In today's episode, we are going where no one goes. We are hearing from a female about her early exposure to porngraphy as an innocent, curious girl.  Did you have a natural curiosity about sex that led you down a path to porn? Did it become a compulsion and eventually an addiction that shaped your view of sex and relationships? Unfortunately, many of the teens and young adults we speak with answer these questions with an anonymous "yes." How does porn really impact young people? What happens when you begin watching porn at age 8-10 and how does it hold your brain hostage?  The normalization and desentization of pornography is incredibly damaging. Our guest today, Anne, shares her first hand experiences with porn which began as a young, curious child searching for answers on YouTube. Many of her sexual experiences came before the age of natural sexual development because of her early exposure to sexually explicit material. Pornography formed her arousal template; it caused her early sexual experimentation, it normalized more aggressive and kink types of sex, and it superseded her natural sex drive so that masturbation was only possible with pornography. In school, she was the friend who everyone asked when they had sex questions.  As a younger child, Anne did not understand that all of this was too much and too young. Today she is a college sophomore, and she understands porn’s destructive path through her life. This episode covers A LOT of ground and it is essential for any parent who thinks, "Not my kid" or any young adult struggling to overcome an addiction to porn. The negative impact of porn on sexual pleasure, relationships, expectations, and body image, can not be underestimated. Anne articulately shares her new insights with a raw, honest look at how pornography shaped her sexual template and how she is now making more informed, empowered, and healthy choices for herself. RESOURCES Your Brain On Porn website https://www.yourbrainonporn.com The Porn Trap -  By Wendy & Larry Maltz The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography  UPCOMING 7 ON SUNDAYS EPISODE: CICI & The Dark Side Of Porn TIMESTAMP 00:00 Introduction and Content Warning 01:28 The Impact of Pornography on Young Adults 05:24 Anne's Story: Early Exposure and Its Effects 09:15 Exploring the Influence of Porn on Sexual Development 14:38 First Experiences with Porn 19:58 The Female Perspective of Pornography 29:22 The Shift in Perception: From Pleasure to Disgust 31:12 Reflecting on the Porn Industry and Its Victims 33:21 Exploring the Shocking World of Pornography 36:22 Understanding the Confusion and Dissonance in Arousal 40:34 The Role of Pornography in Shaping Sexual Expectations 42:16 Navigating the Complexities of First Sexual Experiences 46:59 The Influence of Erotica and Smut on Sexual Education 47:54 Addressing the Dangers of Early Exposure to Pornography 56:13 The Importance of Open Conversations About Sexuality 01:03:27 Closing Remarks and Resources for Mental Health Support