Pornography - unable to reach your full potential

[Salino438]

Best greetings to all of you, dear members of the Bluelight community.

Before you close this tab in your web browser immediately, please allow me a chance to explain what this thread is about.

I am well aware that there is already a lot of information on this topic on various internet forums, blogs and video platforms, but despite everything I would like to share knowledge, if permitted, so that other people do not make the same mistakes as I did.

For all those who don't have the time, desire and/or interest to read the message in its entirety (which I fully understand), I will highlight the most important words and phrases.

A few years ago, I became aware of a video on YouTube (to be exact, "The great porn experiment" by Gary Wilson at TED) that talked about the dangers of pornographic films and overstimulation associated with mental illness (mainly depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). Today there is a worldwide movement that is getting more attention every day.

Some of you may have already heard/read the term “NoFap”. A trend in which people consciously avoid self-pleasure and all pornographic content for several weeks, months, years or even for the rest of their lives.

There are countless positive as well as negative testimonials and experiments. Increased testosterone levels, dominant, likeable voice, full, strong hair, bright eyes (prominent limbal ring), charisma, attractive to the opposite sex, pleasant body odor (pheromones), more fun and joy in life, motivation, energy, and much more.

But as so often, there are two sides of the coin. For others, nothing has changed (a placebo effect at best), so who is telling the truth now?

Many people, especially in Western countries, have come into contact with sexual arousal as early as childhood and adolescence. In my generation there was no fast internet connection or smartphones, instead there were magazines with erotic content and nudity on some TV channels.

Especially during puberty it was completely normal (for us) to get to know your body. However, the problems started with the first computer. Adult movies were everywhere to watch/download (FTP, P2P, IRC).

Someone who regularly consumes pornography needs more and more "artificial" stimulation (more hardcore, perversion, abnormal and extreme material) after a short time, because the body's dopamine receptors are exhausted. In addition, you lose large amounts of zinc, minerals and other nutrients through multiple ejaculations. The hormone prolactin is also released, which negatively affects testosterone production.

If the neurotransmitters (GABA, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine) are depleted (and they will be, no doubt about it), undesirable effects will occur over time. To name a few examples that are common: mood swings, exhaustion, emptiness, nervousness, hair loss, unattractiveness, weakness, no motivation to meet the opposite sex, etc.

Unfortunately, this industry will never go away, because the operators behind such websites earn several millions every year and enjoy their lives in the most beautiful places. It's no secret that major providers of sports betting, casino games, adult entertainment, pornography (and more) are based in countries like Cyprus or Malta. Perfect places for corruption, anonymity and money laundering.

As these people explore the beauty of this world, much of the working-class population becomes dependent and sick.

"We know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else." - George Carlin

Thank you very much for reading my message.

I would be really happy to read answers how you feel about this topic. Have you already had your own experiences and if so, what were the results?

God bless.

Reply

 

[Snafu in the Void]

Overuse of porn certainly isn't healthy, while I've never gone NoFap I certainly see it's clear benefits.

For me personally, meth + porn use has seemed to completely desensitize my normal libido. It's even more devastating, I feel like the only way I can reach max libido is with drugs now and it seems almost boring without them . Chem sex can ruin a lot of sex lives.

Good topic, but we might want to move this to another subforum, you'll get higher quality and more answers than The Lounge.

 

[arrall]

Thank you for sharing. This is an interesting topic that I read up on a bit many years ago. While I am somewhat skeptical of the benefits of completely abstaining from orgasms, I do think that it is extremely important to avoid pornography and minimize masturbation (limit to a few times a week) if possible. Personally, I find it very easy to abstain from porn but (as a result of being a late teens/early 20s male) almost impossible to abstain from masturbation.

Spoiler: Personal Experience (pretty TMI)

I do notice a negative impact on sex drive, interest in talking to girls, and erections from excessive masturbation alone. While most of this is hormonal and neurochemical, some of it is probably from 'death grip'. The worst period for me would have been when I was 16-17 and doing it 3-6x a day, though thankfully I have cut back significantly since then. I have noticed a negative effect from daily masturbation (1-3x a day) on my sex drive and ability to get 'in the mood' during actual sex. Pornography seems to worsen the effects slightly, but not drastically. When I go 2-3 days without, I notice that (as a result of increased testosterone) my dick works way better but I end up thinking about sex almost constantly (unless I take Dex/Adderall, in which case it either gets far better or somewhat worse) which can get very distracting.

For me personally, meth + porn use has seemed to completely desensitize my normal libido. It's even more devastating. Chem sex can ruin a lot of sex lives.

If things have not started to go back to normal with a couple weeks of abstinence from meth and a week of abstinence from porn and masturbation, then this is especially alarming.

Good topic, but we might want to move this to another subforum, you'll get higher quality and more answers than The Lounge.

Good call. This would be far better suited to SLR. Could a mod move this?

 

[mal3volent]

TL -> SLR

 

[Burnt Offerings]

It's OK in moderation and viewed with a healthy amount of skepticism. The vast majority of people who consume such content are capable of moderating their usage, just as most people can with drugs, alcohol, or anything else that's potentially addictive.

With that being said, it can and sometimes does become a problem for some people, and if that becomes the case then definitely stop consuming that kind of content.

 

[iridescentblack]

I've had a stream of recent addictions pop up over the years due to bad medications and as they wore off, one of the first addictions to go away was my habitual fapping.

'Watched a video from Buzzfeed years ago where they claimed that porno can "temporarily alter" a person's sexuality. This makes sense when you consider that some people go from conventional porn to extremes like beastiality and child porn.

 

[birdup]

Someone who regularly consumes pornography needs more and more "artificial" stimulation (more hardcore, perversion, abnormal and extreme material) after a short time, because the body's dopamine receptors are exhausted.

That may be true for some people but it's not true for everyone. Honestly, I think it is the exception rather than the rule. I've looked at porn almost daily for 20 years and I don't feel the need for extreme material.

In addition, you lose large amounts of zinc, minerals and other nutrients through multiple ejaculations. The hormone prolactin is also released, which negatively affects testosterone production.

If the neurotransmitters (GABA, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine) are depleted (and they will be, no doubt about it), undesirable effects will occur over time. To name a few examples that are common: mood swings, exhaustion, emptiness, nervousness, hair loss, unattractiveness, weakness, no motivation to meet the opposite sex, etc.

The losing minerals thing is nonsense. You can easily compensate for that by eating the right amount of healthy foods to suit your sexual appetite.

Where is the evidence that pornography depletes any of those neurotransmitters sufficiently to cause "undesired effects"?

Hair loss? How on Earth did they determine that?

Unfortunately, this industry will never go away, because the operators behind such websites earn several millions every year and enjoy their lives in the most beautiful places. It's no secret that major providers of sports betting, casino games, adult entertainment, pornography (and more) are based in countries like Cyprus or Malta. Perfect places for corruption, anonymity and money laundering.

As these people explore the beauty of this world, much of the working-class population becomes dependent and sick.

The porn industry is dying. It's been dying for a long time. I watch amateur porn for free. I haven't spent a cent on porn for well over a decade. I don't want to see some bimbo with fake tits pretending to enjoy herself.

Have you already had your own experiences and if so, what were the results?

I've experimented with abstaining from pretty much everything at one point or another, including pornography and (another time) sex/masturbation.

Other things I have removed from my life for sustained periods of time: alcohol, drugs, added sugar, meat, dairy, film & TV, video games, the internet, cooked food, meat from sentient animals, music, etc.

When I stopped having sex and masturbating for a couple of months, that was the worst experiment. I saw no benefits whatsoever. I was super irritable. I came in my pants a couple of times. It's not natural.

As for pornography, I was thinking about stopping watching it again recently but not because I think it's toxic in the way you describe. I would rather have more sex than masturbate. When I stop jerking off, I initiate sex more.

Once or twice a day is good.

"We know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else." - George Carlin

I don't think Carlin was talking about pornographers.

Pornographers want more for themselves and less for everyone else?

 

[Opi_Kid_Rock]

I have jumped onto the no fap train lately. My concentration and mindfulness has improved.

 

[birdup]

How is the no fap train different to the no sex train (in terms of concentration and mindfulness)? Are we talking about the benefits of sexual abstinence here? If not, how specifically does any of this apply to masturbation? Surely having sex frequently would cause the same things to allegedly happen with receptors in your brain and mineral levels, etc.

Also, another thing I don't get with the dopamine receptor thing... What's the difference between looking at a naked woman in person and looking at one on screen? I don't see how pornography causes something to happen to the receptors in your brain unless it also happens when you have sex.

 

[Boku_]

The big problem with addiction to hardcore porn is that a guy can get beyond the point of no return where healthy sexual arousal is no longer possible in real life due to unrealistic expectations of their partners. Most normal girls don't want to jam a dildo or fist up their ass while sucking cock.

However it works both ways in some cases, lots of women like to look at gay porn while their man is inside them.

like everything the internet ruined many a sex addicts life

 

[arrall]

@birdup I do get your point and I'm not in the same camp as the nofap people, but masturbation and specifically pornography do have downsides that sex does not. Personally, masturbation certainly does not have the emotional boost and fulfillment that I feel from sex.

Also, another thing I don't get with the dopamine receptor thing... What's the difference between looking at a naked woman in person and looking at one on screen? I don't see how pornography causes something to happen to the receptors in your brain unless it also happens when you have sex.

To answer these questions: physical human contact releases hormones such as oxytocin far more than masturbation. As @Boku_ detailed very well, pornography creates unrealistic expectations and beliefs about sex and physical attractiveness. And the instant gratification with porn doesn't happen with sex. If you want to have sex with someone, you find another consenting adult/your partner, usually spend some time with them first, spend a while on foreplay, once you get to it the sex is far more fulfilling, and most guys last a lot longer with sex. You can't just whip out your phone and your dick and be done in 10-30 minutes.

 

[birdup]

pornography creates unrealistic expectations and beliefs about sex and physical attractiveness

Not the porn I watch. I only watch porn of women in my league. I've always done this. When I was a teenager, I didn't understand why guys were so obsessed with 0.1% of women. I know so many guys that are depressed because they're single due to unrealistic standards. I know what you mean, for sure, but that goes way further than the sort of toxic pornography you are describing.

There's porn and then there's porn.

The big problem with addiction to hardcore porn is that a guy can get beyond the point of no return where healthy sexual arousal is no longer possible in real life due to unrealistic expectations of their partners.

I think you mean a certain type of hardcore porn. I don't see the problem watching amateurs fuck each other.

And the instant gratification with porn doesn't happen with sex. If you want to have sex with someone, you find another consenting adult/your partner, usually spend some time with them first, spend a while on foreplay, once you get to it the sex is far more fulfilling, and most guys last a lot longer with sex. You can't just whip out your phone and your dick and be done in 10-30 minutes.

I'm married with kids. None of that applies to me.

To answer these questions: physical human contact releases hormones such as oxytocin far more than masturbation.

Yes, but I do both... and that doesn't really answer the questions in the context that I asked them. I was asking the OP how dopamine receptors can be depleted so much by watching people fuck on a video. What if you watch them fuck in real life? Does that deplete dopamine receptors? Does having sex yourself deplete dopamine receptors? What he is saying doesn't make sense to me. I'm just trying to clarify a couple of things.

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

Not the porn I watch. I only watch porn of women in my league.

Same here!

But at my age, that results in a lot of BBW GILF porn


I can't be doing with fake plastic pornstars and anyone under the age of 30.

 

[arrall]

I was asking the OP how dopamine receptors can be depleted so much by watching people fuck on a video. What if you watch them fuck in real life? Does that deplete dopamine receptors? Does having sex yourself deplete dopamine receptors? What he is saying doesn't make sense to me. I'm just trying to clarify a couple of things.

I just did a quick Google search and I don't think that there's been any solid evidence for masturbation affecting dopamine. It spikes numerous different hormones, but that's about it.

 

[birdup]

@F.U.B.A.R.

Yeah, I tend to watch mainly older women and BBW stuff. I find this has actually had the opposite effect that is being described here. When I was a teenager, I was taught that certain bodies were gross. I was trained to have a reaction upon seeing a big fat ass. Same way that boys are trained to be disgusted by the site of a penis. After deconstructing that, and gender, I am much healthier. The more barriers I break down, the better I feel about sex. When I don't watch pornography, I am less intimate when I'm having sex and my sex drive goes down.

Sex is supposed to be dirty. We are animals... Super hot women are a massive turn off for me. I prefer it if women wear no makeup. My wife never wears any. My ex-wife never wore any. I don't care if women shave their legs or their armpits either. I am a porn enthusiast. I'm hyper sexual.

Honestly, this all sounds like it comes from religious shaming to me.

 

[birdup]

It spikes numerous different hormones, but that's about it.

I don't understand this. Can you elaborate?

Masturbation spikes hormones that sex doesn't?

I understand the human contact thing, but that isn't an argument against masturbation unless you are only masturbating and not having sex at all.

If you're single and you're sitting and home masturbating, you should go out and find a partner, and not just for the hormones.

 

[arrall]

Masturbation spikes hormones that sex doesn't?

No, the study only looked at masturbation but I don't see why orgasming from sex wouldn't do the exact same.

I understand the human contact thing, but that isn't an argument against masturbation unless you are only masturbating and not having sex at all.

The issue is that many men are, particularly these days. Myself included for a decent portion of the lockdowns.

If you're single and you're sitting and home masturbating, you should go out and find a partner, and not just for the hormones.

I probably should take this advice myself. Been single for almost a year since I left a toxic relationship and I'm getting very bored of subsisting on hookups.

 

[birdup]

There are lots of horny ladies out there who've had their pussies locked down too.

Go get some.



Why is there no female ass emoji?

 

[Mysterier]

 

[w01fg4ng]

Why is there no female ass emoji?

The same reason why men can show their nipples and women can't.