I'll probably get flamed for this, but . . .
Like any addiction, porn has the capability to physically change your brain and "hardwire" the things that turn you on, more so in men (who are inherently more visually stimulated) and in children. Repeated stimulation via pornography CAN (notice I didn't say, "Will") lead to inability to achieve sexual pleasure without it, making the porn more necessary for sexual gratification than the sex act. Some people can dabble in porn and be relatively unaffected; others run the risk of developing a serious and potentially dangerous addiction.
Quote:Mark Kastleman, author of The Drug of the New Millennium, said, "There are a growing number of therapists and psychologists who are saying that this is as addictive as cocaine," or alcohol, or even heroin.
Kastleman has been researching and writing about porn addictions for six years, as well as training pastors and counselors on how to deal with it.
He explained that, when people view porn, "It causes the brain to release what we call endogenous drugs or endogenous chemicals. 'Endogenous' meaning 'produced from within.' So where cocaine or alcohol seek to mimic the brain's natural chemicals, pornography releases the real deal. And so we have things like adrenaline, epinephrine, ACTH."
Therapist Dan Gray has counseled 700 to 800 porn addicts. Compared to alcoholics or drug addicts, "Some will have a more difficult time getting off the sexual addictions," Gray said.
Leading sex addiction therapist Patrick Carnes, author of Facing the Shadow and Don't Call It Love, said, "Now that we understand how the brain functions, and as we are able to get pictures of the brain functioning, we're starting to understand that all addiction is a hijacking of the brain."
Unfortunately, like any addiction, you can really do much unless he wants to change. I may be helpful to seek councelling for yourself and try to pursuade him to go. Google porn addiction - there are lots of helful sites that may be of some benefit to you. The only certainty is that ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
There are numerous places to go for help. Online, there are organizations centered around helping those with porn addictions and their families. There are accountability 'buddies', churches, councelors, etc.
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