Porn Brain Rewire with Dr. Trish Leigh cover image

Porn Brain Rewire with Dr. Trish Leigh

#Episode 139: Recovery From Porn Addiction Takes More Than Just Quitting w/ Dr. Trish Leigh

Aug 22, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Trish Leigh, a cognitive neuroscientist and sex addiction recovery coach, tackles the complexities of recovering from pornography addiction. She emphasizes that merely quitting isn't enough; effective recovery involves rewiring the brain to combat negative effects such as erectile dysfunction and relationship issues. Dr. Leigh also underlines the importance of structured recovery plans and open communication in healing, providing insights on how to reclaim mental and emotional health.
19:36

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Successfully overcoming porn addiction necessitates not only quitting but also rewiring the brain to repair emotional and relational health.
  • The reliance on porn leads to addiction-related neurobiological changes that impair intimacy and emotional regulation in relationships.

Deep dives

The Impact of Porn on Brain Development

Porn addiction disrupts normal brain development, which typically progresses from childhood through to the age of 28. This disruption can lead to maladaptive behaviors, where individuals turn to porn for mood regulation, particularly when experiencing stress or boredom. As a result, the healthy development of emotional and self-regulatory skills can be hindered, leaving individuals with heightened impulsivity and compulsive behaviors. Ultimately, this reliance on porn creates a new 'homeostasis' in the brain, where high dopamine levels are necessary for well-being, making it difficult to break free from addiction without addressing these neurological changes.

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