via GayNZ, by Craig Young
In a recent self-selected poll on GayNZ.com, over 20% of our readers answered 'Yes' to the question 'Do you think you are addicted to porn?'
So can porn really become a destructive influence on your life? Or is it just harmless fun? When is an 'addiction' not an addiction?
First, how does addiction occur? Behaviourally, when a powerful stimulus affects a person, she or he experiences a pleasurable rush of neurohormones called endorphins, which predispositions one to repeat the powerful stimulus over and over again. It only becomes problematic when the stimulus takes over someone's life.
For example, by itself, shopping is relatively benign. It becomes less so when one maxes out one's credit cards, doesn't pay rent, neglects food and drink and loses one's job or home under the influence of those bags full of goodies. I've used shopping as an imaginary example, because there is no such thing as "shopping addiction".
However, substance abuse and problem gambling can produce those effects. I'm not talking about someone who takes a spliff very occassionally, or buys a lotto ticket once a year, or has wine when he takes his boyfriend out to dinner. It can become a problem if exposure to that pleasurable stimulus overrides everything else in one's life. Moreover, these recognised addictions are recorded in the prestigious American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, so they are accorded bona fide status.
Is there such a thing as "addiction" toward erotic entertainment media? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, no.
Read the rest.
No comments:
Post a Comment