The Benefits Of Recovering From Porn
By Helen Casey
(posted with permission)
A lot of articles on this topic focus on the terrible things that can happen when one overuses internet porn. ‘This is your brain on pornography’ articles are very important to raise awareness of the addictive dangers of porn, and how it can damage users in multiple ways. However, sometimes it can be just as effective to show the other side of the story as well. Here, rather than concentrating on the detrimental effects of porn usage, we’ll have a look at the positive benefits of giving up porn. A much more uplifting – and, hopefully, inspiring! – topic!
Your Mental Health Will Improve
Porn addiction, as you’re no doubt aware if you’ve come to this site, isn’t great for your mental health. It causes male brain shrinkage, it increases the risk of anxiety and depression, and it can lead to mood and sleep problems. So far, so bad. The good news, however, is that giving up porn can more or less reverse all of this. Once you’ve got through the tricky ‘withdrawal’ period, you’ll find your mental health taking a steady upturn! No longer reliant on porn to get its kicks, your brain will adjust to a more natural system of ‘stimulus and reward’, enabling you to take more pleasure in simpler things. Many former porn users speak of the world ‘coming back into focus’ as their brain’s fixation on porn recedes. Which in turn leads to extra mental clarity, a general boost in mood, and hugely reduced propensity for anxiety and depression. Which will make you happy, your loved ones happy, and your doctor happy!
Your Sex Life Will Get (A Lot!) Better
People who withdraw from porn almost 100% of the time report a massive improvement in their sex lives. Because porn ‘desensitizes’ one to sexual scenarios, many porn addicts have trouble with impotence, and are unable to be fully ‘present’ for normal, human sex. This is immensely frustrating and disappointing for both parties involved! However, it does not take long at all for the brain to lose its sexual desensitization, and to become fully stimulated once again when presented with a more natural sexual opportunity! All you have to do is to stay away from porn (and, ideally, sex) for a reasonable amount of time, after which you’ll find yourself able to become aroused and fully enjoy sex with your partner again. Needless to say, intimacy and sex with a human is much more enjoyable and emotionally fulfilling than porn usage!
Oh, and while we’re on this topic, it’s worth noting that your partner is much more likely to enjoy sex with you if you’re not bringing all kinds of weird (and sometimes dangerous – It’s worth noting that healthcare providers have seen a marked increase in sexually-sustained injuries as internet pornography has become more popular) porn-inspired peccadillos into play. While some people enjoy pornographic variations on sexual themes, many porn addicts go into sex fully expecting their partner to behave like the people they’ve seen in porn – and get upset when they don’t. This is not much fun for the partner in question. Indeed, many modern women are very wary indeed of sex with younger men, as they expect them to be ‘pornified’ and to demand peculiar practices from them.
Your Relationships With Others Will Improve
People who watch porn to excess are liable to lose touch with the real world. Because they’re more accustomed to seeing people in sexual scenarios, they start to think of sex and sexual viability as the primary point of interest in anyone. Needless to say, this is deeply dehumanizing, and makes normal human relations difficult. If the only thing you can think to say about your female colleague concerns her potential sexual performance, your working relationship is unlikely to be profitable. Giving up pornography will help you to once again see people for the fully rounded humans that they are, rather than as the sub-standard sexual vessels which many porn addicts perceive them to be.
You’ll Get Your Life Back
Cumulatively, all of this adds up to marked improvement in your life in general. Porn addiction inveigles its nasty little way into every corner of a person’s existence. It can not only disrupt the sufferer’s mental health, sex life, and relationships with others – it can also have a major impact upon careers, and even one’s ability to care for oneself. Kicking the porn habit will help you to ‘wake up’, to take control of your life back, and to put yourself back on the up. Which has got to be worth it!