Advertisers have spent years understanding the relationship between sex and the functions of the brain. Sex is tied to our primal instincts and is a function of the lizard brain. Many are not aware at we have three brains, not just one. There is the lizard brain or the paleo cortex, the mammalian brain, and the new brain or Neo cortex.

Sexually stimulating pictures, stories and sounds affect the mind in a huge way. The lizard brain is located at the tip of the spine. It is directly connected to the nervous system of the body. This is why when a person is sexually stimulated there are very intense feelings that permeate the body. Even if the body is not moving and you are in a resting position, when exposed to sexually stimulating material the heart rate will accelerate, adrenaline can enter the body and tiredness can be dispelled. Advertisers are aware that by exposing men to sexual images and provocative sounds, feelings of excitement, adrenaline and euphoria are created. In this way, they are able to link those feelings to their product or service. The unconscious mind may falsely associate the product or service being advertised, to the stimulated feeling inside. This feeling of intense emotion is exciting and addictive. Furthermore this feeling is only a click of the mouse away. Viewing pornography simulates lustful desires and the viewer is able to use imagination, and fantasy to create whatever their heart desires. Just as during intimacy and falling in love chemicals are released from the brain, so too does this occur during the use of pornography.  Proper application of these powerful sexual desires over time produce love, and misuse of these powerful sexual desires can cause someone to produce and hold onto the counterfeit called lust.

The release of chemicals from the brain during pornography consumption include oxytocin, norepinephrine, dopamine, vasopressin and testosterone. The very act of viewing pornography over time creates an intense emotional anchor that chemically and physically alters the brain. The viewing of pornographic material fires off the anchor and those chemical reactions occur again and again. The downside is the fact that unlike a healthy intimate relationship, the pornography user can slowly lose control, and lose the power to resist. A healthy relationship requires a high level of self control and self discipline especially if a monogamous relationship is desired.

What could happen if a man who has poor judgement, low morals and values, and was feeling sexually aroused. If this person lacks self control and tools of self denial this can lead to antisocial behaviour. At the extreme it can lead to sexual crimes such as rape and unwanted sexual advances.

The stimulation and chemical anchors, and subsequent addiction that viewing sex produces is also one reason why the pornography industry is thriving. All people, but particularly men want stimulation in their lives and there is no faster way to feel stimulated than to view seductive and tantalising images and movies. While this type of stimulation may seem harmless, behind so many of these pictures and images is pain. For every porn star, there are thousands of women’s and girls who are hurt and abused, and even go through forms of physical torture, prostitution, or other such conditions. Many woman commit social suicide after choosing this type of lifestyle, naively thinking that it could bring them success, or love or something more than what they currently feel. Suicide is rampant in the sex industry, and especially among teenage girls. Depression and other conditions exist, and many former sex workers have exposed the reality of this lifestyle. One thing they all seem to echo is that the glamour, the prestige are all a lie.

Furthermore the weakness of men is exposed through pornography. After viewing, many describe feeling shame and guilt, and many express that the viewing of pornography seems to harden their attitude toward women, and most acknowledge that deep down are aware that behind most of the seductive pictures and movies is pain. The incessant viewing and using pornography can also change a person. Some describe how love lessens, sexual needs increase as the sex addiction can take hold. Often these men must ignore the hurtful effects that it may have on the tender hearts of their wives and children. These men seem to somehow shut down their natural affection, and their life becomes one of deceit and denial. Addiction to this material is destructive. It will destroy love, destroy relationships and even destroy the spirit of the that man.

Many have attempted unsuccessfully to quit the practice, only to discover that the addiction was unrelenting and uncompromising. They have found themselves slipping into old behavioural patterns over and over and over again. Some continue to struggle believing that there must be a way out, while others are resigned to the fact that there is no way out. Furthermore you may be noticing that unconsciously you may be less generous to your spouse or girlfriend. Unconsciously you may exhibit hostility not love toward women. These changes are subtle, and yet over time they are very damaging.

I remember the words of short poem. This poem really does send a clear message to anyone struggling with a weakness or an addiction.

If you think that you are beaten, you are.

If you think that you dare not, you don’t.

If you’d like to win but you don’t think you can,

It’s almost a synch you won’t.

Life battles don’t always go, to the bigger or stringer man,

But sooner or later the one who wins, is the one who THINKS he can.

First, recognise and believe that your mind is yours to master. It is yours to govern. Your mind is able to to make a shift away from pornography and onto a new empowering behaviour. I say behaviour because an addiction of this type starts in the mind, and then over time the body becomes the mind. The only way to really break free of this addiction is is to think greater than your environment. Perhaps the easiest way to overcome is to radically change the way you use your body. This radical change of physiology has a direct impact on your feelings, which in turn will create different thoughts. When we think differently we act differently.

On a deeper level, once we find a way to meet the same needs with a new behaviour, the old behaviour will be eradicated. As you change you will let go of guilt and Shame. If it is not guilt or shame you feel, then you may find yourself with a great deal more time, and energy.

Joshua Roy specialises in repatterning the brain to rip out pornography and sex addiction.

Don’t Let this or any other weakness destroy your spirit. You can turn your weakness into a great strength, and empower yourself to succeed.