Overcome Porn: The 40 Day ChallengeSample

Can you actually be addicted to an activity, like watching pornography or gambling? Recently, a shift has taken place in addiction medicine, confirming the existence of things like porn addiction.

Some people argue as follows:

1. Only drugs can be addictive.
2. Porn isn’t a drug.
3. Therefore,  porn can’t be addictive.

The first thing we need to do is define our terms. What is addiction? Recently, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) expanded and clarified the definition of addiction to include not just substance addictions—things you inhale, inject, etc.—but also behavioral addictions. Why? Because certain behaviors can impact our neurocircuits just like substances can.

Here’s the evidence:

1. Hook someone up to a brain scanner who is verifiably addicted to cocaine or meth. The brain scan will show a loss of volume in their brain, especially in the frontal lobes of the brain. When you have shrinkage in the brain, people experience uncontrollable cravings. When their impulses kick in, this area of the brain, which is meant to throw on the brakes and control the impulse, is so weak, the person’s body begins gearing up and they experience that “gotta have it” feeling. A few recent studies now show the same phenomenon in the brain when it comes to someone who is a sex or porn addict.
2. Over the last several years, there have been dozens of studies showing how      overuse of the Internet in particular can lead to addictive behavior, whether it be centered around gaming or gambling or porn. These are all behavioral addictions where the behavior has become so hardwired in the brain that the person has similar sensations as someone addicted to a drug. Both drugs, like meth or alcohol, and behaviors, like porn, are tapping the same neurocircuits.

The good news is that evidence shows that the brain can heal itself, so that even if you’ve been addicted to porn, or are addicted to it, take courage. It’s possible for you to renew your mind and make great changes.

Reflection

• Have you found porn to be addictive in your own life?
• From what you’ve learned already in this challenge, how do you think your mind will be renewed and you will be freed?