Are you watching too much porn? Psychologists have developed a test to measure whether someone is watching too much porn. The scale was developed after there was significant evidence that watching too much can harm health. This scale helps therapists diagnose problematic pornography use (PPU). This is a type of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD), which can affect a person's mental and sexual relationships and may lead to sexual violence.

As reported in the DailyMail, PPU is on the rise, and experts fear that it may lead to conditions like erectile dysfunction, anxiety, and depression, alongside withdrawal symptoms. This is why the experts have come up with a scale to detect PPU.

We spoke to relationship counsellor Ruchi Ruuh, and asked her what could happen if someone watches too much porn and how it affects their sex life? "Frequent exposure to porn can heavily shape sexual scripts, creating distorted ideas about what sex should look like, who should initiate it and what is considered desirable or acceptable. What the whole experience does is that it creates unrealistic physical expectations," she explains.

Ruuh points out that the bodies and genitals depicted in porn form an idealised image which leads to dissatisfaction with their own bodies and their partner's natural appearances.

What Is Porn?

Ruuh explains that it is a performance practised by professionals under guidance. It showcases sex as a flawlessly coordinated and intense, act. It is devoid of pressure, emotions and pauses that are very much a part of a real sexual encounter. This is what creates stress when one tries to replicate such acts in real life.

Another problematic aspect is the glorification of kinks. Most Porn has some kind of kink, performed flawlessly with partners completely in sync and enjoying it. "Porn often highlights extreme or niche kinks as commonplace. While this may normalise exploration, it can also lead to people feeling pressured to engage in acts they’re not ready for or genuinely uncomfortable with," she notes.

Real-life communication, consent and vulnerability are often missing in porn, leading viewers to expect sex to be spontaneous and instinctive.

Porn Leads To Unrealistic Expectations In A Relationship

Due to the unrealistic depiction of genitals, like hairless, symmetrical or surgically enhanced body parts, it can lead to criticism of a partner's body. Many also believe that sex should mirror pornographic perfection. It also misunderstands certain that not all acts can bring pleasure to your partner and that there are certain acts where your partner can draw boundaries.

Affecting The Young Minds

DailyMail reports that the UK has the second highest incidence of internet porn searches in the world, with an average of 1,66,00,000 searches each month. A quarter of 16 to 21-year-olds first saw porn on the internet and were still in primary school. By the age of 13, 50% of them have already been exposed to it. As per a 2015 report published in the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences, in India, 63% of youths in urban areas reported watching porn, with 74% accessing it through their mobile phones. The online erotic comic is also accessed in India.

Ruuh points out that young viewers may think that kinks are common and desired by everyone when it is not actually the case. "They might force, coerce, even shame their partners for being vanilla. Believing that extreme acts, such as BDSM or group sex, are the default rather than exceptions or consensual choices between partners."

There is also an overemphasis on aesthetics, on how the partners look or behave, which may be dissatisfactory in real circumstances. It also creates a perception that sex must escalate or surprise, rather than valuing it as an emotional connection and trust.

"Porn has no real representation of how a relationship dynamic works and how the emotional safety and intimacy ultimately lead to sexual desire. This missing gap makes individuals value the desire for novelty over intimacy which can be detrimental to forming a healthy relationship," says Ruuh.

It also creates anxiety in the bedroom. For instance, your partner may experience performance anxiety for not being "adventurous enough", or body image issues, kink pressure and fear of judgment, which might come from the expectation to perform unrealistic acts.

"Porn often creates a gap between what's fantasy vs the reality. It involves exaggerated scenarios that might seem appealing during solo play for imagination but feel impractical, uncomfortable or even undesirable in real-life settings. This over-reliance on porn’s extreme visuals or specific kinks can create arousal triggers that might not translate into partnered sex, causing frustration or a sense of disconnection. For example, someone might fantasize about certain acts during solo sex, influenced by porn, but find their partner uncomfortable with them. Sex is doing things, two people understanding and pleasing each other accordingly. With Porn, only a one-sided understanding of sex is created, which might make it hard to prioritize shared enjoyment and mutual consent during intimacy," explains Ruuh.

Can It Also Impair People's Communication?

Ruuh says that it could make people feel embarrassed about expressing desires influenced by porn, worrying their partner will find them strange or abnormal. Sometimes, the person also expects their partner to know their kinks, just like what porn shows. Most porn does not show any backstory of how two people or more came to a conclusion on what acts must they perform, this could lead to an unrealistic expectation that your "partner already knows what you want".

"Since porn rarely depicts discussions about emotions, boundaries or consent, viewers may lack the tools and vocabulary to articulate their own needs or respect a partner’s," she says.

So What Does The Porn-Test Scale Do?

Developed by academics from Nottingham Trent University, the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale has questioned hundreds of porn users, of both sexes and led to an 18-point questionnaire which can be carried out at home too.

The test found that men are more likely to score highly in this than women, regardless of their sexual orientation.

The test is developed around the 6 core elements of PPU. These include: salience, which refers to how important pornography is to a person's life; mood modification: how much they use masturbation to porn as a way of making them feel a certain way. Conflict: how much does masturbation to porn impact on the significant others, if it gets in the way of their work or other commitments. Tolerance: is masturbation to porn a necessary requirement to achieve a certain mood; relapse, which refers to attempts to abstain and then return to the problematic behaviour patterns; and lastly withdrawal: unpleasant feelings and emotional states that occur after quitting or attempting to quit porn.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterised by significant disruptions in thought, perception, emotion and social interaction. Classic symptoms of this neurological condition include jumping to conclusions or difficulty adjusting to new information. According to scientists, the symptoms are a result of poor communication between the cerebral cortex and thalamus, which is known as the brain's central switchboard.

Recently, a team of researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine found that the neural pathways of schizophrenics work differently as compared to those without the condition when faced with conflicts in decision making. The discovery was made by measuring brain cell activity between the cerebral cortex and thalamus, as volunteers completed ambiguous tasks.

How Was The Research Performed?

For the research, scientists asked about 40 participants—a mixture of neurotypical individuals and patients with schizophrenia—to correctly choose a target's location based on a sequence of cues. However, the scientists made these cues more or less conflicting. For healthy people, performance was very good even when the conflict was high. But for schizophrenics, there were two different behaviours. They had comparable behaviour to controls when there was little conflict, however, they made many more errors with higher conflict levels, which were tolerated well by controls.

The study is important because over the course of evolution, the human brain has developed a system to make decisions in complicated situations. The prefrontal cortex, specifically the dorsolateral and orbitofrontal areas, is responsible for making decisions. His region integrates information from various brain areas, allows for reasoning and judgment, and ultimately guides decisions that align with our goals and desires.

How Is Brain Impacted During Schizophrenia?

In schizophrenia, the brain experiences structural and chemical changes that disrupt normal thinking, emotions, and behaviour. Research shows that people with schizophrenia often have reduced grey matter volume, particularly in areas involved in memory, emotion, and decision-making, like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Abnormalities in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and glutamate, also play a key role, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive difficulties. Connectivity between different brain regions may become impaired, affecting the brain's ability to process information smoothly. These changes typically emerge gradually, often beginning in late adolescence or early adulthood, and vary significantly from person to person.

How To Identify Schizophrenia?

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is part of Cluster A personality disorders. Other disorders in this cluster include paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder. Individuals with this condition struggle with social and interpersonal skills, especially when forming close relationships. This occurs alongside eccentric behaviour and perceptual or cognitive distortions.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), schizophrenia is diagnosed based on a set of specific symptoms. Here's the list of core symptoms:

• Delusions – strong false beliefs not based in reality (e.g., believing you are being persecuted or have special powers).
• Hallucinations – hearing, seeing, or sensing things that aren't actually there (most commonly auditory hallucinations).
• Disorganised speech – frequent derailment, incoherence, or illogical conversation.
• Grossly disorganised or catatonic behavior – unpredictable agitation, inappropriate behaviour, or lack of movement/responsiveness.
• Negative symptoms – diminished emotional expression, reduced motivation (avolition), reduced speech (alogia), social withdrawal, or inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex, often misinterpreted and even misdiagnosed gastrointestinal condition that disproportionately affects women. With symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, and cramping in the abdomen, IBS may cause life to be significantly altered. However, despite its familiarity, social stigma tends to deter women from seeking needed assistance. Familiarization with the symptoms, risks, and treatments is required for enhancing physical and mental health.

According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, between 25 to 45 million Americans have IBS, two-thirds of them women—young adults and often. Though no one yet fully understands the underlying cause for the gender disparity, hormonal fluctuations clearly seem to play a strong factor. According to studies, GI symptoms usually get worse at some point during the menstrual cycle, and post-menopausal women with IBS experience worse symptoms, increased fatigue, anxiety, and diminished quality of life.

Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone may also affect the gut, but this relationship is under research. Further, women suffering from gynecological diseases such as endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) typically experience increased pelvic and abdominal pain, which points to similar mechanisms for reproductive and gastrointestinal health.

Why IBS Feels More Than Just an Upset Stomach?

IBS is not limited to painful bowel habits- diarrhea and constipation can aggravate or lead to hemorrhoids, and diet restriction for symptom relief can result in nutritional deficiencies. Psychologically, the disease's impact tends to cause isolation, discouragement, and depression, severely impairing quality of life.

New research also points to the gut-brain axis—a communication network between the gut and the brain—that is crucial to IBS. Persistent stress, a widespread problem in women, may worsen symptoms by disrupting this important link. Not surprising, therefore, are anxiety and depression as both risk factors for, and consequences of, IBS.

IBS Symptoms To Watch For

While IBS in itself is not usually troublesome, long-term change in bowel habits may indicate a more serious disorder, like cancer of the colon or rectum. Specialists at Mayo Clinic recommend undergoing medical assessment if the symptoms involve bleeding in the rectum, unexplained loss of weight, or regular change in the bowel movement. Diagnosis usually takes a "diagnosis of exclusion" approach, excluding other gastrointestinal disorders before diagnosing IBS.

Perhaps the most infuriating part of IBS is how it's diagnosed. There's no test to give a firm answer; doctors make educated guesses based on symptom patterns and excluding other possibilities. In a nationwide study conducted at Cedars-Sinai in December 2023, researchers found that IBS is more prevalent than once thought, an observation that speaks volumes about a desperate need for more effective diagnostic testing and education of patients.

While IBS can impact anyone, it tends to be more prevalent among women. Studies show a higher prevalence rate of 12% in women compared to 8.6% in men. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly around the menstrual cycle, appear to play a significant role in how symptoms manifest and intensify.

In fact, many women with IBS report a noticeable worsening of gastrointestinal symptoms during their menstrual periods. This pattern highlights the connection between hormonal changes and gut health. Beyond typical digestive distress, women with IBS frequently encounter a broader set of complications that can affect their overall well-being.

Common Symptoms of IBS in Women:

• Constipation and/or diarrhea, often alternating
• Persistent bloating and abdominal discomfort
• Fatigue and low energy levels
• Exacerbation of menstrual symptoms, such as cramping and pain
• Urinary symptoms, including urgency and frequency
• Chronic pelvic pain that overlaps with gynecological conditions
• Pelvic organ prolapse, especially in severe or long-standing cases
• Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Increased incidence of migraines
• Higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders

Are Your Hormones Making Your Digestive Symptoms Worse?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women does not seem to significantly relieve IBS symptoms, but it can change the gut microbiome—an ecosystem increasingly seen as vital to digestive well-being. Some early data also indicate that the immune systems of women might contribute to IBS development. Since women are more prone to autoimmune disorders, these results present yet another potential explanation for the gender disparity of IBS cases.

Stress isn't solely an issue of mental health—it appears physically, particularly in the stomach. Women, being more susceptible to anxiety and stress, are thus more susceptible to stress-related IBS attacks. The gut-brain axis makes this interaction possible, with distress signals going back and forth between the intestines and the brain. Tackling mental health is thus a necessary part of IBS management.

Why a One-Size-Fits-All Treatment Doesn't Work for IBS in Women?

IBS management is individualized because symptoms and exacerbating factors differ greatly. Gastroenterologists, functional medicine physicians, and nutritionists tend to work together to develop tailored treatment plans. Diet continues to be a fundamental aspect of IBS management, with the low FODMAP diet becoming the gold standard. This entails limiting consumption of certain fermentable carbohydrates that may worsen symptoms.

Alongside dietary treatments, the exploding gut health market provides new choices—from probiotics to fiber supplements—that are de-stigmatizing gut care. And with the global wellness market for gut supplements estimated to grow from $9 billion to $19 billion by 2033, it is unmistakable that both treatment opportunities and public knowledge are shifting.

What is The "Hot Girls Have IBS" Movement?

The catchphrase "Hot Girls Have IBS" came into vogue in 2019, illuminating the prevalence of the disease among young women. What was originally a joking meme has developed into a moving recognition that struggles with gut health are real, prevalent, and not something to be embarrassed about. As gut health becomes an important cornerstone of wellness culture, more women are speaking out, getting help, and initiating frank discussions about something previously considered shameful.

IBS is much more than an in-convenient digestive problem—it's a complex condition that affects physical well-being, emotional health, and overall quality of life. Particularly for women, disproportionately impacted, early recognition of the symptoms and personalized, holistic treatment can turn life with IBS from one of quiet agony to empowered control. As awareness increases and stigma decreases, the future promises well for millions living with this chronic but controllable condition.

“Heartbreaks happen to many people, it’s ok” or “You’ll move on, it’s a heartbreak, not the end of the world” and similar phrases as these are ones we have all heard. However, how much truth these sentences hold has been questioned. Many people experience mental health issues after experiencing heartbreak like depressive episodes and anxiety symptoms. However, did you know that heartbreaks can actually affect your heart?

The pain associated with heartbreaks is often thought of as psychological, but it can actually weaken the ability to pump blood effectively. This is a condition known as the broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

According to the Harvard Health Publishing, it is a sudden change in the shape of the heart's left ventricle, which is its primary pumping chamber. This is a concerning issue as it weakens the heart’s ability to effectively circulate blood throughout the body.

The British Heart Foundation explains that some people, like women over 50s are more susceptible to getting this issue. It could also be an issue if you have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

Symptoms Mimic A Heart Attack

Harvard explains that most cases of this syndrome occur in the age frames of 58 to 75. 5% of these women thought they were having a heart attack. The symptoms can indeed be very similar to those of a heart attack and may include:

• Sudden, intense chest pain
• A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations (irregular or forceful heartbeat)
• Feeling faint or lightheaded
• Nausea

Can Stress Cause This Issue?

While the precise cause of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains under investigation, medical experts believe that a sudden surge of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, triggered by intense emotional distress, plays a significant role. The syndrome often occurs following significant emotional events like bereavement, serious illness, or trauma, which is why it's commonly referred to as 'broken heart syndrome'. But that is not the only reason why you may experience this, other causes may include sudden drop in blood pressure, severe pain, asthma attack, intense fear, serious illnesses or surgery, etc.

When doctors are diagnosing this syndrome, they look for things like, no evidence of blockages in the angiogram, which helps them rule out heart attacks, they also use imaging techniques like echocardiogram, that will show abnormalities in the left ventricle.

Fortunately, it is temporary. The condition is typically managed with medications aimed at reducing the strain on the heart and minimizing the risk of complications. These medications can include:

• Diuretics (to reduce fluid buildup)
• Beta blockers (to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure)
• Blood thinners (to prevent blood clots)

Can You Prevent Broken Heart Syndrome?

While most people recover fully, approximately one in ten patients may experience a recurrence of broken heart syndrome. Additionally, some individuals may have persistent symptoms or lasting changes to the shape of their heart, potentially requiring long-term medication.

Once a person has fully recovered from broken heart syndrome, it is advisable to focus on managing stress levels, adopting a healthy diet, and maintaining regular physical activity to help prevent future episodes.