Are you a Consumer?

When was the last time you consumed porn, on your phone, laptop, or tablet? Do you find you can’t keep those images out of your mind? By 11 years old, 51% 1 of boys have seen porn and by 17 years old, 79% 2 of young men have.

Pornography affects 93.2% 3 of men. While some casually view porn, many actually experience a real addiction to it. Society and pop culture perpetuate the belief that all men watch porn by making jokes and crude comments about it. To be a man, a good sexual partner and to satisfy your needs, porn is treated as normal and good—it’s even expected that you view it.

So, if everyone watches it, why should you stop?

Our culture presents a dangerous illusion. There’s nothing healthy or normal about pornography. In fact, porn is like a drug. It’s a powerful addiction that affects your mind and body. When you view porn, or even recall the images, your brain triggers the release of massive amounts of natural chemicals, like dopamine. 4 The rush feels amazing and you want the thrill back. You want the “high” and start consuming more porn and pushing the limits on what you view.

Did you know repeated consumption of porn will rewire your brain?

Studies show it can actually make your brain smaller. 5 You’ll start to notice your brain is less active and struggles to focus on anything but pornographic images. If you keep consuming, you’ll start to feel disconnected from other humans. Eventually you could find yourself struggling to have sex. Yep— pornography-induced erectile dysfunction is real. 6 “Porn is such a ferocious competitor that hardly any other activity can compete with it, including actual sex with a real partner. That’s right; porn can actually overpower the brain’s natural ability to have real sex!” 7

The porn industry doesn’t talk about that.

One thing’s for certain, you are not alone in your addiction. It is possible to break the habit and there are countless people and resources to help you.

Visit www.candeobehaviorchange.com, www.fightthenewdrug.org, or j4gmagazine.com to find resources to help you!

For 10 years of my compulsion, I didn’t pursue my dreams. I didn’t discover my hobbies. For 10 years I played video games, watched TV, and watched porn. That was pretty much my life. Yes, I went out with friends and did social things, but when no one was around, that’s all I did. Now that porn is out of my life, I can pursue my dreams again. I can’t begin to describe how much I want the last decade back. The relationships I could have had and the growth I could have experienced. Porn prohibited me from having any real relationships. By taking up hundreds and hundreds of hours of my life, porn stunted me from growing as a person.

Maybe you’re consuming a lot of porn or have seen it only once or twice. Either way, here’s why you should stop:

Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction

Do you want to have great sex one day? Porn could destroy your capability of that. 1

You Could be Watching Porn of Sex Trafficked Men & Women

Traffickers and sex buyers get ideas from porn, and then make their victims watch it as a way of showing what they’ll be expected to do. The violent fantasy concocted by some porn directors and his or her actors becomes the reality for trafficking victims.

Porn Could Ruin Your Chances of the Life You Want

Watching a lot of porn leaves little room to excel in other areas like relationships, hobbies, or your future career. 2

The Risk Factor Connection

Along with poverty and substance abuse, a child growing up in a home where porn is regularly consumed is far more likely to be trafficked at some point in his or her life. 3

Find more resources at j4gmagazine.com