Addiction is defined as the consistent choice of a short-term reward at the expense of long-term personal growth and health.

“addiction is really um consistently choosing a short-term reward at the expense of long-term growth”

Addictive behaviors often stem from deep-seated shame and a need to escape uncomfortable emotions.

“I can relate to like looking at pornography and the just the shame the horror you feel after. But then you still need something that but then like it kind of wears off or you get out of that shame and then you're again or looking for something that'll kind of give you a feeling”

Pornography serves as a maladaptive coping mechanism that hijacks the brain's reward system to numb uncomfortable emotions.

“Pornography kind of hijacks the brain's reward system and so disregulates your nervous system. Porn becomes this learned shortcut to avoid discomfort.”