Chapter 4
Nature
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Internet ππππ works through hijacking natural reward mechanisms designed to keep you reproducing for as long as possible. Internet ππππβs instant and highly accessible form keeps the brainβs reward mechanism producing dopamine for significantly longer than normally possible. Scientifically, this is called the Coolidge effect, which you might already be aware of.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of wanting, with actual pleasure produced by opioids. More dopamine, more opioids and more action. Without dopamine, actions such as eating donβt feel pleasurable and arenβt completed, with high fat and sugar foods producing the highest chemical release.
Dopamine is also released in response to novelty. With a seemingly infinite amount of pornography available this floods the limbic system (reward circuit), so the first time you see ππππ you act, orgasming and triggering another flood of opioids. Incentivised to get as much dopamine as possible, the brain stores this as a script for easy recall and strengthens neural pathways through the release of a chemical called DeltaFosB. Now, the brain calls up these pathways in response to cues such as sxy commercials, alone time, stress or even feeling a little down and suddenly youβre ready to take a ride on the βwater slideβ. Every time this is repeated, more DeltaFosB is released so the water slide is greased, alive and easier to ride down the next time.
The limbic system has a self correcting system to trim the number of dopamine and opioid receptors when frequent and daily flooding of dopamine is detected. Unfortunately, these receptors are also needed to keep us motivated to handle daily life stresses. Nominal amounts of dopamine produced by natural rewards simply donβt compare to pornography and arenβt as efficiently absorbed by the decreased receptors, leading you into feel more stressed and irritated than normal. This process is known as desensitisation.
In this cycle you crossed the βred lineβ and triggered emotions such as guilt, disgust, embarrassment, anxiety and fear, which in turn raise dopamine levels even higher and cause the brain to misinterpret these feelings as sexual arousal.
As time passes, not only is the brain desensitised to previous clips itβs seen, but also similar genres and shock level. This lower motivation triggers feelings of lower satisfaction as our brains engage in constant rating, pushing you to find clips to satisfy the hunger. So you seek more novelty, clicking on the amateurish, shock inducing clip on the homepage you confidently said you wouldnβt on your first visit.
βFor in the dew of little things the heart finds itβs morning and is refreshedβ
β Kahlil Gibran
A fleeting feeling of security is all thatβs needed to get through a rough spot in life, but will your desensitised brain be able to catch that drop of destresser that a non-userβs brain is able to use?
Dopamine flooding acts like a quick acting drug, falling quickly and inducing withdrawal pangs. Many users have the illusion these pangs are the terrible trauma they suffer when trying or being forced to stop. In fact, theyβre primarily mental since the user is feeling deprived of their pleasure or prop.