High Libido or Hypersexuality? The Neuroscience Behind Porn Addiction, with Dr. Trish Leigh

I sit down with Dr. Trish Leigh, a cognitive neuroscientist and neurofeedback clinician, to unpack what pornography and screen compulsions can do to the brain, from dopamine dependency and hypersexuality to sexual dysfunction and impaired self-regulation. We explore why so many men struggle to break the habit, how pornography can become a tool for managing stress and boredom, and why simply trying to quit often isn't enough.

Dr. Leigh explains how the brain can be rewired through repetition, healthier sources of dopamine, intentional routines, and what she calls the “instant rewire.” We also talk about shame, relationships, parenting, ADHD symptoms, and how rebuilding a healthier brain can help men create the life and relationships they actually want.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:01 - What Happens in the Brain Before You Open Porn

02:49 - Dopamine and the Screen Compulsion Loop

04:32 - Dopamine, Testosterone, and the Brain

06:11 - Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction

07:09 - How Porn Changes Sexual Arousal

09:04 - Novelty, Intensity, and Hypersexuality

12:25 - Why Men Use Porn for Stress and Boredom

15:16 - Rewiring the Brain Through Dopamine Stacking

17:21 - High Libido vs. Hypersexuality

20:24 - How Porn Changes the Way You See Women

23:58 - What a “Hijacked” Brain Looks Like

27:38 - The Prefrontal Cortex vs. the “Banana-Hungry Gorilla”

30:00 - Replacing Porn With Real-World Dopamine

32:24 - Your Brain Is Not Broken - It’s Been Conditioned

35:20 - Neuroplasticity and the Rigid Brain

40:51 - Porn, ADHD Symptoms, and Brain Function

43:12 - Nature, Nurture, and How We Train the Brain

45:37 - Teaching Kids Emotional Regulation

48:17 - Is It Your Relationship or Your Brain?

52:39 - Breaking the Cycle of Shame

54:42 - A Step-by-Step Plan to Rewire Your Brain

57:00 - The Three-Second “Instant Rewire”

59:01 - Building Routines That Replace Porn

01:00:52 - Setting the GPS for the Life You Want

01:03:10 - Where to Find Dr. Trish Leigh

***

Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/

Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

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