You're Not Alone

Do you feel like you’re the only girl to ever look at porn?

Did you know that 62.1% of women struggle with it? In the past, pornography and masturbation have been framed as male issues. This belief has left many women fighting against porn and feeling isolated.

Perhaps you started watching it as a means of sex-ed. You find that porn feels thrilling to watch. But your brain is actually releasing massive amounts of natural chemicals, like dopamine,the pleasure hormone. The rush disappears quickly and you are left desiring to get it back. So you watch porn again, and again...

Many would say porn isn’t dangerous, but truthfully there’s nothing normal or healthy about it. In fact, as porn consumption increases, the brain becomes desensitized to it. This means the hormone, dopamine, doesn’t “rush” like it used to. Did you know that addiction comes from dopamine desensitization? 3 Not to mention the porn industry uses your body’s normal sexual desire and the rewiring of your brain to make money.

Pornography is not the place to seek romantic or sexual advice. Rather, porn takes your normal sexual desire and twists it into something that leaves you feeling ashamed and alone. You deserve to feel relationally connected to those in your life and you deserve to have a healthy and fulfilling sex life. Sex is about connection and love. Porn disconnects, destroys, and treats sex (and you) like disposable trash.

I felt trapped and alone... People don’t see what it does in the heart and mind of those that it affects. They don’t see what it does inside the homes and relationships of those that it holds captive. They don’t see the lives that it ruins.

Whether or not you’ve seen it only a handful of times or are struggling with it, here’s why you should stop.

Porn sets unrealistic body standards

Porn views women as sexualized bodies, nothing more. Not to mention a body that is skinny, yet also curvy. Busty with a good butt, but also fit. The list goes on. What makes you beautiful and truly attractive is your intelligence, personality, and your natural body.

Are you using porn to escape real life?

“I ran to porn whenever I was lonely, yet it only breeds loneliness. It also became a crutch if I ever was bored, disappointed, or angry at myself.” If you are struggling in real life, seek real help with health professionals. Talk to your parents or friends. You might be surprised that they want to help you and be with you in whatever difficulty you are going through.

Porn normalizes violence against women

A team of researchers looked at 50 of the most popular porn films... Of the 304 scenes, 88% contained physical violence and 49%, verbal attacks. Porn openly hurts and abuses women. No one should ever treat you like that, especially in situations in which you are completely vulnerable. Violence in porn dangerously allows men to hurt and abuse women. Degrading women isn’t sexy and it definitely isn’t love. When you love a guy, that doesn’t mean he’s allowed to do or say anything he wants. You deserve more.

Visit: www.fightthenewdrug.org www.candeobehaviorchange.com

Find more resources and help at j4gmagazine.com