Anxiety and Addictions often go hand in hand. Anxiety is an emotion that seeks to be relieved immediately. Very often, when we feel anxious about a particular issue, we may try to solve the problem or plan ways to mitigate the issue. When anxiety is limited to a definite issue, it can be resolved with effective problem-solving methods. However, people who are prone to worry or feel anxious will tell you that certain issues can trigger anxiety symptoms that are way out of proportion or reasonable.
Sex Addiction and Anxiety: Pornography may reduce levels of stress and anxiety in the short term. However, as time goes on, a person begins to manifest physical symptoms in response to anxiety. Racing heart, sweaty palms, headaches, tightness in the stomach or chest are common symptoms. A cycle between the brain and the body is thus established. An anxious thought leads to a racing heart that result in more anxious thoughts that lead to tightness in the chest and so on. It is extremely important to interrupt this cycle. The longer that this cycle continues, the harder it is to break. Physical symptoms of anxiety like a continually racing heart or tightness in the chest can be extremely uncomfortable. For many people, this can hamper their level of functioning at work and at home. It is very natural to want to relieve and alleviate the symptoms. For many people, pornography provides a welcome distraction from the anxiety.
Why Sex Addiction:
In the beginning, pornography provides a welcome break from the overwhelming feelings of anxiety. It distracts, sexual arousal also helps the body to relax and many people masturbate while looking at pornography. Climaxing helps the body to feel an even greater sense of relaxation and contentment. Therefore, temporarily, pornography provides an easy and welcome relief. However, the effects of pornography lead to far-reaching consequences for the person’s mental health and relationships. Using pornography to alleviate anxiety can lead to porn addiction, or sex addiction in general, compulsive masturbation. The person becomes obsessed with sexual fantasy and all uncomfortable emotions are dealt with sexual compulsions.
Many of us like to dismiss pornography as something harmless, with a “Guys will be Guys” attitude. Others believe that it is destructive to families and demeaning to women. It is not my intention to propagate either view, but to inform you of the findings of neuroscience regarding the effects of pornography on the brain.
In “The Brain Science behind Pornography Addiction and the Effects of Addiction on Families and Communities", Judith Reisman, presents certain findings. Ms. Reisman claims that emotionally arousing images imprint and alter the brain by resulting in an involuntary, but lasting, biochemical memory trail. Pornography also commonly triggers the viewer’s "fight or flight” sex hormones producing intense arousal states. These intense arousal states are similar to the “high” produced by abuse of street or prescription drugs. The difference is that these highs are produced by the viewer’s own brain. The erotic images also serve to blend the conscious state of libidinous arousal with the unconscious emotions of fear, shame, anger and hostility
The irony of this is that pornography is initially used to relieve anxiety. However, repeated use triggers the fight or flight sex hormones in the persons brain. While these are intense arousal states, or the high, they also produce high anxiety states in the brain. Thus, the cycle of anxiety and high arousal states of the brain continue.
You may be asking is there a solution? Yes, there is. Anxiety is a normal and natural reaction to life’s circumstances. There are many effective ways often learning to manage these emotions. In fact, as ironical as it may sound, there are ways to make us anxiety and even learn to enjoy it and find humor in it.
Porn Addiction help: Modes of Treatment
Cognitive-Behavioral therapy is a very effective technique. This modality of therapy examines your thoughts and puts it to a reality test. In this way, it gradually changes your thought patterns from negative to positive and unrealistic to realistic. Another less known, but perhaps the most powerful technique of taking control over anxiety is what is commonly know as Mindfulness. This is an alternative or holistic approach to treatment . In the most simplistic terms, Mindfulness teaches us to “Stay” instead of running away from difficult emotions like Anxiety.
For more information on this techniques to help you recover contact Rochna Hazra, LPC. For a better understanding of how to free yourself from the grip of this addiction and take control of difficult emotions, request a FREE REPORT on the 8 Action Steps to Recovery at http://www.yoursqueezepage.com/displayPage.php?id=9792 You will not regret it!
Author Resource:-
Rochna Hazra
Licensed Professional Counselor
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