The Neurobiology of Addiction – Sexual and Relationship Healing

The only significant difference between substance addiction and sex/porn addiction is that substance addicts consume alcohol or drugs to produce a neurochemical response of emotional escape, while sex/porn addicts rely on extremely pleasurable fantasies or activities.

Addictive substances and behaviors trigger the same basic neurochemical pleasure response—primarily the release of dopamine, but also adrenaline, oxytocin, serotonin, and various endorphins—which produces feelings of pleasure, euphoria, control, and most importantly, distraction and emotional escape. Over time, some of us learn that the easiest way to avoid stress and emotional discomfort is to ingest addictive substances or engage in highly pleasurable (and therefore potentially addictive) behaviors. Eventually, we begin to use these substances or behaviors not to feel better, but to feel worse (i.e., to control how we feel). This is a clear sign of addiction.

Today’s Task
Think about the real reason you compulsively seek sex or porn: to “numb yourself” emotionally.