07/09/2026
Why does it sometimes take rock bottom for someone to finally change?
Dr. Hinman calls part of this pattern “situational amnesia.” Someone may genuinely want to stop a problematic s*xual behavior—but when the opportunity appears, the brain locks onto the immediate reward and conveniently misplaces the list of consequences.
The loss of their partner. Their family. Their job. Their friendships. Their community.
That doesn’t excuse the behavior or erase the harm it causes. It helps explain why promises and consequences alone may not create lasting recovery.
If p**n or another s*xual behavior has become a fast way to escape discomfort, avoid emotions, or self-soothe, then removing the behavior leaves the original emotions right where they were. Recovery has to address the job the behavior was doing—not only the behavior itself.
Have you seen “situational amnesia” play out in real life? What do you think finally turns wanting to change into actually changing?
Watch the full conversation with Jose Gonzalez and Dr. Hinman on our YouTube channel.
*xualHealth