How Pornography Impacts Mental Health

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Author’s note: I apologize for not being active here like before, but I am committed to getting good grades in my schoolwork, as well as making sure my health is a priority. I try to write when I have off time, and one of my finals just passed, so I was able to write this article. Thanks for the support and I hope you enjoy this one!

Whenever people begin consuming pornography, it's usually to fill a void in their life. People who struggle with loneliness, anxiety, or depression will turn to pornography to cope with their declining mental health. Most people believe that pornography is a "healthy" outlet to "deal with your struggles." This couldn't be further from the truth. Rather than feeling a release from stress or anxiety, this can actually fuel your issues with mental health. Porn negatively impacts your mental health.

Porn's impact on the brain

A quick explanation of how your brain works in relation to addiction. Your brain has a "reward center," as described by Fight The New Drug. Every organism on the planet has this. This specific center is responsible for releasing the drug, dopamine, which is what causes your brain to react positively to something. You might get that feeling when you eat a great meal, you had a great workout, someone famous liked your post, etc. When you introduce a "drug," dopamine gets released. Your brain begins to warp itself to find more ways to get this "pleasure." Therefore, the more you introduce said "drug," the more your brains changes to get that "high" again."

Fight The New Drug stated the following: "The more the dopamine process is stimulated, the more it can begin to warp an individual’s perception of the world around them. Seemingly everyday items and situations—maybe particular smells, images, or places—can become triggers that spike the desire and cravings for whatever brings on the next high." So the more you consume porn, the more the brain warps to find ways to get that high experienced by watching porn.

There's also the part of the brain that only applies to humans. The prefrontal cortex is mainly responsible for putting the brakes on that Netflix binge you are on by saying, "Hey! Don't you have a final this week? We need to study." If you weigh the consequences, you're using the prefrontal cortex part of your brain! Unfortunately, we humans also have hypofrontality, which is responsible for giving into these bad urges. "Hypofrontality is such a key part of the addictive experience, it’s considered one of the four main markers for addiction (the others being sensitization, desensitization, and dysfunctional stress)," shared Fight The New Drug. This part of your brain will give into these unhealthy urges, and continues to control you the more you consume that drug.

Porn's impact on mental health

Porn addiction is a double edged sword. First, it warps your brain into wanting to get "high" by consuming more pornography, while simultaneously deteriorating your brain's understanding of relationships or attachment. Most people are not willing to share this dirty secret, so they keep their addiction to themselves. This leads people down a lonely road, which just fuels their stress, sadness, anger, and more. You are not connecting with other people. You're just connecting with actors faking what love and a healthy relationship looks like. One study shared that among university students who consumed pornography, it was reported there was a significant effect on their mental health. Porn only increases your depression, loneliness, or anxiety. "Pornography provides temporary relief, but ultimately induces greater feelings of loneliness and isolation," states Grant Hilary Brenner, M.D.

Porn also sells a fake version of what men and women are supposed to be and look like. Women are defined by their beauty, whereas men are defined by the size of their you-know-what. A man is a man if he dominates and disrespects a woman, and a woman is seen as a woman if she is submissive to this sort of behavior. Objectification can also hurt your mental health and self-esteem, because you think this woman or man is with their partner because they're so good-looking. You begin to compare yourselves, which can make you sad because you think you're not good enough because you don't look like the men or women in these videos. A different study shared the following: "Previous male partners’ pornography use was also indirectly associated with body surveillance and body shame through the internalization of cultural beauty standards." Porn sells lies about what relationships are and what people should look like. It steals your happiness.

Consumers aren't the only ones who suffer

 

It's not just the consumers' whose mental health deteriorates. Performers struggle too, and it should be addressed. Many actors and actresses in the adult entertainment industry have chosen to end their lives because they were seen as products, instead of valuable human beings with a better purpose for their life. The porn industry places profits over people. Don't believe their lies.

Conclusion

There isn't enough discussion on how poor your mental health becomes from porn addiction. It causes your mind to withdraw from social interactions by finding a high that isn't real. Unfortunately, pornography is widely accepted by society. Nobody wants to talk about the long-term implications caused by consuming porn. That doesn't mean all hope is lost. You can fight this addiction. You deserve better. 

The Connection Between Human Trafficking and PTSD

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Whenever people hear of a trafficking victim being rescued, we often think "That's great! The worst is over. Now that they have been rescued, it's all going to be smooth sailing for that person." In actuality, getting rescued is only the beginning. The impact of human trafficking on one's mental health is extremely damaging. Many victims of human trafficking suffer the effects of PTSD.

Let's start out with a definition of what PTSD is. According to the Mayo Clinic, post-traumatic stress disorder (better known as PTSD) is a mental health condition "that is triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it." These "events" can include actual or life-threatening violence, serious injury, or sexual abuse or exploitation. In many cases, when we hear the word "PTSD," we think of veterans, as they witnessed events none of us can fathom. However, human trafficking victims do get overlooked when discussing PTSD. 

What are the symptoms of PTSD? As stated by the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, there are three main types of symptoms:

1. Re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive distressing recollections of the event, flashbacks, and nightmares.
2. Emotional numbness and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma.
3. Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feeling jumpy, and being easily irritated and angered.

How can someone who has been trafficked experience PTSD? It's pretty simple. Defined by the DOJ, human trafficking is defined as "a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts." Contrary to popular belief, the coercion that traffickers use doesn't involve as much violence. Instead, majority of coercion is non-physical. The use of psychological coercion can create as much damage to a person as physical person. Some examples of psychological coercion can include watching your every move, controlling your finances, telling you where you can or can't go, getting angry at the littlest thing, disparaging you or your self-esteem, and more. 

The process of getting a victim to become compliant and reliant on their trafficker is mainly through non-violence. A pimp might tell his girl that he's got indecent photos of her "performing," threatening to send them to her friends and family to shame her and embarrass them. That girl will do whatever that pimp tells her to do. Some victims might witness the assault of other victims. In other cases, that victim has his/her family threatened. The constant fear of being exposed, the continuation of threats, the potential physical abuse, in addition to the sexual abuse she or he is facing, all can lead to what is known as PTSD.

Due to their experiences, victims feel they cannot move on. They have to watch their backs. There is a feeling of being in danger 24/7 based on their previous difficulties. Just like veterans, PTSD can overtake a human trafficking survivor's life. Survivors might also experience high levels of anxiety and/or depression.

To help survivors of human trafficking who suffer from PTSD, anxiety, or depression, mental health services are necessary. As I have shared earlier, I have begun my Master's in Applied Behavior Practice, so I may earn my certificate to become a licensed behavior analyst. While most people who choose this degree go into fields relating to children (specifically children with autism), in my research for this degree, I have learned that you can work in mental health services. I would like to work with individuals who suffer with PTSD (either veterans or human trafficking victims). I believe this is the path I am meant to go on. 

You may be wondering how applied behavior analysis could be used to treat PTSD. There's a concept, which is basically the building blocks of ABA. They're called the ABCs of ABA: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence. An antecedent is something that triggers a certain behavior. It is something you can hear, smell, see, or touch. The behavior is how that individual responds, either physically or non-physically. The consequence is the end result of what behavior occurred. A behavior analyst will work with a client to see what antecedent causes the behavior, and how to reinforce good behavior, while slowly stopping bad ones.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious issue. We cannot stay silent on those suffering. Human trafficking victims need proper support, so they may be able to live the happy life they deserve.

The Slave Across the Street Book Review

Just like my book review for Stolen: The True Story of a Sex Trafficking Survivor, this book contains gut-wrenching and dark stories that aren't for the faint of heart. The author of this book, The Slave Across the Street: The True Story of How an American Teen Survived the World of Human Trafficking, shared her story of being trafficked as a teenager. Theresa Flores' story is unique, compared to most survivor stories I have heard or read. You'll be shocked, disgusted, appalled, even nauseated by what you read. Imagining another human being could experience such horrors is heartbreaking, let alone there are men who would commit such atrocities is terrifying to consider. However, this story is not doom and gloom. It's a story of survival and inspiration. I encourage you to read these stories, because putting a face to the crime will inspire you to fight more.

Summary

Theresa Flores came from a fairly wealthy family. Her father had a great job and made a decent salary, while her mother took care of the kids. Life was good. The family moved very often due to Theresa's father's career. Her happy life would change when she moved to Michigan. She met the wrong person, the guy she thought was her friend. He would turn her life upside down, and for the next two years, Theresa would sneak out every night to do what Daniel and his cousins wanted, lest her family be harmed in refusing to do what was told. You learn in a separate chapter that her brother was also threatened by the same men threatening Theresa. What these men did to her was disgusting. For two years, Theresa was forced into performing humiliating, abusive, and harmful acts to pleasure older men, as described in several chapters (Chapter 16 was certainly a difficult chapter to read). I will spare you the details of her abuse, but let's just say it isn't easy to read. As the title describes, Theresa eventually escapes, but not because she chose to leave. It was due to her father's job relocating him. Theresa spent the next two decades healing from her pain and agony. She now uses her voice and her story to inform people about human trafficking.

Analysis

There's a lot to analyze in this book. For starters, Theresa broke several stereotypes surrounding human trafficking. Many Americans believe human trafficking isn't an existent issue in this country. The victims usually come from foreign countries or are smuggled at the border. While this is true, that doesn't make the U.S. invincible to human trafficking. This crime exists in our communities. Theresa is proof of that. She also broke the stereotype that human trafficking only happens to those who come from poor and/or broken families. Theresa's family was well off and lived in a good neighborhood. Human trafficking can happen to anyone. 

Additionally, I really understood what my last interviewee, Sarah, meant when she discussed "rape trafficking." What Sarah and Theresa experienced was not sex. This wasn't a consensual relationship. Theresa was raped every night for two years. She was injured several times in these "encounters." Sex implies two consenting adults, not a minor and older adult. 

There was also the issue of how many people knew of Theresa's situation. People should have recognized Theresa's silent cry for help. She asked several male friends for help, and they all ignored her. The teachers, faculty, students, and principal looked the other way. By looking the other way and ignoring what is happening, you are quietly allowing this crime to flourish. Thankfully, the times have changed, and you do see more people aware of this crime and reporting it, like in one case with an Uber driver rescuing a minor from sex trafficking. If you do read this book, I highly recommend taking your time with chapters 34 and 38. Chapter 34 discusses important facts about human trafficking, which are important to learn. Chapter 38 is a guide for parents or professionals in helping and protecting children from predators. 

Finally, understanding the healing process truly stood out to me. People think that once a victim of human trafficking is rescued, that's it. In actuality, it's just the beginning. Adjusting back to normal civilian life is similar to how a combat veteran has to readjust to civilian life. Dealing with the pain and anguish of the abuse (i.e. PTSD) that happened is a struggle, and can take years, if not decades, to heal from. It's important to understand that we, as human beings, have to be understanding and supportive of survivors. Many victims don't usually survive human trafficking. 

Conclusion

This book will truly open your eyes to the horrible world of human trafficking. I encourage you to read this novel and share it with your friends and family. Remember, education and awareness are key to fighting this crime! You can purchase this book on eBay, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble! I give this book 5 stars!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Harms of Children Consuming Pornography

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Singer Billie Eilish recently spoke out in an interview with Howard Stern how watching pornography at the age of 11 impacted her. She shared how that porn usage destroyed her mental health and warped her view of women's bodies. Before I continue, this is in NO WAY me supporting Billie. I don't personally like her, her politics, or her music. What I will say is her description of how porn hurt her isn't uncommon. It's becoming increasingly clear that there is a serious issue of children consuming pornography, and how it impacts them later in life. That's what I wish to focus on.

Numerous studies have shown that the average age for porn consumption is 11 or 13 years of age. Experts have shared that the age is decreasing, and can be as young as eight or nine years old. Think about that. Children as young as eight are getting exposed to hard-core pornography. And it's not on purpose. What 8 or 9 year old do you know willingly searches for porn (unless previously exposed)? Most come across it by accident. 

Shared by Fight The New Drug, here is what the American College of Pediatricians stated regarding the main ways kids come across pornography:

• "Accidentally stumbling upon pornographic images when trying to view their material on the internet. (Let’s face it, everything is only one click away anyway!) Children as young as eight or nine are coming across these materials."
• "Accidentally stumbling across and or coming in contact with a parent’s and or a close adult’s pornographic material if these things are in or laying around the house."
• "Sexual predators who have purposefully exposed these young children to pornography for the purpose of grooming them for sexual exploitation."

One story I recall reading is that a mother of an 8 year old boy was horrified when she found her son watching hardcore porn, after just taking a few innocent clicks and ending up on a major porn site.

Visit Exodus Cry, look up the hashtag #RaisedonPorn, and you can read yourself how adults were impacted by childhood pornography consumption.

These children, according to the reports, have stated feeling "shock, anger, fear, disgust, and sadness." How this gets worse is the impact pornography has on these children once they are exposed. The kids who watched this are either pre-pubescent or pubescent. The view pornography gives is unrealistic and dangerous. You can easily find stories of partners to porn addicts how it harms them. Those are ADULTS. Think how this impacts someone who is sexually developing. "44% of boys who watched porn reported that online pornography gave them ideas about the type of sex they wanted to try... Over a third of 11 to 16-year-old girls (39%) reported believing that pornography was a realistic depiction of sex." (Image credit: Fight The New Drug)

If a child is exposed to pornography at a young age, this is their sex education. Pornography is NOT an accurate depiction of sex, nor should it be any form of sex education.

Getting back to Billie, here is what she described when she had her interview. Billie said that she was traumatized by what she witnessed from porn, stating she used to have frequent nightmares from what she watched. In her relationships, Billie shared that "not saying no to things that were not good because I thought that's what I was supposed to be attracted to based on her viewing [of pornography]." She even discussed the view porn had given her of women's bodies were warped. After all I described, can you see why this isn't so uncommon? 

I also just came across how Billie was "dating" a 22 year old man when she was 15/16 years old. She now describes her experience with that man as a "grooming" and "predatory" relationship. She then came out about her experience with porn. See how childhood pornography consumption impacts relationships later in life? You think what's in pornography is depicted in real life. It's the complete opposite.

Other celebrities have come out against the effects of pornography and/or sex trafficking. Terry Crews, Paris Belerec, Orlando Bloom, among others have spoken against pornography.

If we want to fight sex trafficking, we must also speak out against pornography. Porn has a detrimental effect on society and individuals, but it hurts our children the most. The Internet is a dark place, and parents need to be vigilant of what their kids are exposed to. We cannot stay silent on this.