Now that we have discussed the reptilian brain, it is time to become more familiar with the emotional brain.
As you probably remember, the reptilian brain does not have the ability to learn. Therefore, it will continue to do the same thing over and over again, no matter what the previous experience might have been.
That is why the next step in evolution became the emotional brain. This brain has the ability to learn, balancing
Image via Wikipedia
the reptilian brain, and it uses signals of pleasure and pain to control our behavior.
It is very important to understand that it is the emotions that we are feeling, and not the thoughts that we are thinking that control most of our behavior.
Unfortunately, the power of the emotional brain is very familiar to us addicts. It is our emotional brain that causes us to do things that we don’t want to do that we will later regret.
For example, for a very long time, I struggled to avoid certain pornographic websites. Yet after a week or two of staying away, I would find myself giving in, and going back to looking.
This was happening for two reasons.
1. A pre-programmed response from my reptilian brain causing me to look for sex.
2. The emotional connection between the website and intense pleasure that I had established in the past.
Reason number 2 is the one that makes all of the difference. Reptilian brain does not learn, and it will always maintain its desire for sex.
The emotional brain, however, is what caused me to associate a website, a bunch of pixels on a screen, with a possibility of intense pleasure.
That is why even though I would tell myself that I did not want to go onto that site, all of the sudden it would feel that it was not such a bad idea.
© by Norton Photographer
Before I knew it, I would spend hours viewing pornography until I reach a level of stimulation significant enough to satisfy my reptilian brain.
Only then would the reptilian and emotional brain return full control of my body back to my thinking brain, allowing me to analyze what had just happened. And as a result of it, I would feel guilt and regret, knowing that I just did something that I did not want to do.
It is important to understand that our reptilian and emotional brains have the ability to override our thinking brain, leaving us as mere observers.
That is why we should be very careful not to make any decisions while we are feeling any intense emotions, both positive and negative, since they can greatly affect our judgment.
Most of the people don’t have a habit of monitoring their emotions. That is why I challenge you to pay closer attention to what you are feeling for the rest of the day. Some of the basic emotions to watch out for are anger, anxiety, excitement, happiness, love, and sadness.
In the next chapter, we are going to take a look at some of the simple things that we can do to help us strengthen our thinking brain, and help us live a more conscious life.
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Tagged with: Brain • effects of porn on the brain • Emotion • Emotional Brain • Health • porn addiction brain • porn and the brain • porn brain damage • Triune brain
Filed under: Cognitive Behavior Therapy • Free Recovery Course • Treatment Program for Porn Addiction
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This is exactly how i felt 20 min ago… I didnt want to visit this porn site. But somehow i had this feeling, or better craving for watching porn. I tried so hard not to do it. I even closed the website 3 times, till I had to give in. I just had no control of what i was doing. This is so scary. No, this craving is gone. I usually watch porn 2 day. What shocks me is, I had sex with my wife today and an hour later I felt the craving for watching porn! I also felt like the climax through porn is much greater… Anyway, I will go through the whole program. God bless everyone who suffers this same terrible affliction….
I know ur pain. I’m praying for thee both of us. I’m so glad that I’m not alone in this and that there are people out here who can identify and r getting better.
It’s chilling to have someone describe me as thoroughly as you have. I was glad that I was alone when I read “all of the sudden it would FEEL that it was not such a bad idea” because I said WOW! aloud.
The breathing exercise is a great help, I’m trying to go through your site slowly to digest as much of it as I can. Thank you very much for all of the work you’ve put into it.
I had been ‘porn free’ for some time, but couldn’t shake the constant temptation to return. There is an un-ending onslaught of triggers in our culture at large. Your practical advice is a great help, Thank you again!
just one word , thank u
How to get rid of addictive stuff:
Requirement:
1) Realizing that watching porn is bad for spiritual growth.
2) Realizing that it is addictive and never satisfactory (the more you watch the more you want).
3) The desire to get rid of watching porn and other addictive habits.
Steps:
1. Praying –
In your everyday prayers ask God to take away the desire to watch porn and other bad thoughts. Don’t forget to pray daily! You cannot overcome this habit on your own. Praying is very important!!
2. Shifting Desktop –
Shift your desktop into your living room. Make sure that your family members are able to see what you are viewing on your PC. Having the desk top inside your room gives you the temptation to watch bad stuff. Therefore shifting your desktop to a common place visible to others will control you from watching bad stuff
3. Parental control for laptop/ Desktop –
Make sure your antivirus program has parental control option. Ask your friend to type a password for parental control and start using the teenager mode (NOT parent mode). Even if you’re tempted to go to bad sites you need the password. Tell your true friend not to tell the password. He should type it for you on your laptop. If desktop ask you parents or sibling to do the job. YOU SHOULD NOT KNOW THE PASSWORD.
The later 2 are controls to avoid watching porn but to get the desire to watch these out of your mind YOU NEED TO PRAY! KEEP ASKING GOD TO MAKE YOUR THOUGHTS/ACTIVITIES CLEAN! Ask God that your thoughts and desires should be ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT!
KEEP PRAYING AND GOD WILL FREE YOU FROM ALL YOUR ADDICTIONS!!
God Bless!
To have my desktop in the living room will bring great help and have
Found I battle much with my blackberry but since I found the site my desire for porn
Is slowly being a thing of the past coz today I did my first prayer in months
Of not prayering thank you guy
I have a great tip to control your emotions! Count up all the things you love. Your family, pet, etc.
Anyways, THANK YOU SO MUCH! MAY THE LORD YOUR GOD BLESS YOU AND BE IN PEACE! YOU ARE THE MOST GENEROUS PERSON EVER! I WILL OVERCOME THINS, I WILL CONTROL MYSELF!!
The really important part i liked is avoiding it a short period and return to pornogaphy with a great desire that is what im going through and this site i think is starting to give me confidence that i might abstain pheello