Jane Fallon Griffin | Deputy Magazine Editor Curiosity surrounding sexual content is a normal and natural part of the human experience, but like anything else, mass consumption generates problems. Pornography is usually associated with pleasure, referenced often in relation to gender conflict, yet is rarely associated with depression, anxiety, insomnia and financial ruin, is accessed every minute of every hour worldwide.
While the term ‘victim’, when used in relation to pornography stereotypically, tends to side with those on screen, the lesser recognized victim is that of the sites, compulsive repeat visitors. While pornography addiction may seem like a foreign concept, seeming more at home in U.S comedies, given that numerous Irish rehabilitation centres care for those with sexual addiction this is an Irish issue. Porn addiction has the life-altering impacts characteristic of other addictions without the support, respect and understanding it demands. There are so many different signs of porn addiction that you should look out for if you believe that you or someone you know may be suffering from this type of addiction.
The majority of addicts access porn at a young age often accidentally coming across parents or older siblings stores. Watching pornography simulates the production of the pleasure hormones in the brain, endorphins, dopamine and adrenilin.
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Pornography is by no means a modern concept with the word pornography originating from Greek meaning stories about enslaved or prostituted women. The “boys will be boys” attitude has seen pornography normalized among adolescent males, almost becoming a right of passage into manhood. But what were once stories have evolved, now appearing as images, videos and has extended into areas more hardcore in nature. Unlike in the past, these stories have ceased to be confined to the realm of adulthood as the number of children with internet access on portable devices increases while the average age for accessing pornography decreases. The majority of addicts access porn at a young age often accidentally coming across parents or older siblings stores. Watching pornography simulates the production of the pleasure hormones in the brain, endorphins, dopamine and adrenilin. While the majority of people entering porn sites seeking out material, experience this sensation and live largely unaffected lives, this experience is not universal. In certain situations more content is viewed to experience this feeling again. However, as with caffeine the body becomes immune to the same daily dosage and content and more intense and regular interaction with material is required to embrace the same feeling. The pursuit escalates spiraling out of control as the user searches for more extreme content on a regular basis. Like all addictions the impact is felt in other aspects of life. Given that privacy is required for interaction sufferers begin to withdraw from social events, keep late hours while their family sleeps and feel the monetary drain that tends to accompany all forms of addictive behavior. Aside from the condition’s implications on daily life, the behavioural patterns, beliefs and emotional turmoil that result from harbouring a secret and tabooed addiction often results in depression, anxiety and isolation. Ironiclly erectile dysfunction is common in men due to the gap that results between the pornography experience and their expectations of real intimate interaction. This is expressed by the protagonist in the 2013 film Don Jon which explores the failure of an intimate interpersonal relationship between a porn addict and a real woman.
Like all addictions, the problem lies not in the existence of pornography but rather in the development of life-altering unhealthy relationships with it which are eventually classed as sex addiction.
In the opening scenes, before acknowledging that he has a problem, Jon states “real pussy is all good but I’m sorry its not as good as porn”. It is little wonder that erectile dysfunction is closely linked with addiction as porn skews what was the once perceived norm with most men needed in the aid of viagra for any real-life interactions. There are many stages of porn addiction but each one has an impact on the life of the sufferer and takes its toll on relationships, finance, and lifestyle. Others report job loss as they are incapable of getting through a workday without a hit at some stage during the day, its often discovered on work computers and they are subsequently fired. While it may seem ridiculous to someone who is not addicted to porn for an addict they are not taking a ridiculous risk but rather satisfying a craving in order to allow them to continue with their day. Like all addictions, the problem lies not in the existence of pornography but rather in the development of life-altering unhealthy relationships with it which are eventually classed as sex addiction. Dealing with any form of addiction can be tough for anyone to deal with. In relation to sex, whether this means speaking to friends about what you may be going through or communicating with your partner, this shouldn’t be something that people are embarrassed to talk about. There may be more people going through the same thing who need advice and guidance.
While Don Juan does present a more glamorized view of the escalation of an addiction, Shame starring Michael Fastbender sketches a more lifelike portrait of the complete destruction of one man’s world as a result of his addiction. The doubling of the figures of those presenting themselves with sexual addictions following the films release in Ireland is testament to the existence of this lesser accepted issue among the Irish populace. Furthermore, not only is it a real issue for many Irish people but also it is one that is spreading at a concerning rate. statistics released by the Rutland centre for rehabilitation supports this. In 2013 the centre reported that sex related addictions then amounted for 5% of all admissions where as four years earlier the figure was less than one per cent. Although sex remains a central part of the human experience, considered fun and healthy by the vast majority, it would be irresponsibile to send a supplement on sex to print without a reminder of the darker sides of sexual experiences with which, statistically speaking, members of this college’s community are suffering.
