Dr. Trish Leigh Podcast

Episode #61: How Does Porn Deplete Dopamine? - Dr. Trish Leigh

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Jul 21, 2022
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INSIGHT

Dopamine's Role in Porn Addiction

  • Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to motivation, learning, and pleasure, plays a crucial role in porn addiction.
  • Early exposure to porn recalibrates the brain's dopamine system, creating a new baseline (neo-homeostasis) that craves higher levels of stimulation.
INSIGHT

Hijacked Reward System

  • Porn's supernormal stimulus hijacks the reward system, making natural pleasures like work, relationships, and hobbies less appealing.
  • This creates a cycle where the brain seeks increasing levels of dopamine through porn, neglecting other sources of fulfillment.
INSIGHT

Dopamine Depletion and Deficit

  • The dopamine deluge from porn desensitizes the reward center, leading to tolerance and the need for more intense material.
  • This overstimulation depletes dopamine, resulting in a numbed-out feeling that masks the underlying deficit.
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