Habits & Addictions | Episode 03 | Addictions ⚠️ | Sheikh Wael Ibrahim

Summary

In this episode of 'Habits and Addiction,' the speaker addresses the misconception that addiction is limited to substances like cocaine or heroin. Instead, he highlights behavioral addictions, such as pornography and gaming, which have been shown to cause similar brain damage as hard drugs. Studies from Cambridge University and replicated in Indonesia reveal the negative impact on the prefrontal cortex, leading to memory and concentration issues. The speaker emphasizes the importance of attachment to the Quran and Prophet's teachings over harmful addictions, and discusses the serious consequences of such behaviors on relationships and mental health. He calls for awareness and strategies to combat these modern forms of addiction.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The term 'addiction' should be replaced with 'attachment' when referring to positive influences like the Quran, as addiction implies a negative behavior or substance.
• 🧠 Neuroscience indicates that the word 'addiction' has a distinct impact on the brain, suggesting the importance of language in shaping our understanding of behaviors.
• 🔬 Studies from Cambridge University and replicated in Indonesia show that addiction to behaviors like pornography can cause similar brain damage as drug addiction, specifically to the prefrontal cortex.
• 📉 This damage leads to issues such as lack of memory retention, focus, and concentration, which can severely impact one's academic and personal life.
• ❌ The World Health Organization has classified gaming as a brain disease, highlighting the serious implications of behavioral addictions.
• 🧘‍♂️ The primary objective of religion, as per the speaker, is to protect the mind and brain, which differentiate us from other creations.
• 🔞 The harmful effects of looking at prohibited content (Haram) are emphasized, as these images can become ingrained in the brain, leading to lasting negative effects.
• 💔 Behavioral addictions like gaming and pornography can destroy relationships and lead to issues such as porn-induced erectile dysfunction, affecting sexual relationships in marriage.
• 📉 The average age of individuals becoming addicted to pornography is alarmingly low, indicating a need for awareness and preventative measures.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The speaker calls for vigilance in protecting children from exposure to inappropriate content, as it can have lifelong consequences.
• 🌐 The internet and digital platforms make it increasingly difficult to shield children from harmful content, necessitating proactive measures to safeguard them.

Q & A

What is the speaker's perspective on using the term 'addiction' in relation to positive actions or substances?

The speaker suggests that the term 'addiction' should not be used for positive actions or substances like the Quran, as it implies a negative connotation. Instead, the word 'attachment' should be used for positive things that are beneficial.

How does the speaker describe the impact of using the word 'addiction' on our brains?

The speaker mentions that even the language we use, such as 'addiction', can have an impact on our brains, as stated by Believe It or Not Neuroscience. The word 'addiction' can evoke a different response compared to 'attachment'.

What is the main purpose of the religion according to the speaker?

The speaker explains that one of the main purposes of the religion is to protect our minds and brains, which differentiate us from other creations, and to prevent us from engaging in harmful behaviors that can damage them.

What did the Cambridge University study find about the brains of people addicted to pornography?

The Cambridge University study found that the brains of people addicted to hardcore pornography resemble those addicted to cocaine, with the same damage and shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex.

What was the replication of the Cambridge study conducted in Indonesia focused on?

The replication of the Cambridge study in Indonesia focused on 30 children aged eight to fifteen, and it found the same shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex leading to memory and concentration issues.

What is the World Health Organization's classification of gaming?

The World Health Organization has classified gaming as a brain disease, indicating that it can have serious impacts on mental health.

What is the connection between addiction to pornography and relationship problems?

The speaker explains that addiction to pornography can lead to 'porn-induced erectile dysfunction', which can cause sexual dysfunction in a marital relationship, leading to frustration, lack of confidence, and potentially infidelity and divorce.

How does the speaker describe the impact of behavioral addictions on children?

The speaker warns that children as young as seven or eight years old can become addicted to pornography, which can have lifelong consequences and impact future generations.

What is the average age of people who are addicted to pornography according to the speaker?

The speaker states that the average age of people addicted to pornography is as young as seven or eight years old.

What is the significance of the speaker's mention of Ramadan in the context of discipline and resisting temptation?

The speaker uses Ramadan as an example of how Islam trains believers to develop discipline and resist temptations, even those that are normally permissible (Halal), to strengthen their ability to resist harmful behaviors and addictions.

What is the speaker's advice for dealing with the issue of behavioral addictions?

The speaker advises being vigilant and raising awareness about the dangers of behavioral addictions. He also emphasizes the importance of seeking help and finding strategies to overcome these addictions, which he promises to discuss in future episodes.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Addiction vs. Attachment

The speaker emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between addiction and attachment, particularly in relation to religious texts like the Quran. Addiction is associated with negative behaviors or substances, whereas attachment is a positive connection to beneficial teachings. Neuroscience suggests that using the term 'addiction' can impact the brain differently. The speaker's aim is to guide listeners towards attachment to Allah's revelations and away from behaviors that could harm their spiritual and mental well-being. The discussion also touches on behavioral addictions and how they can be as damaging as substance abuse, citing studies from Cambridge University and Indonesia that show similar brain damage in individuals addicted to pornography and those addicted to drugs like cocaine.

05:00

🚫 The Consequences of Behavioral Addictions

This paragraph delves into the destructive impact of behavioral addictions such as gaming, social media, and pornography. The speaker discusses the damage to relationships and the psychological effects, including porn-induced erectile dysfunction, which can lead to a lack of sexual intimacy in marriages. The societal implications are highlighted with statistics showing the alarming prevalence of pornography, even among children. The speaker calls for awareness and preventative measures to protect the younger generation from these vices, referencing the work of Christian author Christiane Jensen who wrote books to help parents guide their children away from inappropriate images.

10:00

🛡️ Combating Temptations and Developing Discipline

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of discipline and self-control in resisting temptations, drawing parallels with the practice of fasting during Ramadan. The speaker encourages believers to develop habits that can help overcome addictive behaviors, using the example of the Prophet Muhammad's teachings on self-restraint. The goal is to meet Allah with a pure and sound heart, free from the negative influences of addictions. The speaker expresses hope for future discussions on strategies to overcome these behaviors, emphasizing the need for vigilance and the role of religious teachings in fostering a strong moral compass.

Keywords

💡Addiction

Addiction refers to a compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences. In the video's context, addiction is associated with negative behaviors or substances that can harm an individual. The speaker emphasizes that addiction, particularly to behaviors like pornography or gaming, can cause significant damage to the brain, similar to that caused by hard drugs. The script mentions studies that show brain shrinkage in areas like the prefrontal cortex in individuals addicted to pornography, illustrating the severity of behavioral addictions.

💡Attachment

Attachment in the video is presented as a positive form of connection, particularly to the teachings of Islam, such as the Quran and the Prophet's teachings. It contrasts with addiction, suggesting a healthy and beneficial form of engagement. The speaker encourages attachment to Allah's remembrance and the religion's teachings as a way to counteract negative addictions, positioning attachment as a protective and spiritual force.

💡Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system and brain functions. The video mentions neuroscience to support the idea that language and perception of addiction can impact the brain. The speaker notes that even the word 'addiction' can affect the brain differently, highlighting the power of language in shaping our understanding and experience of addiction.

💡Behavioral Addictions

Behavioral addictions are compulsive behaviors that have a negative impact on an individual's life, similar to substance addictions. The video discusses how activities like gaming and pornography can become addictive, leading to compulsive engagement despite negative consequences. The script cites studies from Cambridge University and an Indonesian replication, showing brain changes in individuals addicted to pornography, drawing parallels to the effects of cocaine addiction.

💡Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain involved in executive functions such as decision-making, self-control, and memory. In the video, it is mentioned that addiction to behaviors like pornography can lead to shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex. This brain change is associated with memory and focus issues, illustrating the physical impact of behavioral addictions on cognitive functions.

💡World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The video references WHO's classification of gaming as a brain disease, emphasizing the seriousness with which behavioral addictions are now being taken in the medical community. This classification reflects the growing recognition of the impact of behavioral addictions on mental health.

💡Pornography

Pornography is the depiction of explicit sexual content, often for the purpose of sexual arousal. In the video, it is discussed as a harmful addiction that can lead to significant brain changes and negative consequences, such as erectile dysfunction and relationship problems. The speaker warns of the early age at which individuals can become exposed to and addicted to pornography, highlighting the need for awareness and preventative measures.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy refers to close, personal, and often emotional connections between individuals, particularly in romantic relationships. The video discusses how behavioral addictions, especially to pornography, can negatively affect intimacy by causing sexual dysfunction and leading to relationship breakdowns. The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining Halal (permissible in Islam) relationships and the impact of addiction on these connections.

💡Haram

Haram is an Arabic term meaning 'forbidden' in Islam, referring to actions or things that are prohibited by Islamic law. The video uses the term to describe behaviors or substances that are not permissible and can lead to addiction. The speaker warns against the harmful effects of engaging with Haram activities, such as viewing pornography, and encourages adherence to Halal practices.

💡Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. The video mentions Ramadan as a period of discipline and training to resist temptations, including those related to food and drink, which become haram from dawn to sunset. The speaker uses Ramadan as an example of how Islam encourages the development of self-control to combat addictive behaviors.

Highlights

The term 'addiction' should be replaced with 'attachment' when referring to positive behaviors or substances like the Quran.

Neuroscience suggests that the word 'addiction' has a different impact on the brain compared to 'attachment'.

The goal is to foster attachment to Allah's revelations and teachings, steering clear of behaviors or substances detrimental to remembrance of Allah.

Behavioral addictions, such as to pornography or gaming, can cause brain damage similar to that of drug addictions.

A Cambridge University study found that brains of individuals addicted to pornography show the same damage as those addicted to cocaine.

An Indonesian study replicated Cambridge's findings, showing brain shrinkage in children as young as eight addicted to pornography.

Behavioral addictions can lead to memory issues, lack of focus, and concentration problems.

Gaming was classified as a brain disease by the World Health Organization.

The main objective of religion is to protect the mind and brain, which differentiate us from other creations.

Addiction to pornography can lead to irreversible mental images and flashbacks that are difficult to erase.

Behavioral addictions can destroy relationships and lead to issues such as porn-induced erectile dysfunction.

The average age of individuals addicted to pornography is decreasing, with some as young as 7 or 8 years old.

In 2019, a single pornographic website had 42 billion visits, indicating a widespread issue.

Christian author Christian Jenson wrote 'Good Pictures Bad Pictures' to help parents protect their children from inappropriate images.

The need for awareness and protective measures to prevent children from accessing harmful content is emphasized.

Discipline and moderation in consuming halal things are encouraged in Islam to prevent slipping into haram behaviors.

Ramadan is a period to train oneself to resist temptations and develop habits to fight against vices and addictions.

Future episodes will discuss strategies to overcome addictive behaviors and maintain a sound heart for meeting Allah.

Transcripts

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something very very important we need to

understand is that whenever we say I'm

addicted to something it means that it

is a negative action or negative

behavior or a negative substance we

can't say I'm addicted to the Quran why

is that so because the Quran is so

beneficial so the word the right word

that we should use whenever we say that

I'm addicted to the m or I'm addicted to

the Quran and so on is rather than

addiction is attachment Believe It or

Not Neuroscience is telling us that

whenever we use the word Addiction even

it has a different impact on our brain

even even just languaging it so may

Allah subhana T grant us the right

understanding what we wanted to do in

those episodes is to bring you to the

attachment of what Allah had revealed

the attachment to the words of Allah the

attachment of the m the attachment of

the Prophet s alam's teaching and take

you away from any addictive behavior or

substance that could ruin your

brain and take you farther away from the

remembrance of Allah

subhah once more my brothers and sisters

in Islam this is your brother IIM this

is episode three of habits and addiction

titled behavioral addictions now many of

times when I talk to people about

behavioral addictions they will ask the

following questions brother all what we

knew about addictions back then was that

it is associated with cocaine with

heroin with hard drugs How could an an a

behavior turn into addiction Believe It

or Not Cambridge

University have run a study back in the

days I think the Year 2005 or 2006

and they scann the brains of people who

confessed that they were addicted to

pornography hardcore pornography on the

internet and to their surprise they

found that actually the brains of those

who are addicted to pornog pornography

resemble those people who are addicted

to cocaine exactly the same damage in

the brain the shrinkage of the

prefrontal cortex can you imagine this

and this same study was replicated by an

Indonesian Ian lady that I met

personally and I actually traveled to

Indonesia to meet the medical team that

was looking after this study and they

replicated the same exact you know

formula of that study of Cambridge in

Indonesia on 30 kids now how did they

select those 30 kids it's a very long

boring process that whoever is

interested get in touch inshallah tal

and I will show you the entire study 15

CH children were addicted to pornography

when we say children here is the age of

eight all the way to 15 years old these

were the the age range and 15 were pure

alhamdulillah never had access to these

content and to their surprise they found

the same exact thing the shrinkage of

the prefrontal cortex leading to what

leading to memory lack of memory

retention can you imagine lack of focus

and concentration on the

studies and these these things are not

uh a theory anymore are not like ideas

anymore they are established studies and

not just Cambridge not just the

Indonesian team but now it's throughout

the arena of academic who have gone

through this study and and scanning the

brains of those who are addicted to

behaviors of that of that sort in fact

gaming was listed in the World Health

Organization as a brain bra

disease a brain disease can you imagine

Patrick ks in the 1980s one of the

elites of that subject of addiction

Behavior addiction he when they asked

him what is addiction he said it's a

brain disease it changes the entire

structure of your brain that which Allah

had given you pure the main purpose of

the religion the

main this is a subject that we studied

the objectives of sh why Allah sent down

the Quran why Allah subhana tala sent

prophets of

124,000 prophets and Messengers will

sent to mankind one of the objectives is

to protect your

mind to protect this brain the one thing

that makes us different than animals and

other creation and we ruin it by giving

our eyes that arrows the prophet said

that gaze is an arrow from the arrows of

Shan why is that so because when you

look at that which is Haram it is

captured in the brain for Life the

people that I'm counseling today who are

addicted to porography they always tell

me brother as soon as I say

Allah I see

porn may Allah protect them may Allah

protect us all the flashbacks cannot be

erased easily it takes days and months

and years sometimes to become well to

cope with those addictive behaviors so

don't take it lightly don't ever take it

lightly may Allah subhana tala grant us

the right

understanding so Behavior addictions

involves now compulsion not just you

know as simple as brushing your teeth

anymore this is something very

compulsive something that goes against

your will you don't want to do it and

you find yourself coming to it again and

again one of the things that we have

noticed as a result of Behavioral

addictions like uh being addicted to

gaming social media or worse of all

pornography is the destruction of

relationships we have so many wives in

particular who are complaining that

their husbands don't even attempt to

have any intimate relationship with them

anymore and when I start interviewing

the husbands I would find out that they

are addicted to pornography now what's

the connection when you give your eyes

and brain and hearts and Life to

something that is absolutely Haram

listen to this very carefully my

brothers and sisters in Islam Allah

takes the Halal away from you as a

result there is a condition known as

porn induced erectile dysfunction porn

induced erectile dysfunction people who

who are consumed by pornography for many

years they reach a point that the brain

conditioned them to attain this this

pleasure to attain sexual pleasure

through screens and pixels and pictures

and images and when they are with their

with the loved ones with their wives the

Halal ones they can't function

sexually and of course that lead to

frustration from both

sides lack of confidence lack of sexual

intimacy between Halal Partners which

leads to infidelity which leads to

divorce I could go on for forever my

brothers and sisters inam and this is

this is something that we we need to

take very very seriously I really admire

mu is M may Allah bless him who will

always push people who are talking about

this subject because he knew that unless

we fix those hidden

secretive activities that are committed

behind closed doors that not much people

talking about it unless we fix that how

can you create a generation that can

worship Allah subhana T properly how in

the world the average now the the the

the the average age of people who are

addicted to pornography is as young as 7

and 8 years

old 42 billion visits had occurred on a

single pornographic website in the year

2019

42 billion you do the mats we are 7

billion people on planet Earth look at

this we can't exclude Muslims right we

cannot exclude them so we need to really

find those platforms to raise awareness

otherwise your children my children may

fall prey to these Vice may Allah

subhana grant us the right understanding

even

non-muslims a person like Christian

Jenson for example who wrote a book

called good pictures bad pictures as

simple as that she is a

scholar of whatever field in

Christianity or whatever else but she

recognized the danger of pictures that

are inappropriate that can actually hook

their her children on something for life

that can destroy them for life that can

impact them for generations to come and

she wrote this book actually she wrote

two books under the same Title One to be

used for young kids and one for a little

bit senior children and in that

introduction in the introduction of her

book she said a Time Has Come where the

question whether my child will see

pornography or not doesn't exist anymore

because they will they will stumble

across these images whether you like it

or not unless we develop a

system that can protect our children

from accessing these images they will

find it whether it's on those social

media platforms or on Hardcore websites

or popup ads that are designed to

recognize kids using devices Subhan

Allah go and read the research they

recognize that the user of that device

is a kid they they will send those popup

ads that have or include hardcore

pornography and as a result they can

become addicted for life I have uh seen

someone in particular like one person in

particular who's been addicted to

pornography and other you know

undesirable sexual behaviors for 43

years I want you just to imagine there

are people I have a friend of mine who

passed away 42 at the age of 42 so it's

a lifetime of addiction ition a lifetime

of addiction and the reason why he he he

drowned into this until he divorced his

wife or his wife requested for a divorce

was that he didn't have the courage to

come out and say I have a problem and

the reason why I this is this my own

reading to the situation the reason why

he didn't have the courage to say so or

to come out and to reach out for help is

that unfortunately our M our our

Scholars are not giving that platform

are not are not calling people to

actually come and and or maybe they

themselves aren't aware of the harmful

impact of these

vices so let us be absolutely Vigilant

uh you know the prophet Muhammad

sallallahu alaihi wasallam told us that

the the strong believer is way better

and more beloved to Allah than the weak

one so we need we need to really uh

escalate the do of fighting those

Temptations even even when it comes to

the Hal look at look at how Islam is

beautiful Allah subhana is telling

us eat and

drink but do not go into excess so eat

that which is halal but don't go beyond

the limits don't keep just eating

because it's Halal and drink drink water

drink orange drink whatever Halal that

Allah had provided but don't go beyond

the

limits was walking one day and he saw

one of the companions carrying a piece

of meat on his shoulder he told him what

is this that you're carrying he

said I desired it I looked at it in the

shop and I I found it so nice and

delicious so I desired it he

said is it that every time you desire

something you go for it look at the the

level of discipline when it comes to the

Halal that's why we have Ramadan Ramadan

all of a sudden from dawn to Sunset

water becomes

Haram all of a sudden your your beloved

wife your beloved husband husband from

dawn to Sunset becomes Haram to touch

you know sexually all the food all the

drinks that Allah made Halal Allah said

from dawn to sunset during Ramadan it's

not allowed anymore why is that so to

discipline you because if you remained

firm 12 14 hours without water without

food which is halal how could you slip

in front of the Haram that easily

Ramadan was meant to train us to develop

those habits that can fight against you

know all these vices and all these

addictive behaviors may Allah protect us

all I hope and I pray that inshallah in

the next episode and the remaining ones

we will talk about strategies now to

help us overcome those addictive

behaviors inshallah so that we can meet

Allah subh that's the goal of these

episodes to meet Allah with pure and

sound

heart see you next

episode

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