1
New Theories / Re: Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS)
« on: 11/10/2010 17:47:58 »
Re: Depression and too much sexual stimulation
I recently had a brief email exchange with a Harvard MD about the kinds of symptoms heavy porn users experience, their withdrawal symptoms, which are very POIS-like (http://www.reuniting.info/download/pdf/0.WITHDRAWAL.pdf), and how much better they feel after recovery (http://www.reuniting.info/download/pdf/0.BENEFITS.pdf).
It became clear that the medical profession is operating on the following, rather circular, model: "No one can become dysregulated by hyper-stimuli (sexual or food) unless they had a pre-existijng pathology." So everyone who suffers is either pathological, or not, from the start so to speak.
I think this model may need rethinking. I suspect that many of us, given enough tempting stimulation (beyond what our ancestors' brains ever encountered) find ourselves on a slippery slope of dopamine dysregulation. (This is why virtually 100% of Native Americans have serious weight problems, while none of them did on their native diets...even very abundant ones.)
I also think most of us have the power to step off of this slippery slope by stopping the hyper-stimulation to allow our brains to return to normal dopamine sensitivity. Keep in mind that some brains may be super-sensitive, and that occasional, porn/fantasy-free masturbation may be enough for them to show this effect, in part because orgasm itself likely sets off a mini-dopamine cycle (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/200908/the-passion-cycle). For sensitive folks, occasional partnered sex may have caused fewer neurochemical ripples, due to the brain-balancing properties of oxytocin from frequent touch and affection. In my view, this might make sensitive brains atypical, but it doesn't mean they're "pathological" just because they need to manage their sex lives more carefully. Some of us need to be sensitive to foods, too.
In any case, the process of returning the brain to normal sensitivity (balance) can be grueling, and can often cause withdrawal symptoms that make it evident dopamine dysregulation (and the reverse) is at work. (I'm not saying all POIS symptoms come down to this mechanism. Trust me, I know they don't.)
Even since my exchange with the doctor, some research has come out that showed that behavior (in this case eating fattening food) did indeed numb the sensitivity of the brain. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/201010/protect-your-appetite-pleasure
The research that's really needed would show how long the brain requires (on average) to undo the numbing effects (return to normal D2 receptor density) after over-stimulation of various durations. Unfortunately, researchers are generally looking for the next "fat pill" or "desire pill" to "cope" with the numbing effects (on the theory that they're dealing with pathological brains rather than normal human brains). They are not researching what is required to reverse the condition via behavioral changes. This leaves today's junk food eaters and Internet porn users (and even some sensitive masturbators??) with a treacherous blind spot.
Keep in mind that recent research has shown that regular exercise is a better mood regulator than today's frequently prescribed anti-depressants. The right behavior can be powerful medicine.
I recently had a brief email exchange with a Harvard MD about the kinds of symptoms heavy porn users experience, their withdrawal symptoms, which are very POIS-like (http://www.reuniting.info/download/pdf/0.WITHDRAWAL.pdf), and how much better they feel after recovery (http://www.reuniting.info/download/pdf/0.BENEFITS.pdf).
It became clear that the medical profession is operating on the following, rather circular, model: "No one can become dysregulated by hyper-stimuli (sexual or food) unless they had a pre-existijng pathology." So everyone who suffers is either pathological, or not, from the start so to speak.
I think this model may need rethinking. I suspect that many of us, given enough tempting stimulation (beyond what our ancestors' brains ever encountered) find ourselves on a slippery slope of dopamine dysregulation. (This is why virtually 100% of Native Americans have serious weight problems, while none of them did on their native diets...even very abundant ones.)
I also think most of us have the power to step off of this slippery slope by stopping the hyper-stimulation to allow our brains to return to normal dopamine sensitivity. Keep in mind that some brains may be super-sensitive, and that occasional, porn/fantasy-free masturbation may be enough for them to show this effect, in part because orgasm itself likely sets off a mini-dopamine cycle (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/200908/the-passion-cycle). For sensitive folks, occasional partnered sex may have caused fewer neurochemical ripples, due to the brain-balancing properties of oxytocin from frequent touch and affection. In my view, this might make sensitive brains atypical, but it doesn't mean they're "pathological" just because they need to manage their sex lives more carefully. Some of us need to be sensitive to foods, too.
In any case, the process of returning the brain to normal sensitivity (balance) can be grueling, and can often cause withdrawal symptoms that make it evident dopamine dysregulation (and the reverse) is at work. (I'm not saying all POIS symptoms come down to this mechanism. Trust me, I know they don't.)
Even since my exchange with the doctor, some research has come out that showed that behavior (in this case eating fattening food) did indeed numb the sensitivity of the brain. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/201010/protect-your-appetite-pleasure
The research that's really needed would show how long the brain requires (on average) to undo the numbing effects (return to normal D2 receptor density) after over-stimulation of various durations. Unfortunately, researchers are generally looking for the next "fat pill" or "desire pill" to "cope" with the numbing effects (on the theory that they're dealing with pathological brains rather than normal human brains). They are not researching what is required to reverse the condition via behavioral changes. This leaves today's junk food eaters and Internet porn users (and even some sensitive masturbators??) with a treacherous blind spot.
Keep in mind that recent research has shown that regular exercise is a better mood regulator than today's frequently prescribed anti-depressants. The right behavior can be powerful medicine.