1. Welcome to NoFap! We have disabled new forum accounts from being registered for the time being. In the meantime, you can join our weekly accountability groups.
    Dismiss Notice

Accidental trigger = dopamine released ?

Discussion in 'Porn-Induced Sexual Dysfunctions' started by FrenchWinner, Jan 13, 2019.

  1. FrenchWinner

    FrenchWinner Fapstronaut

    108
    19
    18
    I wonder if triggers can release dopamine in the brain pathways and has the same effect as relapse in terms of brain chemistry.
    Our world is oversexualized and even if i avoid triggers it is still possible to face it. For exemple i went for a walk today and saw a model photo (ad) which gave me an huge urge despite i turned my head away. Or i hear my neighboors making love late in the evening despite listening to music (poorly insonorised boarding school). I fear it reinforces the addiction pathways by releasing chemistry.
     
  2. Uruvug

    Uruvug Fapstronaut

    126
    57
    28
    I am pretty sure that's what happens. The dopamine is what causes the urge itself, so if you are feeling urges, that means there is dopamine being released. Many people think that dopamine causes pleasure, but in reality dopamine causes the feeling of wanting something (aka. "the urge"). Sometimes I get those urges and try to repress them and it makes me very anxious. Now they are not as strong as before though, so that's good.
     
    Optimum Fortitude likes this.
  3. Coolyorky

    Coolyorky Fapstronaut

    662
    1,422
    123
    Yeah it’s really tough. When I wake I usually have an erection (pan handle, chubby, popcorn on, stiffy, pringles can ect) and have fantasy’s. It’s tough. I do think they have a negative effect on reboot. Edging definitely has a bad effect/release dopamine.
     
  4. TheTr0jan1

    TheTr0jan1 Fapstronaut

    21
    12
    3
    The trigger will cause the release of dopamine, which will create the urge feeling, the feeling of wanting/needing to do the act.
    Its the completion of the act itself that releases DeltaFosB which if accumulated enough through repeated PMO, will cause changes in the brains reward pathways to "want" the act, thus your brain is rewired to pursue PMO (as can be the case with other addictions).

    So the release of of dopamine itself doesn't reinforce the altered reward pathways, its the acting upon the urge - i.e. getting the "reward" that reinforces the altered reward pathways.

    That being said, it is still of the utmost importance to avoid all triggers as far as possible due to their propensity to lead to relapse and resumption of PMO behaviors which will hinder progress.
     
  5. henry3526

    henry3526 Fapstronaut

    357
    978
    93
    That's really helpful and good to know. I was just watching a tv show and one of the actresses on it was super hot; brunette, glasses, pencil skirt, heels...need i say more. As soon as I saw her I turned it off but I'm sure I got a dopamine release, then I had the immediate urge to go google woman that match the description. Just riding the urge out for a few minutes made it completely go away, but in the moment it was intense.

    Like I said, the show was turned off immediately, and that episode won't be going back on. Any triggers are bad.
     
  6. Reboot16

    Reboot16 Fapstronaut

    65
    36
    18
    Ya what happens over time as Tr0jan mentioned is you build up certain pathways in the reward center of the brain, and the brain remembers what triggers them so when you see a glimpse or have a thought about one of your triggers, if you think about it for a certain length of time (I think I read an article that indicated it was around 2 full seconds), your brain starts basically firing up the reward pathways that almost become like a voice on your shoulder saying "do it, do it, do it", etc. and that's where people struggle - they have to let their prefrontal cortex override that limbic system to say "I know this is a bad idea, and I'm going to choose not to do this".

    As far as a reboot being effected though, not really - not unless you were thinking about your triggers for long periods of time to get the dopamine flowing constantly. It's like if you see a hot girl walking down the street and get a little twitch in your pants, that's not the same thing as immediately heading to the bathroom to jerkoff to the thought of that girl naked. You know what I mean? Natural horniness is totally fine and healthy.
     

Share This Page