It is a physical problem

The complexities of the brain and other factors are far beyond the scope of this document. In very simple terms, the brain is incredible. Wonderfully designed by the Creator, the brain is geared towards efficiency. The brain achieves efficiency through the formation of habits. Mastering a skill as quickly as possible and, making it automatic. A habit. The brain can then move on to learning the next habit. Once the brain learns a habit, it fiercely holds onto that habit.

For example, consider a professional athlete. In the movie “Miracle On Ice” about the U.S. hockey team winning the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics, there is a scene where the players are running through same drills over and over again. It is late. They are exhausted. They are frustrated doing the same thing again and again. They complain. The coach, Herb Brooks, explains they are training their minds and bodies, so when the game is on the line, with all the stress and pressure of the Olympics, and they are tired and sore, their minds and bodies know what to do, automatically. Their minds and bodies know how to perform excellently, even when things are difficult.

Another example is boot camp in the military. In the midst of battle, with bullets flying and bombs exploding, facing fears of serious injury and death, being cold, wet, tired, hungry and hurt, their minds and bodies know what to do. Their minds and bodies know how to perform excellently when things are difficult.

It is the same reasoning the Church emphasizes the importance of developing the virtues (another word for habit) of faith, hope and love, and the cardinal virtues. We are training our minds and bodies to perform excellently and to perform easily, even when the situation is difficult.

However, the brain doesn’t know the difference between a good habit or a bad habit. For someone who habitually uses porn, their brain is “wired” to perform that act, automatically. Whatever their trigger may be, whether being tired, stressed, etc., the mind and body knows what to do, automatically. The various decision making functions of the brain all become focused on achieving the goal established by the habit of pornography usage. For example, the part of the brain that is looking at the big picture, regulating emotions, evaluating consequences and directing decisions, ceases to perform those functions and becomes completely focused on the goals of the habit. The instant the brain receives the reward established by the person’s pornography habit, the decision making part of the brain returns to normal, and the person immediately regrets the decision (or lack thereof) feeling guilty and ashamed saying, “No, no, no! I did it again, what was I thinking!”.

The “white knuckling” approach, trying to solve the problem through sheer will power, actually works against how the brain is designed. Eventually, the brain wins.

The good news is, a person can learn how to harness and direct the powers of their brain to stop their pornography habit and “re-wire” their brain with a different and good habit. Both Covenant Eyes and RECLAIM Sexual Health are valuable resources to both learn in-depth about the struggle with pornography, as well as services and science based programs to help a person quit pornography.

Protecting Children

Never before has pornography been so easily accessible by children, and at an intensity and scale no other generation has ever experienced. The majority of pornography usage by children is in the home. It is critical that parents be aware of this threat, and take steps to protect their children.

Getting Help

Many, who have developed a habit of viewing pornography who then want to stop, whether they have had a sincere conversion of faith or are preparing to enter into a faithful marriage with their beloved or for any other reason, find it very difficult to stop. This is in part due to how the brain functions. Shear will power is often not enough and they often find themselves in a cycle of failure and despair. But there help. There is hope.