Episode 15: The Oxytocin Trap: How Pornography Rewires Your Teen’s Brain

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September 30, 2025 • 27 mins

In this powerful episode of Parent Guide: Helping Your Teen Overcome Pornography Addiction, host Matt Bulkley dives deep into "The Oxytocin Trap" and how pornography hijacks your teen’s brain. Learn how oxytocin, the "bonding hormone," is critical for building trust and connection during adolescence, and how porn disrupts this process, creating a cycle of isolation and emotional disconnection. Backed by cutting-edge research, including studies from Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2017) and Addictive Behaviors (2022), Matt breaks down the science of neuroplasticity and the impact of porn’s artificial intimacy on developing brains. Hear real stories, like Sarah’s, and discover practical steps to help your teen rebuild healthy connections through open conversations, bonding activities, screen boundaries, and emotional resilience. Matt also answers listener questions, offering empathy-driven advice for parents navigating guilt, denial, or academic struggles. Tune in for science-backed tools, hope, and actionable strategies to guide your teen toward recovery and authentic relationships. Visit therapyassociates.net for more resources, including the Recovery Toolbox for Teens.

Teen pornography addiction
Oxytocin and teen brain
Pornography brain hijack
Adolescent neuroplasticity
Parenting teens online habits
Teen emotional resilience
Healthy screen boundaries
Teen relationship issues
Oxytocin trap explained
Recovery Toolbox for Teens

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.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Episode 15: The Oxytocin Trap: How Pornography Rewires Your Teen’s Brain