with negative self-image and depression.
Edit: in other words, I suspect (though I can't at all prove) that you have the arrow of causality reversed, and it wasn't porn causing your depression
I didn't mean to say dopamine is a drug. Yes dopamine is normal and it increases from many things. The problem is constantly altering it through activities that would not be occuring in nature. The videos I linked to on yourbrainonporn.com really explained it well for me. Maybe you could watch them and let me know what you disagree with. I maybe getting some things mixed up as I don't have a great understanding of the chemical reactions involved.
Yes, I am also aware of how I got involved with this. It goes back many years and this realization has helped me to identify reasons why I have sought this out as a solution.
As I mentioned, Dr. Gabor Mate's research and books have been helpful to me. He has worked with drug addicts in Vancouver and has, in many cases, linked addiction to ongoing stress in a person's life especially when they are young. In a way of dealing with the stress, the person turns to an addictive substance which provides a temporary relief which the person can get hooked on quite easily.
I've heard this theory before, but I feel as if were it true we would already have a long series of old wives tales of how the 'studs' are always morose, and its better for newly weds to abstain on occasion rather than follow their flush desires.
The orgasms gotten through pornography aren't any stronger than those found 'in nature'---this isn't heroine.
QUOTE -The orgasms gotten through pornography aren't any stronger than those found 'in nature'---this isn't heroine.
You have missed the entire point.
Orgasm lasts a few seconds.
Porn addiction is not about orgasms its about porn. The viewing, searching, clicking from tab to tab on tube sites. Starting in early adolescence, training ones brain to need a certain level of stimulation. For some - hours a day.
Dopamine responds to novelty and anticipation, and is elevated to near orgasmic levels during sexual excitement.
Read the start here article on that site, and you will see that all addictions involve the same fundamental brain changes which are caused by a specific set of genes, all activated by the accumulation one molecule deltafosb. This is indisputable.
You will also see about 300 links to citations on that one page.
"Porn addiction is not about orgasms its about porn. The viewing, searching, clicking from tab to tab on tube sites. Starting in early adolescence, training ones brain to need a certain level of stimulation. For some - hours a day."
This is more obsessive-compulsive behavior than porn-specific.
No its addiction to porn. They are not washing their hands or BS like that.
OCD and addiction each have unique set of brain changes.
Again, its already been established that both behavioral addiction ad drug addictions involves the same basic mechanisms, same brain changes: downregulation of dopamine & D2 receptors, sensitization, hypofronatlity, altered cerebral white matter, altered CRF and stress response, etc. These do not occur in OCD.
Accumulation of One molecule activates the addition process - deltafosb. This does not occur in OCD
Read the START here article on yourbrainonporn and follow all the links. You will find links to articles covering the new DSM-5 which created a behavioral addictions category and to The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). America’s top addiction experts at ASAM released their sweeping new definition of addiction which states that sexual behavior addictions exist and involve the same basic mechanisms as substance addiction.
You have oversimplified the function of dopamine to the point that you have said something misleading. It isn't a drug. You also get a "hit" of dopamine when there is a loud, surprising noise, and any number of similar situations. Including good, natural situations. Including normal sex. This doesn't mean that "your dopamine levels get out of whack".
When you say that 'life just becomes more dull' and 'distracting yourself from negative emotions' it sounds like you are describing dysthymia or depression more than anything specific to porn. The link between monoamines (like dopamine) and depression has been known at least since MAOIs were first prescribed for depression. Of course, if you feel terrible about yourself for looking at porn once a week then that won't help any ongoing problem you have with negative self-image and depression.
Edit: in other words, I suspect (though I can't at all prove) that you have the arrow of causality reversed, and it wasn't porn causing your depression