“Porn makes you happy”

Porn likes to emphasize that it will make you feel great. But does it? Think not just about how you feel while viewing porn, but what it does to you afterward. Some people report feeling lonely, empty, and hopeless after viewing. They notice that the problems they tried to escape from are still there.

Porn offers short-term feelings of relief but no long-term solutions. And is even the momentary pleasure all that porn cracks it up to be? Have you felt, like some do, that even the momentary pleasure has gotten less intense over time?

Research has shown that pornography can lead to mental health challenges, like depression. In addition, it can be harmful to relationships. If it didn't cause harm, there wouldn't be a need for support groups, counseling sessions, and intensive retreats for couples where one partner has had a porn habit.

Porn is a liar. The dopamine spike during use is followed by a crash. Over time, the baseline drops. Things that used to bring joy — a real conversation, a moment of genuine intimacy — feel flat by comparison. Porn doesn't add happiness. It borrows against it.

Perhaps the only one who is happy about porn is those who have a financial gain from producing it. Real happiness is built through authentic relationships, personal growth, and genuine connection — everything porn trains you away from.