Podcasts about your brain on porn

In Episode 265, Mark & Steve discuss how recovery from porn and sex addiction often begins with external motivators, such as wanting to “get clean for her” or save a relationship. These external pressures serve as a crucial starting point, especially when addicts feel incapable of self-driven change. However, while these motivations may bring someone to the recovery process, they alone are insufficient for long-term success. Sustained recovery requires a shift toward internal motivation, where individuals focus on long-term sobriety, self-improvement, personal growth, and reclaiming their self-worth. This transition, while gradual, enables addicts to build a foundation of resilience, fueled by intrinsic rewards like freedom, self-respect, and authenticity.Here's a past PBSE podcast article that asks the question—As an Addict, are you “Weaponizing your Weaknesses” as a Reason to NOT Commit to and Live “Real” Recovery?For betrayed partners, navigating the complexities of recovery can be particularly challenging. The cyclical nature of progress and relapse often leads to emotional exhaustion, underscoring the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. Partners are encouraged to support recovery without taking ownership of the addict's journey, allowing them to decide what they are willing to tolerate. Recovery for couples requires open communication and mutual respect, creating opportunities to rebuild trust and foster collaboration. When both parties commit to growth, the relationship becomes stronger and more fulfilling over time.In a past PBSE podcast, Mark & Steve address a very painful question that betrayed partners often ask—Do I Have to Accept that my Addict Partner, even in Successful Recovery, could Betray Me Again?!Another critical misconception in recovery is the idea of hitting “rock bottom” as a prerequisite for change. While dramatic wake-up calls can sometimes prompt action, lasting recovery stems from deliberate decisions, education, and early intervention. Addicts are encouraged to develop a support network and focus on internal transformation rather than external pressure. Ultimately, recovery is a progressive and collaborative process. By embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth and fostering open communication, addicts and their partners can cultivate a life of integrity, authenticity, and connection.In this PBSE podcast episode, Mark & Steve help addicts in recovery and their betrayed partners in "Defining Slips & Relapses"For a full transcript of this podcast in article format, go to:  "As a Porn/sex Addict, does, "I Want to Get Clean for Her," or "Be Worthy of Her," work as a motive for Real Recovery?"Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program at—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services

Once again, my first thought at the end of this group is “Revolution“.  When read in the context of all that we have considered from The Evergetinos to date and from St. John Climacus, our entire way of viewing reality is being challenged, overthrown, or illuminated. One begins to see that our capacity as Christians to read and hear the Gospel, let alone the writings of the fathers, has been compromised. We have been formed in and by an atheistic secular culture.  That culture has permeated the Church in modern times in ways that we cannot even comprehend.  God has revealed himself to us; not only the depth of his love and compassion, but also the reality of sin and the struggle that remains for us within this world.  We cannot understand the danger of fornication and lust to our salvation unless we come to understand the importance of purity of heart. God has created us for Himself, in His image and likeness, and our desire must be directed toward Him if we are to experience the fulfillment of the deepest longings of the human heart - let alone the right ordering of our bodily desires. Thus, our lust or fornication is not simply a moral infraction or a negative view of human sexuality but evidence of an idolatry of the self and so adultery in regard to our relationship with God - infidelity in regard to the Heavenly Bridegroom who has given Himself to us completely. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:22:39 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 195, # A 00:31:49 Myles Davidson: There's a book called Your Brain On Porn about the brain changes that happen 00:35:05 Myles Davidson: Yes, its a book… Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00N2AH8NW?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz 00:43:58 Myles Davidson: John Cassian does a good job of outlining the difference between abstinence and chastity (Conference 12) 00:49:41 Forrest Cavalier: If they are unrepentant in a state of mortal sin, the attempt to be married will fail. 00:55:26 Anna Lalonde: Yes! I don't wear makeup because I feel the same way. 00:57:28 Anthony: Someone on substance wrote an article that dressing to be titillating is a way to exert power over others and is socially worse than pornography which often is in red light areas. 00:57:48 Anthony: Substance. Sorry. :) 00:57:56 Anthony: Substack 00:57:58 Myles Davidson: Substack? 01:07:32 Anna Lalonde: When is a thought a sin? My child asks. 01:12:21 Anthony: There's got to be an "easier" way to approach this. God wouldn't make us to be so easily manipulated without help ready at hand; God wouldn't make us so that we understand the value of chastity only after experiencing sin in thought word and deed. 01:17:17 Anthony: I wasn't being facetious. 01:20:53 Cameron Jackson: Evil is real.  Warfare is not really a metaphor. 01:27:15 Myles Davidson: Replying to "202501131635300000.jpg" That's a beautiful book! Where did you get that? 01:27:39 Nikki: Wonderful teaching 01:30:59 Anna Lalonde: Replying to "[Full message cannot be displayed on this version]"   What's the book link? I got kicked out 01:32:37 Lilly: Sorry I didnt hear. No class Wed? 01:32:40 MOME hermits: Thank you dear Father :)! 01:32:44 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You it always a Blessing every time we gather 01:32:48 Cameron Jackson: Thank you Father! 01:33:25 Suzanne Romano: Pax! 01:33:27 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you

Your Brain On Porn" by Gary Wilson,

In Episode 243, Mark & Steve address a very important issue submitted to PBSE by a listener who is the betrayed partner of a porn/sex addict. This question especially resonated with Mark as he himself, along with a number of his children and many of his extended family, have suffered with the challenges of mental illness and related diagnosed issues like ADHD. Here's the submission by a PBSE listener—My husband and I have been friends for close to 20 years, in a relationship for 7 years, and married for 3. He has been addicted to pornography for most of his life, close to 40 years. I started to suspect something a couple weeks before we got married, and he finally confessed his addiction about 6 months later. We now both have CSATs that work together as a team and we have been seeing them for about 18 months. My husband has been doing fairly well, or so I thought, but I have just found out he has been in a relapse for a couple of months. I am of course hurt and angry that he would go back down this road after all the work, time, and money that has been invested in his recovery. He very much wants to get back on track, but feels that I need to take a much larger role in his recovery. I should mention that my husband is diagnosed with ADHD. For this reason alone, he feels he needs me to essentially manage his recovery. If he has homework, sit down and do it with him. Set up our weekly check ins and give him reminders about them. Follow up that he has made therapy appointments, continually check in with him that he is not using porn etc. I do not want to have to manage all this for him. He feels that If I truly care and support him, I will understand that because of his ADHD, this is what he needs in order to be successful. I do know that it is not the wife's place to do this typically. Is there ever a time, for instance when ADHD is present, that this could be a healthy, successful approach to both partners' recovery. Thank you so much.First of all, we have tremendous empathy for those challenged by ADHD. This is NOT an episode about the intricacies of ADHD and how it relates to addiction and recovery. We covered this topic in a very basic sense in Episode 210. This episode is about what it means to be truly PROACTIVE and LEAD OUT in one's own recovery. Mental Illness and Addiction:  One of the great challenges in our field is an issue of “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” Did mental illness, trauma, abuse and the like come first and lead to addiction or vice-versa? Mark can speak to this from personal experience . . . What was HORRENDOUSLY HARD for Mark was honestly and vulnerably facing what it means to “own MY side of the street/MY recovery.” What does it mean to “LEAD OUT” and be PROACTIVE? How do you balance this with realities, limited capacities, self-compassion, etc.?With mental illness, trauma, abuse and the like in the mix, there are more “moving parts” to recovery.What IS a reasonable expectation for an individual with both challenges—addiction and mental illness/trauma/abuse? What are the EDUCATION, RESOURCES & TOOLS in today's world?Moving from “me” to “WE” and how to find the balance in the “addict's side of the street” vs. the “partner's side.” What does true “collaboration” look like as a coupleship?How does the betrayed partner of an addict balance her own self-care, betrayal trauma healing and boundaries in this whole process? How does she walk the delicate line of healthy support vs. enablement?  For a full transcript of this podcast in article format, go to:  https://www.pbsepodcast.com/post/my-porn-addicted-partner-has-adhd-he-insists-i-must-manage-his-recovery-for-him-to-succeed-is-this

Sathiya introduces the topic of "Your Brain On Porn" and mentions that he works on a course about rewiring the brain. He discusses the lack of recognition of porn addiction as a diagnosable condition in the DSM-5 and reference Dr. Gary Wilson's work on the detrimental effects of pornography. The podcast delves into how prolonged porn use alters the brain and the concept of desensitisation, using examples of sensory adaptation. They highlight numerous studies linking porn addiction to escalation of use, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, sexual problems, lower arousal, and poor mental health. The idea that the brain can be changed in both directions is emphasised, and the hosts share a personal success story of overcoming addiction. Book A Call With Sathiya's Team For more Free Resources, check this out Follow Sathiya on Instagram

Episode 238 comes in response to a request from a long-time PBSE listener. Here's her submission—Can you talk about the "3 second rule" and why it's not an ok rule?! Many people talk about it and/or say they've read, heard, or had addicts, partners, therapists, suggest this rule. I love the way you've described what crap that is because an addict's mind doesn't need 3 seconds to go to addiction thoughts. I can't recall if you've ever talked about it on PBSE. I think maybe, but on D2C, I've heard you talk much more specifically about how that's a crap idea. Thanks guys! I think it could help so many people to know that it's not a good rule or way to avoid scanning and objectifying. And that using tools like mindfulness… and having a plan before going out and for each and every action through the day is a better way.First, what is the “3-Second Rule”?Why did it become a “thing” over the years? How is this “quick-fix/treating-the-symptom” vs. “real recovery and change”?The “3-second rule” would be considered a very basic recovery conceptBased around trying to curb urges around scanning, objectifying, or other voyeuristic behaviors. The notion behind it may be “good” in some ways, but has shown to become problematic for addicts in recovery:A lot can happen in 3 seconds! Can/has been interpreted as “giving permission” to look, so long as it's for a short time.It focuses way too much on the “don'ts” and not enough on the “do's."It doesn't bring about lasting change—focuses only on symptom managementWhat to do instead?"Check your intention at the door"—What am I here for? How am I "purpose-driven"?Plan in advance—what will I do WHEN, not if, triggers come up for me?Create easy access to "centering" resources - phone calls, reach-out texts, virtual meetings, etc. Tools—surrender, empathy, practicing holistic connection—humanizing.Practicing being FULLY PRESENT in a situationLearn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program at—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services

In Episode 210, Mark & Steve address an issue that comes up often in porn/sex addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing—the challenges of ADHD that seem to often correlate with, and/or accompany addiction. This episode is in response to a situation submitted by a PBSE listener—"I have heard there is a correlation between ADHD and addiction. Have you noticed this in your practice, and what is your advice to both addict and partner on how to cope and battle through both issues collaboratively? I looked into the symptoms of ADHD and some of my long term frustrations with my partner could fit that. But others don't. It's hard to know what could be attributed to the addiction (emotional immaturity and selfishness) versus what could be ADHD related."-  Mark talks about his own life-long struggle with ADHD symptoms and addiction.-  How ADHD and porn/sex addiction symptoms can correlate and cross over in a variety of ways. -  How porn use, as well as other online practices can "fuel" already existing ADHD symptoms and vice-versa.-  What can an addict in recovery do to also manage his ADHD symptoms/challenges?-  What can the partner of an addict do to support him in his "dual" struggles—without crossing the line into rescuing, over-owning, playing policewoman, etc?-  How can a couple come together to collaborate as a team in facing these issues?Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services

After years or decades of feeling stuck in the endless "addiction cycle," it can be easy to become weighed down in hopelessness and the seeming "inevitability" of continuing relapse.  In Episode 197, Mark Kastleman  shares some simple, yet powerful tools to begin breaking free from the shackles of porn/sex addiction. For well over a decade, these tools have been tested and proved with thousands of addicts across the globe. Perhaps they can help you or someone you love in the fight to be free!Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services

Sathiya introduces the topic of "Your Brain On Porn" and mentions that he works on a course about rewiring the brain. He discusses the lack of recognition of porn addiction as a diagnosable condition in the DSM-5 and reference Dr. Gary Wilson's work on the detrimental effects of pornography. The podcast delves into how prolonged porn use alters the brain and the concept of desensitisation, using examples of sensory adaptation. They highlight numerous studies linking porn addiction to escalation of use, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, sexual problems, lower arousal, and poor mental health. The idea that the brain can be changed in both directions is emphasised, and the hosts share a personal success story of overcoming addiction.Book A Call With Sathiya's TeamFor more Free Resources, check this outFollow Sathiya on Instagram

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free     I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.     Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.     Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.     Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.     ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free     Here are some ways in which pornography may potentially influence a marriage: Unrealistic expectations: Pornography often portrays exaggerated and unrealistic scenarios, body types, and sexual acts. This can create unrealistic expectations about sex and intimacy within a marriage. If one or both partners rely heavily on porn for sexual gratification, it may lead to dissatisfaction or disappointment in real-life sexual experiences with their spouse.     Communication and trust: Pornography use can affect communication and trust within a marriage. If one partner feels uncomfortable or threatened by their spouse's porn use, it may lead to a breakdown in trust or difficulties in open and honest communication about sexual needs, desires, and boundaries. Emotional connection: Pornography primarily focuses on sexual arousal and physical pleasure, which can potentially divert attention away from emotional intimacy and connection within a marriage. If pornography use becomes a substitute for emotional connection or if one partner is emotionally detached due to excessive porn consumption, it can strain the emotional bond between spouses. Comparison and insecurity: Frequent exposure to idealized and unrealistic images in pornography can lead to feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and body image issues. Comparing oneself or one's partner to the performers in porn can create negative self-perception and may contribute to relationship dissatisfaction or reduced self-esteem. Addiction and compulsive behavior: In some cases, individuals may develop an addiction or compulsive behavior related to pornography. This can lead to neglect of marital responsibilities, decreased sexual desire or performance, and overall relationship distress. ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

In episode 180, Mark and Steve address an insightful inquiry from a porn/sex addict seeking a real and lasting change of heart and mind in his recovery. Here's how he describes his situation—"Hello! I am a recovering porn addict, and I have been listening to your podcast for the past six months or so. I have had a CSAT for the past nine months and started going to 12-step meetings around the same time. The recovery process has been hard, but I have begun to finally uncover some of the needs that I have been trying to meet or ignore by using porn. It has been in some ways exciting to have a better understanding of my insecurities which I have unknowingly been trying to shore up with porn. But now that I have started to pull back the curtain, I'm not sure of the best way to move forward. How can I practically retrain myself to address my insecurities in a healthy way, now that those insecurities have been at least partly revealed? Just the knowledge of how my coping mechanisms are unhealthy and an idea of what a healthy response would be doesn't actually change my heart or my brain. I can tell myself truths repeatedly and I can set up daily reminders of what would be healthy, but that does not seem to offer much in the way of real heart change. I know this question is very broad and answers may be insecurity/situation specific, but if there are any recommendations for how to really internalize healthy responses, I would appreciate it. "-  Why do porn/sex addiction “symptoms” seemingly get all the attention and focus? -  What is the difference between treating addiction “symptoms” and uncovering and healing the “core causes/issues” and why does this matter?-  How does all of this relate to “co-dependencies” and relying on the “external” to soothe the “internal”? -  Why can addicts in recovery become burned out, complacent, disillusioned and give in to the so-called “inevitability of addiction relapse”? -  How does an addict in recovery move from “sobriety” to a “real and lasting change” of mind and heart?  Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services  

Heal your brain from porn addiction in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free   I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.   Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.   Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.   Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.   ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free   Timothy Reigle: https://intothewildernessblog.com https://twitter.com/TimothyReigle https://www.instagram.com/timothyreigle   ———————————————- I am Porn Detox Coach Roman Mironov. This is my weekly live podcast. 1️⃣Ask any questions in the chat for immediate answers: How do you find no fapping motivation❔ Is NoFap worth trying❓ Can I jerk off without porn ❔ How do I quit masturbation for good❓ Where do I get No PMO help ❔ How do I stop consuming Internet porn compulsively ❔ How do I fight strong urges in the morning or at night ❓ Why do I feel depressed after quitting porn or excessive fapping ❔ How can I cope a NoFap flatline ❔ How do I start a porn detox ❓ What's your favorite No PMO motivation ❔ What are some benefits of no fapping ❔ What kind of a no fapping challenge can I do❓ Will I get more confident by quitting fapping ❔ How to cure erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation ❔ I keep relapsing. Any advice ❔ 2️⃣I will answer PMO questions followers asked this week. 3️⃣I will go deep into the topic of healing your brain. 4️⃣Please like to help others learn about it and join. 5️⃣Please tell us what your current no fapping streak is. ✔Begins Sunday 1 p.m. Eastern Time ✔YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@HeIsHero ✔Check out also the recorded podcast episode I release during the week.   ———————————————- COMPANION BLOG: https://romanmironov.com/blog ———————————————- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free   I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.   Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.   Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.   Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.   ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free   Join me on a walk in High Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I also take a streetcar to Ossington Avenue and College Street. Joshua Delich  shared his struggles in a YouTube comment: “I am 18 years old now I have been watching porn for 6 years now. I masturbate around 4 times a week. And now every day. In spite of having been interested in space from a really young age. I only worked hard to gather knowledge until I was 13. From there my graph went down. I have a dream to begin a startup. However, porn makes me lazy, I can't concentrate on a thing for more than 10 minutes. I won't put in work even if it is important enough. But I know its consequences are devastating.” I wasted 5 golden years on porn addiction, too. With porn consumption, my brain became lazy. I hijacked my own motivation system. Concentration is under attack today already. An average attention span in 2015 was about 8 seconds, less than a goldfish. In 2000, it was 12 seconds. ADHD is also on the rise. 4.4 mln US kids in 2003 vs 6 mln in 2016 to 2019. To quit porn, Joshua has to rely on his interest in space. Create dreams that will create meaning in your life. Otherwise, porn creates that meaning for you. Stop distractions. Create a schedule. Create a Life that you will enjoy. Now you are running from your life. ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

The partners of sex/porn addicts can find it difficult or near impossible to discern whether or not their partner is still "stuck in addiction" or in actual "real recovery." Here's how a PBSE listener describes this frustrating, painful experience—1 year ago, iIfound my husband of almost 25 years has been addicted to porn our whole marriage and he had racked up  tens of thousands in debt that included monthly subscriptions for Viagra, for cam girls and gambling. He has struggled with ED for the last 10 years and always gaslit me into thinking it was“I made him nervous” about performing. I begged him to tell me what was going on, but he denied all. I have known about his porn use but did not know anything about PIED [porn-induced erectile dysfunction] and had no idea he was depending on Viagra to be able to have sex with me. For a while after D-Day [disclosure day] he was able to perform without Viagra, but the last 6 months , we are back to ED. He denies using porn. But besides listening to your podcast, he has done nothing for true recovery. No program, no groups, no CSAT , no disclosure, etc. He says has not slipped once with porn or masturbation but i find it hard to believe this “white knuckling” approach is that successful. He just admitted this year to being molested by a neighbor boy at a young age, but refuses to talk to anyone other than me. His parents knew about it but never discussed it. I believe this is why he struggles with being emotionally unavailable and has used porn to numb his pain. He has gotten emotional once with me, but mostly is closed off to emotion. I know he needs to be the one to decide to truly lean into recovery. But since you are the ONLY people he listens to, can you do a podcast on what true recovery is - that it's not just avoiding porn. I don't want to leave him - but I'm pretty sure I'm standing in the middle of a volcano that will eventually explode again without help. Thank you for being the one guidance we have. In this episode, Mark and Steve talk raw and real about what keeps us stuck in addiction and what REAL recovery actually looks like. Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services 

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free   I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.   Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.   Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.   Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.     ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free     Join me on a walk in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. You will see the Union Station, CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Scotiabank Arena, and Rogers Centre. I will show you how I destroyed my life by wasting years on my addictions, including PMO. But then I quit fapping and realized these benefits: ✔ Tired → More energy. I used to feel tired all the time. But after quitting PMO, I reclaimed my energy. ✔ Self-hatred → Loving life. I hated myself for being weak and sleeping my porn secretive. But I broke free and now live a good life that I enjoy. ✔ Anxious → More confidence. I used to have a lot of insecurities and porn only made them worse. By stopping porn, I increased my confidence. ✔ Feeling dead → Heightened senses. My senses were dulled before getting rid of PMO. But after I was free, I felt that my senses heightened. ✔ Unmotivated → Making more money. Excessive fapping used to kill my motivation. I quit it and found the motivation to move from a third-world country to Canada at the age of 36. ✔ Lonely → Getting a girlfriend. I felt very lonely and thought porn would help but it only made things worse. When I quit PMO, I got a girlfriend and felt real love. ✔ Brain fog → Better concentration & creativity. Overstimulating myself with porn caused brain fog. I went NoFap and reclaimed my cognitive performance. ✔ Worsening health → Better hair, skin, memory, and erection. I noticed that my erection wasn't strong enough. I quit fapping and stopped myself from developing erectile dysfunction. I got my morning wood back. ✔ Insomnia → Better sleep, vivid dreams. My sleep used to be irregular because of PMO. After quitting, my REM and deep sleep improved. I have more willpower because I sleep well. ✔ Weak → Stronger. On NoFap, I saw my gym results improve and I felt physically stronger. You don't have to make my mistakes all over again, destroying your brain and life. Quit porn and excessive fapping now and get the same benefits that I did. ---------------------------------------------- COMPANION BLOG POST https://romanmironov.com/nofap-benefits/ ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free     I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.     Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.     Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.     Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.     ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free     Join me on my walk in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.     I keep relapsing on No PMO, why ❔     When I'd finished a PMO session many years ago, I'd always hate myself. And I'd make a promise to myself to quit it for good.      But then I'd relapse anyway. This cycle kept on repeating for years.     I didn't understand why I kept relapsing back then. But after I read George Lenard's book Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, my eyes opened.     What is homeostasis ❔     It turns out that there is a system in our mind that prevents us from changing. It's called homeostasis.     Homeostasis is an equilibrium state that our mind automatically returns to because this state ensured our survival in the past. It's like our comfort zone.     A decade ago, I had mild depression and survived it by developing an addiction to social media and porn. I taught my brain that this is my homeostasis.     After I recovered from depression, I wanted to get rid of my addictions. But every time, I kept relapsing because my brain felt uncomfortable about these changes and returned me to homeostasis—the old me riddled with bad habits.     Look, homeostasis is an amazing system that protects us from stress. Among other things, it maintains blood pressure and body temperature.     But the problem with homeostasis is that it only cares about survival in the short term. The system doesn't want to improve. It only wants to maintain its current state.     It creates a strong gravitational pull to stay in the current comfort zone that is very hard to resist. Imagine a jealous friend who doesn't want you to make progress in life because they fear you will abandon them.     Of course, the problem with homeostasis is that it holds you back from pursuing your dreams or goals. It's about survival right now, not about success or fulfillment in the long term. Those things are scary for homeostasis.     Homeostasis is also tightly connected to our habits. When you make some behavior habitual, it becomes part of your homeostasis. That habit comes easy but breaking it is difficult.     After learning about homeostasis, I realized that I could make it work for me rather than against me.     I had to break through it initially with willpower. But then my homeostasis would shift and new habits would become easier.     I did this with my social media and porn addiction. The first two weeks were brutal as I was breaking through the resistance of my homeostasis. But then going got much easier.      With time, it became easier to maintain the new homeostasis. That resistance I broke through now became my support. I remembered how I hated my old life with all those addictions. And now I was afraid of going back to it.   ----------------------------------------------   OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free     I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.     Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.     Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.     Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.   ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free   To really quit porn addiction, ask yourself these two questions: The first question is “What kind of technique can I use to quit my porn addiction ❔” I get asked this question often because people understandably want a quick solution. Some even want a magic cure

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free     I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.     Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.     Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.     Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.     ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free     Should I count days on NoFap?     Some say, “Don't count days on NoFap.” Meanwhile, others say counting days helps. What do you make of it ❓     Back in 2014, I started with small steps in my NoFap transformation. I started with one day as my first NoFap goal.     It gave me a measurable target to focus on, reducing my anxiety. I also had something to look forward to, even though that something was a relapse.     When I hit my target, I also felt proud immediately. I felt I developed tiny momentum from that first streak.     Then I set two days as my next NoFap goal. The momentum I had made two days a little bit easier.     That's how I went from one small goal to another.     After 8+ years, I don't track NoFap days anymore but I am still the counting guy in many other things. I do it to see my progress. I also use this as a reminder of my goals. I hate the idea of resetting my streak in any kind of good habit that I am implementing. Take sleep or food intake, for example.      Now if you feel that counting days is holding you back, experiment with not counting days. Instead, make days count by adopting a lifestyle of making the right choice every time.      Make a promise to yourself that fapping is in the past. You are carving a new identity that is so good that porn or excessive fapping is simply out of the question. ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Heal your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free     I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless.     Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn.     Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now.     Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now.     ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free     When my brain was addicted to porn, I was a battery to the system. I didn't want to get out of my room and get rid of PMO. I didn't want a girlfriend. I didn't want to travel. I didn't want to live a passionate life. Until I realized I actually wanted those things. I'd been lying to myself. That's how I got motivated for my No PMO brain recovery. With that motivation, I started getting my life together. After I started NoFap I also rewired my brain to get pleasure from activities that used to feel boring. I felt more motivated to do those activities. For example, while I was addicted to PMO, I'd feel the urge to distract myself with PMO every time I sat down to work. That's because I taught my brain knew this was a reliable source of pleasure. But now I felt motivated to fight that distraction. My brain went, "Okay, now I can't get pleasure from distractions. Where do I get it?" And the answer was, "Work and other productive activities!" I didn't need to get distracted to feel pleasure anymore. I felt motivated to get it by doing something productive instead. Accomplishing small goals started to give me pleasure. Especially now that I also increased the number of dopamine receptors. That's how to get rid of PMO. ---------------------------------------------- COMPANION BLOG POST https://romanmironov.com/nofap-benefits/ ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdA0oZPOSZLFLOj7VoVfwspnc6iIoj0z2 Cure your brain from porn in 30 days with my Free Porn Detox Course: https://romanmironov.com/free I know how bad you feel after watching p**n. It makes you feel weak, depressed, lonely, and worthless. Most people try to cure it by playing video games or watching TV but it just makes you more bored and leads to watching more porn. Wake up❗STOP the vicious cycle now. Take my Free Porn Detox Course to heal from porn and feel motivated for success now. ►►► GET THE COURSE NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free Some people criticize me for being against PMO. I want to address those common critiques in this walking podcast episode. I will explain why I to curing your brain from porn helps with self-improvement. Critique # 1: I am not addicted. I watch it recreationally. Indeed, some people can do PMO recreationally just like I can drink a glass of wine once in a few years and not become an alcoholic. My goal is not to convert those people. My first goal is to increase awareness of the dangers of PMO among those who don't recognize them. Especially kids. Here's an example from someone reaching out to me for help: “I'm 18 and I have been masturbating since 16 and I realized that it affected my grades and life negatively. I will sit for a bachelor's exam in 3 months but I want my mind and soul to be clearer. Is a month enough time to recover and regain the clever brain I once had?” My second goal is to use my stories and strategies to motivate people who are seriously addicted to PMO and need help. Critique # 2:  You are selling unscientific cr*p. There's actually pretty convincing scientific evidence about the problems with PMO. For example, a 2022 study from Switzerland looked at how porn influences men and women. Here's what they found for men: “A higher frequency of porn use (wave 1) and increased porn use over time (waves 1–3) were associated with lower levels of sexual self-competence, impaired sexual functioning, and decreased partner-reported sexual satisfaction.” https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/porn-use-and-mens-and-womens-sexual-performance-evidence-from-a-large-longitudinal-sample/665B68D9E195A19B5825F9411B059927 Critique # 3:  Counting days doesn't work. You should make NoFap a lifestyle instead. Look, if you have the willpower to go NoFap Cold Turkey, I applaud for me. For me, counting days was very useful. It helped me admit that I was an addict and needed to work hard to get rid of the addiction. Plus, tracking my progress motivated me to keep going. Critique # 4: Why do you say masturbation is bad ❓ I don't think masturbation is bad. In fact, it's healthy. It only becomes a problem when used excessively, compulsively, and in conjunction with porn. I actually believe that having a regular controlled release is a good thing as long as you don't use it as an excuse not to look for a romantic partner.  Critique # 5: Why do you propose extreme semen retention ❓ I actually don't. I don't think it's healthy. When I was quitting PMO, I reduced my bad habit to masturbating once a week with no porn. I believe whenever we don't use any part of our body, it atrophies. And so does the reproductive system. I am not a doctor, though, and I am not giving medical advice. Critique # 6: Stop moralizing. I actually agree with this. Sometimes, I might fall into moralizing. But I think there is enough stigma in the NoFap community already. By moralizing, we might make people feel unnecessarily guilty and worthless. The alternative is humor—making fun of ourselves. After all, we are a bunch of evolved monkeys on a spinning rock.  Critique # 7: You aren't PMO-free. It's up to you to believe me or not. I will only say this:  I've been PMO-free for almost 9 years now. And I regret that I hadn't done it in my teenage years. I missed too many opportunities for having a loving relationship with a girl back then.  ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdA0oZPOSZLFLOj7VoVfwspnc6iIoj0z2 I've done No Fapping for 8 Years. Watch or listen to this podcast to get my best insights and motivation. I will answer these questions from followers: Cindy:  May I ask at what age you stopped pmo ❓And how many years have you resisted? it's M Music:  I broke my streak on the night of New year—he first day of 2023. From then I've been just breaking my no fapping streak. I have no self-control. I used to go 10 days or more but now I can't even go for 2 days without fapping. I don't know why. Yash: Does it decrease the sperm count if someone masturbates for a long period and what are the chances of prostate cancer ❓ Stephen: It mainly sticks with the frequent boredom I have when I work from home and when I'm alone specifically. Jordan: What are some techniques to stop PMO before going to bed I am starting to have trouble going to sleep ❓I am having to masturbate before bed and am needing some advice on how to stop.  Debdarsha: My frequency of watching porn is usually 1-2 hours twice a week, so do you think this perhaps a somewhat controlled habit will increase my odds of quitting it for good ❓ Peng JiDion: Does nofap help with social anxiety ❓Before I really didn't have social anxiety but after 3-4 years of this addiction do I get social skills back or is this permanent❓ I try to avoid people all the time scared, to do anything in public. pieceOfmind: I am back on the first day of no fapping with a new strategy. This time I think it will truly work. Instagram and overall internet spark too much dopamine and too many triggers for pornography (sexy women etc) so in order to not relapse, each time I come home I lock my phone in a box and I put the key away. Sounds extreme but i won't trigger myself if I don't use social media and cell phone. MARRURA_3: I knew that I was addicted when I started watching gay or shemale videos and I am a straight guy

I want to fap only… actually never. I've been porn-free for 8 years now and PMO is no longer an option. It is important to recognize that both sexual desire and the desire for success are natural and normal human drives. However, it is important to strike a balance between fulfilling our desires and pursuing long-term goals.   Masturbation, or "fapping," is a normal and healthy sexual activity that can provide pleasure and release. However, excessive or compulsive fapping can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and overall quality of life.   On the other hand, success can bring a sense of accomplishment, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. Pursuing success often involves hard work, perseverance, and dedication, which may require sacrificing some immediate pleasures or desires.   Ultimately, the decision of whether to prioritize masturbation or success is a personal one that depends on your values, goals, and priorities. It may be helpful to reflect on what you want to achieve in the long term and whether your current habits align with those goals.   If you find that excessive masturbation is interfering with your daily life or preventing you from achieving your goals, it may be helpful to seek support from a healthcare provider or coach. They can provide guidance on how to manage sexual desires in a healthy way and develop strategies for achieving success. That's when you forget about this statement, “I want to fap.”  ---------------------------------------------- TAKE MY FREE PORN DETOX COURSE: Sick of empty promises to yourself ❓ I am going to show you how to hack willpower for No PMO.  Step by step. For a better future. You achieving the success that you want. If you are interested, CLICK THE LINK BELOW NOW: https://romanmironov.com/free If not, fine — just keep lying to yourself that you'll quit someday. ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

पोर्न पर आपके दिमाग में गैरी विल्सन यह समझाने के लिए तैयार हैं कि कैसे प्रचुर मात्रा में मुफ्त पोर्नोग्राफी हजारों, ज्यादातर युवा लोगों के लिए गंभीर समस्या पैदा कर रही है। सामान्य पाठकों के लिए लत के विज्ञान का एक सर्वेक्षण प्रदान करने के साथ-साथ पोर्न पर आपका दिमाग इस बात पर मार्गदर्शन देता है कि व्यसनी पोर्न के उपयोग से कैसे बाहर निकला जाए। In Your Brain on Porn Gary Wilson sets out to explain how abundant free pornography is causing serious problems for thousands of, mostly young, people. As well as providing a survey of the science of addiction for general readers, Your Brain on Porn gives guidance on how to break out of addictive porn use.  Your Brain On Porn by Gary Wilson Follow us on: Instagram Subscribe to our Channel - English Book Club (English Book Summary Channel) https://youtube.com/englishbookclub

पोर्न पर आपके दिमाग में गैरी विल्सन यह समझाने के लिए तैयार हैं कि कैसे प्रचुर मात्रा में मुफ्त पोर्नोग्राफी हजारों, ज्यादातर युवा लोगों के लिए गंभीर समस्या पैदा कर रही है। सामान्य पाठकों के लिए लत के विज्ञान का एक सर्वेक्षण प्रदान करने के साथ-साथ पोर्न पर आपका दिमाग इस बात पर मार्गदर्शन देता है कि व्यसनी पोर्न के उपयोग से कैसे बाहर निकला जाए। In Your Brain on Porn Gary Wilson sets out to explain how abundant free pornography is causing serious problems for thousands of, mostly young, people. As well as providing a survey of the science of addiction for general readers, Your Brain on Porn gives guidance on how to break out of addictive porn use.  Your Brain On Porn by Gary Wilson Follow us on: Instagram Subscribe to our Channel - English Book Club (English Book Summary Channel) https://youtube.com/englishbookclub

How long to recover from porn ❓ How long does it take for a brain to heal from pornography ❓ Is it at all possible to be porn-free ❓ I am Porn Detox Coach Roman Mironov. I will answer these questions in this weekly podcast stream. 1️⃣Ask any questions in the LIVE chat for immediate answers. 2️⃣I will answer PMO questions asked on YouTube and Instagram this week. 3️⃣Please like this stream to help others learn about it and join. 4️⃣Please tell us what your current NoFap streak is. ✔Begins Sunday 1 p.m. Eastern Time ✔YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTpjfwxdtmsJ78QiPGMrsOQ ✔Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be20ofyourself/ ———————————————- OUR QUESTIONS FOR TODAY: How long to recover from porn ❓ What does porn do to my brain ❓ (Your brain on porn) Will quitting PMO cure my ED ❓ Is NoFap worth trying❓ How to quit watching pornography ❓ What to do after a NoFap relapse ❓ What is NoFap timeline ❓ How to develop the willpower to deal with strong PMO urges❓ Is it okay to masturbate in moderation❓ ———————————————- COMPANION BLOG POST: https://romanmironov.com/heal-brain-from-pornography/ ———————————————- ---------------------------------------------- GO PORN-FREE — DO A WILLPOWER CHALLENGE THIS JANUARY: Sick of empty promises to yourself ❓ This January, I am going to show you how to hack willpower for a great 2023 and NoFap. Step by step. For a better future. No addictions. If you are interested, click the link below now. CLICK THE LINK BELOW NOW: https://romanmironov.com/willpower-challenge/ If not, fine — just keep lying to yourself. ---------------------------------------------- OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Mark & Steve rarely address issues with kids and teens on PBSE podcast. However, two PBSE listeners submitted questions in this area. One is in addiction recovery and wants to know HOW to help his three young children (one more on the way) grow up to be sexually healthy adults who are not "set up" for addiction. The other listener, also in recovery, has a 16-year-old son who recently admitted to being caught up in porn since age 12. How can he best help his son? In this episode, Mark and Steve offer some straight-forward advice on HOW to raise sexually healthy kids and help those already struggling. Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling Services

Is your partner addicted to porn?   You are not alone.   In fact, hardly anyone is immune to this one, starting from a very young age.   According to Your Brain On Porn:    “100% of young men (ages 15 to 29) have viewed porn and 82% of young women. The age of first viewing has continued to drop with 69% of males and 23% of females first viewing pornography at 13 or younger.”   Contrary to the modernized narrative, porn IS NOT helping your sex drive. It's hurting it.    And porn is harming your relationship at a core level.    Porn addiction literally rewires your brain, making it one of the hardest habits to break.   It's time to be real about this as a society and stop sugarcoating things.   This episode is one of the most powerful ones released on Chelann Again to date.   I talk with Helena Bonneteau (Co-Founder and Lead Coach at Secret Habit Life Coaching) on how to navigate the porn addiction healing journey, from a partner's perspective.   If you're a woman whose husband is addicted to porn, this episode and the tools within it will give you so much hope.   It is possible to heal from porn addiction.   It is possible to have an even more intimate marriage after the fact.   You are not alone in this.   Much love ❤️   #pornaddiction #pornaddictionrecovery #pornaddictionhealing #secrethabit #howtostoppornaddiction   Music credit: @earthto7ky   Resources: Porn Addiction Support Communities: Helena's community for women struggling with their partner's pornography use - Chelann's Recommendation Pure Desire Beyond Betrayal   Porn Addiction Resources: Past CA Episode On Porn: Listen If You Watch Porn: This Taboo Perspective Could Change Your Life Feat. GoldJacketLuke Your Brain On Porn   To Connect With Helena Bonneteau Further: Instagram | secrethabit.ca   To Connect With Chelann Watt Further: Instagram | chelannagain.com   Music Credit: Chelann Again Intro by 7ky Hidden by 7ky    

This is a special podcast and the first of its kind here at PBSE. In this episode, PBSE Co-Founder Steve Moore, goes “solo” and talks raw and real about how, in October, he celebrated 8 years of total sobriety from porn and sex addiction! Steve shares the incredible recovery lessons he's learned along the way and HOW you can be SUCCESSFUL! Learn more about Mark and Steve's revolutionary online porn/sexual addiction recovery and betrayal trauma healing program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve in 3 one-hour sessions every week—addicts, spouses and couples! And live support groups on weekends, facilitated by Mark and Steve! To try a free, 2-week trial, visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's an article with some practical tips on HOW to STOP watching porn—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/post/how-can-i-stop-watching-porn

The problem—  Addicts—tuned out; numbed out; in-denial; lack emotional “wholeness” skills; the opposite of mindfulness is the state of compulsion/addiction; truthful vs. hiding; open vs. isolated; confront vs. escape and avoid; resilient vs. fragile;  reality vs. fantasy; imposter vs. true/higher selfPartners—In survival mode; trying to make it thru the day; intrusive thoughts; difficulty trusting anyone, including themselves; their own internal “gut” is compromised; living reactively rather than proactively; defense mechanisms are compromising their authenticity, which then leads to self-betrayal. An integral part of the solution:  Journaling—- Forces us to slow down and examine before reacting- Crucible for practicing self-examination, authenticity, vulnerability, accountability, etc.,  free from self-judgment and judgment from others.- Preparation tool for connection (i.e., Couples Check-ins)How?- Unfiltered; for your eyes-only; no journaling for "posterity;" not rushed. - A little bit each day is MUCH better than a lot once a week. - Use the S.O.A.P. method to guide your journaling.Learn more about Mark and Steve's new online program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve three times a week--addicts, spouses and couples! Visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's an article about how to HEAL from Betrayal Trauma—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/healing-betrayal-trauma-videoTo learn more about HOW to overcome porn and sex addiction, check out this article—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addiction

Renown Psychotherapist Matthias Barker shares some incredible insights into mental flourishing, the dangers of pornography for kids, and making your relationship work.

Alex spricht über Pornos, Verhaltenssüchte, wie Du ihnen entfliehen und eine lebenswerte, bewusstere Zukunft erschaffen kannst.

There are MANY reasons the ego-addict part of the brain convinces us that we are entitled to escape into our addiction outlets. These can include:  I'm not getting enough sex from my spouse; I have no other way to cope with hard things; Every guy does this to some level; I've tried to quit a thousand times and it's impossible–I've resigned myself to it; You all expect too much of me–you don't want me to have a normal life; I need to be free to just be me . . . and the list goes on and on. The question is—"Do you truly want to break out of the entitlement an d excuses that are enabling your addiction behaviors and keeping you stuck?  In this episode, Mark and Steve talk raw and real about their own experiences with "entitlement" and the first steps to breaking free. Learn more about Mark and Steve's new online program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve three times a week--addicts, spouses and couples! Visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesWant to learn more about how to move out of "toxic sex" in a marriage relationship and into "True Intimacy"?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/true-intimacy-vs-sex-in-marriage

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Noticing the Taste of Lotus, published by Valentine on the LessWrong. Recently I started picking up French again. I remembered getting something out of Duolingo a few years ago, so I logged in. Since the last time I was there, they added an “achievements” mechanic: I noticed this by earning one. I think it was “Sharpshooter”. They gave me the first of three stars for something like doing five lessons without mistakes. In the “achievements” section, it showed me that I could earn the second star by doing twenty lessons in a row flawlessly. And my brain cared. I watched myself hungering to get the achievements. These arbitrary things that someone had just stuck on there. in order to get me to want them. I noticed that I could get the second and maybe third star of “Sharpshooter” by doing earlier lessons and googling words and phrases I wasn't quite sure about. .which really doesn't help me learn French. Yes, we could quibble about that. Maybe perfect practice makes perfect, yada yada. But the point is: I disagree, I think my disagreement comes from knowing what I'm talking about when it comes to my learning, and someone's arbitrary gold stars immediately overrode all that insight by grabbing my motivations directly. I don't have a problem with gamification per se. What bugs me here is that this specific gamification didn't fit my goals, and that fact didn't at all affect how well the system grabbed my wanting. I just. wanted those achievements. Because they were there. If I hadn't noticed this, and if I'm right about what I need to learn French, then I would have wasted a bunch of time pursuing a useless proxy goal. And I would have felt pleasure in achieving it. I might have even thought that was a meaningful sign that I was learning French — never mind that my goal of holding my own in conversations isn't really helped by carefully avoiding typos. Duncan Sabien sometimes talks about “lotus-eating”. He's referring to a part of the Odyssey where they land on an island of “lotus-eaters”. It turns out that once you eat some of this kind of lotus, all you want to do is eat more. You stop caring about your other goals. The lotus just grabs your wants directly. I claim you can notice when something grabs your wanting. Just. look. Just pay attention. Here are some lotuses I've noticed: Most computer games are full of these. I sometimes play one called Alto's Adventure. You flip a little character over and land some tricks, and then get a speed boost. If you collect enough coins, you can get special items or level them up to a maximum. If I start playing it, I notice I care about these arbitrary coins and flips and so on. And if I've been playing it recently, I notice myself wanting to pull the game out and play it some more. But what is gained by doing so? Maybe something, but if so then that's a happy accident. My life isn't any better after unlocking all the made-up achievements on this little made-up game. But each time I land a trick: BAM! A tiny burst of satisfaction, and a wanting to keep going. Scrolling down on Facebook. There's something about wanting to scroll a little farther. I get a “Yes!” and a “Just a little more” each time I scroll down and see a new post. Just another couple more minutes on Facebook, right? Oops. Email. Where does the impulse to check email several times a day come from? Or to “catch up” on email? What are you trying to do? What does it feel like when you've just clicked “Send”? Inbox zero in particular does this a lot for me. If I have just two emails, I want to reply to them right away, so I can get back to that oh so sacred inbox zero state. But then people reply, and I reply back, and my time gets eaten up. but at least I'm maintaining inbox zero, right? Porn is loudly lotuses. The website Your Brain On Porn goes into this a ton. YouTube...

In this episode, Mark and Steve address a common question submitted by a PBSE listener—I have listened to many episodes of your podcast. They have all been very helpful. My question is: Do you consider every man who views porn an “addict” or “sex addict?” My husband confessed to viewing pornography (no other acting out) for the last two and a half years. He can describe the events that led him to cross that line in our marriage. He has told me on two different occasions that he was tempted and was able to identify the feelings that triggered him for both times. I'm in a support group with other women and most of their husbands were addicted to porn as a teenager and brought it into the marriage and have been viewing porn for 10, 20, 30 years. I know that my husband could slip or relapse. I'm just wondering if you ever encounter clients who get sucked into porn through a stressful time but sought help early enough, say a year or two. Would they be considered addicts as well? I am assuming since porn is addicting that could be the case? Thank you both for your dedication to the podcast and the topic of pornography.Here are just a few of the things Mark and Steve discuss—What IS the Definition of Porn/Sex Addiction?Addiction is a spectrum - not an on-or-off switchWhat are the consequences/outcomes of addiction?How to determine if he is an addict and the depth of his addiction—What level of insight/vulnerability does he display?What is he doing (ongoing) to cope with difficult feelings and emotions?What is his level of reactivity?What does his capacity to empathize look like?Is he present/engaged in sex?How open/safe do you feel with him? Are you comfortable asking him hard questions?Learn more about Mark and Steve's new online program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve three times a week--addicts, spouses and couples! Visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's an article that can help you learn more about HOW the brain works in sex/porn addition and HOW to set healthy boundaries in recovery—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/brain-science-porn-sex-addiction

This is part I of a 4-episode comprehensive series on understanding and overcoming porn and sex addictions. In this episode, we discuss what addiction is, from physiological, emotional and personal perspectives. We  also look at the damaging effects of porn and the horrifying realities associated with the porn industry.Do I have a compulsive sexual behavior disorder? How does compulsive porn use, masturbation or sexually acting out affect the physiology of my brain and nervous system and lead to addiction? Other than physiology, what are other important aspects of addiction to take into account so we can understand our behaviors and habits? These and other questions are explored in this episode.References used and resources mentioned in this episode:- Breaking the Cycle: Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession, and Shame by George Collins- The Porn Pandemic: A Simple Guide To Understanding And Ending Pornography Addiction For Men by Andrew Ferebee- The Easy Peasy Way to Quit Porn- Pornified: How Pornography is Damaging Our Lives, Our Relationships and Our Families by Pamela Paul - Resources from Dr. Patrick Carnes: official website and online assessment tests- "Your Brain On Porn" official website- "Fight the New Drug" official website- TED talk “Why I stopped watching porn” by Ran Gavrieli- TED talk “Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong” by Johann Hari

When it comes to daily life and being subjected to a "sexualized culture," what are the "healthy boundaries" in sex/porn addiction recovery? What can/should an addict-in-recovery STOP doing in "regular" life? What is too strict or too lax? When does an addict cross the line into rationalization, minimization and denial? How do we "collaborate" on this as a couple? When and how can we start to integrate ourselves back into regular, normal life—or can we ever do that! In this episode, Mark and Steve answer these tough questions and more.  Learn more about Mark and Steve's new online program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve three times a week--addicts, spouses and couples! Visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's an article that can help you learn more about HOW the brain works in sex/porn addition and HOW to set healthy boundaries in recovery—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/brain-science-porn-sex-addiction

When we rely on "sheer motivation" to break out of porn addiction, this will easily plunge us into a pit where we become stuck in "emotional wallowing."' Then to escape the wallowing, we move back into addiction outlets—and the "wallowing cycle" spins around and around. In this episode, Mark and Steve guide listeners in HOW to move out of emotional wallowing and into Vision and Meaning. Learn more about Mark and Steve's new online program—"Dare to Connect!" You have live access to Mark and Steve three times a week--addicts, spouses and couples! Visit—daretoconnectnow.comFind out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at:  Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's a great article on the "Brain Science" behind porn and sex addiction—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/brain-science-porn-sex-addictionHere's an article about healing Betrayal Trauma—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/healing-betrayal-trauma-videoWant to learn more about HOW to break free from porn?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addictionWondering if your marriage can survive porn and sex addiction? This article will give you some hope—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/can-marriage-survive-porn

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With so many dominant influences from Hollywood, the mainstream media, pornography and the role models we were raised with, there's a LOT of confusion about what it really means to "man-up." It's NOT the "macho/sexual-prowess" stereotype the culture often tends to promote. In this episode, Mark and Steve talk open and real about their own experiences as men and their work with men across the world.A man's strength has NOTHING to do with being "weakness-free." It has EVERYTHING to do with being willing to VULNERABLY face weaknesses, OWN them and learn how to move THROUGH them to become stronger. It's all about steadily and progressively stepping to one's highest and best self as a man.

This episode starts with Mark and Steve getting super raw about how lying was a big part of their addiction years and early recovery. - There are MANY "layers of lies" that can be obvious or very subtle; active lies or passive ones. - Why do addicts tell lies? And why do spouses often have struggles being totally open and blunt about what they're feeling and thinking?- Why is dishonesty SO devastating to a marriage relationship? - HOW can we make the shift into total honesty, transparency and authenticity?Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesWhy FULL disclosure is CRITICAL to your Marriage Success: https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/no-more-secrets-in-your-marriageLearn why his porn addiction and the Betrayal Trauma it brings is NOT YOUR FAULT—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/his-porn-addiction-not-your-faultHow can you "heal" your marriage relationship?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/how-to-mend-your-marriage

This episode is "Part Two" of the interview with Todd, a former Mark and Steve client, who tells his raw and real story of recovery from Sex and Porn Addiction. In this second half of the interview, Todd talks about how he moved from "ME" in addiction to "WE" in real recovery—How to shift your attitude from "me-centered" to "we-centered" and build the support network that is CRUCIAL to lasting recovery. Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesWant to learn more about HOW to break free from porn?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addictionWondering IF you have an actual "porn addiction"?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/are-you-addicted-to-pornEver wonder WHY LDS men suffer so much shame from porn use?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/lds-porn-addiction-help

Todd, a former Mark and Steve client, tells his raw and real story of recovery from Sex and Porn Addiction. Todd also talks about how being convinced from a young age that he had to "earn love," was a BIG part of what led him to and kept him trapped in addiction! Tune in next week for "Part Two"!Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesWant to learn more about HOW to break free from porn?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addictionWondering IF you have an actual "porn addiction"?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/are-you-addicted-to-pornEver wonder WHY LDS men suffer so much shame from porn use?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/lds-porn-addiction-help

Mark and Steve get VERY raw and real about the struggles during their deep addiction years. Knowing what they know now—if they could go back in time, WHAT would they do different? Be open, honest and seek help WAY sooner vs. staying stuck in shame and secrecy!Face the PAIN and REAL underlying issues vs. believing it was all about the porn!Be open about the real possibility of being able to break free vs. buying into the lie that "I'll never actually be totally free from this!"Be willing to DO the DAILY WORK of recovery vs. being lazy, making excuses and thinking recovery is an EVENT when it's really a GREAT way to live life!Visit the PBSE website at: pbsepodcast.comFind out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesWant to learn more about HOW to break free from porn?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addictionWondering IF you have an actual "porn addiction"?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/are-you-addicted-to-pornEver wonder WHY LDS men suffer so much shame from porn use?—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/lds-porn-addiction-help

Watching Porn In Quarantine (Corona Chat 028):FOLLOW AUXORO (FB): https://www.facebook.com/auxoromag/FOLLOW AUXORO (Twitter): https://twitter.com/AuxoromagSUPPORT AUXORO ON PATREON (Thank You): https://www.patreon.com/auxoroSUPPORT AUXORO ON PAYPAL (Thank You): paypal.me/zacharygrossfeld1SUPPORT AUXORO ON VENMO (Thank You): @Zachary-Ross-4AUXORO NEWSLETTER: https://www.auxoro.com/theaux=AUXORO MERCH: https://www.auxoro.com/store=WEBSITE/BLOG: https://www.auxoro.com/AUXORO PODCAST: https://linktr.ee/auxoro

When it comes to sexual behaviors, we live in a world where there is a very broad spectrum about what people consider to be "healthy" and "not healthy." In this podcast, Mark and Steve talk raw and real about their personal experience with this and working with men across the globe. You'll learn—Can "sex" become an addiction? What are the levels on the path to sex addiction—CuriosityRecreationSelf-soothingObsessionCompulsionAddictionThere are MANY ways to "act out sexually"--Here are some examplesHow can you tell is your sexual behaviors are a significant PROBLEM—You are sacrificing the people and things you care aboutSelf-medicating vs. facing your issuesDisconnecting from others vs. TRUE CONNECTIONConnecting vs. Fantasy vs. Reality"What's in it for me" vs. REAL LOVEAssignment: Do a "pros and cons list" regarding your current sexual behaviorsVisit the PBSE website at: pbsepodcast.com Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesHere's an infographic that can help you determine if you're addicted to porn—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/are-you-addicted-to-pornHere's a cool article talking about how Pornography use can turn into a "Drug Addiction"—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/is-pornography-a-drug-addiction

Everyone who gets trapped in porn addiction struggles with the "big mystery"--why do I keep going back to this crap? Why can't I just say 'NO!' once and for all?" The reason is that pornography radically changes the brain. In this episode you'll learn:After viewing porn and reaching climax, the viewer often pounds his fist on the table and asks, "What was I thinking?!" The answer—"You weren't AND you COULDN'T!"What is the "Addiction Cycle"?--Initiating Trigger; Preoccupation; Ritualizing; Acting Out; Pain/Remorse (blood oaths)You get pulled into the "Porn Funnel" through "BLHASTed" feelings; massive waves of powerful neurochemicals release; all logic, reasoning, caring and consequences are BLOCKED out; the bottom of the Funnel is the Dialogue from Hell--"What was I thinking?!!!"Half the battle of breaking free from porn is in becoming knowledgable, aware and MINDFUL of exactly HOW porn changes your brain and HOW you can interrupt that process!Visit the PBSE website at: pbsepodcast.com Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesFor more on the Brain Science of Porn and Sex Addiction, check out this article—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/brain-science-porn-sex-addictionTo view a cool video about "your brain on porn," visit this link—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/your-brain-on-porn

A deep dive on pornography. My thoughts, current research, and my hopes for the future. Please respect the content of this episode as it is a sensitive topic for many of us. This is not a weak issue or one that shouldn't be talked about. There are people out there that need help because of the side effects of over consumption. Selected readings: Your Brain On Porn by Gary Wilson - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/your-brain-on-porn-gary-wilson/1121182617?ean=9780993161605 Getting Off by Erica Garza: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-off-erica-garza/1126185949?ean=9781501163395 And for extra resources, discussions, and support, please visit: nofap.com yourbrainonporn.com

I talk to Kimie, a child of divorced parents about raising children in a narcissistic culture and how she had to be creative about keeping them safe and getting them through the dating and relationship cycle. What she found was the culture was becoming more narcissistic and common sense was not really part of the process. Doing everything she thought possible abuse still found her world. Rebuilding and using that anger and pain has become the motivation for WorththeWar. WorththeWar is focused on helping prepare people to Love well and avoid abuse. To support learning from past relationships and move forward with a plan to find and keep Healthy Love. We talk Modern culture love v real love and the influence of narcissism The enemy to health love that is pornography The narcissist's playground that is online dating How we can protect ourselves and our children moving forward Green flags rather than always red ones Find Kimie: Web:  WorththeWar Insta: @worththewar YouTube: WorthTheWar Find Tosh: @divorcegoddess Web: divorcegoddess Mentions: fightthenewdrug and Your Brain On Porn

There's a big debate about what is pornographic and what is not. In this episode, Mark and Steve talk raw and real about how defining "porn"—it's less about what's being taken in, and more about the impact it's having on the viewer and others. To the brain "meaning" is everything! It's all about your INTENTIONS.Parts vs. PeopleSomething to be consumed vs. someone to be valuedEmotional isolation and disconnectionWhat to DO: Use mindfulness journaling to assess your levels of fantasy and lust on a daily basis. What impact is this having on you being "fully present" with real life and real people? Are you more connected or more isolated as a result of your porn use? Visit the PBSE website at: pbsepodcast.com Find out more about Steve Moore at: Ascension Counseling Learn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling ServicesHow do you know if you're addicted to porn? Check out this infographic—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/are-you-addicted-to-pornHow can you overcome porn addiction? Here's an article that can help—https://www.reclaimcounselingservices.com/overcome-porn-sex-addiction

Why I Stopped Watching Porn For Good:SUPPORT AUXORO ON PATREON (Thank You): https://www.patreon.com/auxoroSUPPORT AUXORO ON PAYPAL (Thank You): paypal.me/zacharygrossfeld1SUPPORT AUXORO ON VENMO (Thank You): @Zachary-Ross-4AUXORO NEWSLETTER: https://www.auxoro.com/theauxAUXORO MERCH: https://www.auxoro.com/storeWebsite/blog: https://www.auxoro.com/

Dr. Emily Porter weighs in the "Your Brain On Porn" phenomenon (pornography addiction), how it relates to erectile dysfunction, and what you can do about it.

Gary Wilson is the expert on how erotic material effects the brain and Carol the Coach is interviewing him about how erotic visual materials  and compulsive masterbation effects the brain. This is a classic show that will help you understand neuroscience and the brain.

Carol the Coach interviews Gary Wilson who is explains the nuero-circuitry behind Sexual Addiction

Gary Wilson's talk, "The Great Porn Experiment" has changed lives of many men and has brought into attention some of the underlying challenges of our modern world. With erectile dysfunction rates skyrocketing in men under age 40, it was about time we started to look at the science and evidence behind these scary numbers. What's fascinating is how there is overlap in various addictive patterns and at Ketogeek we wanted to better understand how the brain works while potentially interpolating the findings into other lifestyle choices and addictive activities. Bio: Gary Wilson is author of Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction and presenter of the popular TEDx talk ‘The Great Porn Experiment,’ which has been viewed more than 9 million times, and translated into 18 languages. He hosts the website ‘Your Brain On Porn’, which was created for those seeking to understand and reverse compulsive porn use: http://yourbrainonporn.com. He taught anatomy and physiology for years and has long been interested in the neurochemistry of addiction, mating and bonding. In 2015 the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health presented Wilson with its Media Award for outstanding media contributions and public education on pornography addiction. In 2016, Wilson coauthored an academic paper with 7 US Navy doctors entitled, “Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports” and another journal article entitled, “Eliminate Chronic Internet Pornography Use to Reveal Its Effects.” Time Stamps: 5:57 – Gary Wilson’s narrative into the world of porn and porn induced sexual  10:17 – How porn rewires your brain’s reward circuitry 12:00 – How do you figure out if you have porn induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) and not performance anxiety? 13:22 – How soon can men expect to recover from PIED? 14:07 – Why do older men recover faster than younger men? 15:25 – What is the youngest known age in boys who suffer from PIED? *Shocking* 16:15 – Can PIED be permanent? 18:20 – How couples and sexual interaction in global societies may be affected by porn use 20:26 – Brain fog, motivation, social anxiety, cognition and emotional behavior effected by porn use. 22:48 – The science and mechanism of the reward system 26:32 – The potential impact of porn on sexual behaviors, aggression and trends in society 30:10 – How porn use may lead to sexual escalation through hyper stimulation 32:14 – Sensitization, cravings and hijacking the ancient mechanism of human survival 36:46 – Can you measure dopamine and how do different addictive activities spike dopamine? 40:49 – Can anyone be hooked onto porn? 43:20 – What is “Addiction”? A comparison of various types of addictions. 50:41 – Philip Zimbardo & The demise of guys. 51:31 – Can ‘anything’ be addictive? 55:02 – Are there benefits of porn and could it be used during dry seasons of no sex? 57:47 – Do women get hooked on porn and what is the female equivalent of porn use? 59:37 – The impact of social media on anxiety, emotional health and depression. 1:01:05 – “Likes” on social media, “Swipes” on Tinder, perpetual feasting and the dopamine system 1:04:24 – How to take a break from porn usage? 1:06:49 – What kind of resources are available if you’re hooked? 1:07:41 – Message to the adolescent boys and girls 1:09:19 – Role of parents and educators in the lives of young boys and girls 1:11:29 – The necessary studies and the power of delaying gratification. 1:15:10 – How do we capture online anecdotes? 1:18:10 – The ripple effects of hijacking the reward system across the society 1:19:47 – “No Fap”, targeting and propaganda 1:23:43 – Final message & plug Plugs:  Website: https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/ Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF82AwSDiU Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourBrainOnPorn Book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Porn-Pornography-Addiction-ebook/dp/B00N2AH8NW Ketogeek has a massive sphere of influence with it's three pillars of 'Educate', 'Empower' and 'Innovate' and we highly recommend signing up to our newsletter to learn everything from our community news to our products to our latest session with world class educators! Sign up by clicking here!

Carol the Coach is interviewing  Gary Wilson who explains the neuroscience behind addicion. He helps explain how can be associated with reduced erectile dysfunction and less overall sexual satisfaction. His website, Your Brain on is one of the most visited sites on the internet today!