Hi Guys! Im 23 yo, and 375 days no PM (sometimes have sex but long distance relationship, so not very often). I definetly have these PAWS symptoms as well, especially loneliness, no motivation, tiredness, brainfog, depression, anxiety. Generally I feel like im in flatline, so dont feel so good, but I have good times sometimes, and then low mood again... I can see the progress, I can perform nice in bed, and I can abstain PM(O) quiet easily now. But I think I will take more time to heal, becouse Im not very stable, and I think it can be 1 year more (so 2 years all). You guys wrote nice stories, which are motivate me and others, so thanks! And yeah, I can read on lots of forums, that oh, if you dont feel good after 1 year, you should visit a doctor, etc... Everybody realise: we need sooo much time to heal, up to 2 years, these PAWS effects need time to disappier and then we can live a happy life. Until that, we need to fight, encourage others, and dont lose hope, must not give up!
Hi there! You're story is also motivational, my friend! 375 days! Awesome! I'm glad you're here, inspiring us. I agree: we're in this together, to fight it together, encourage each other, boost each others' hope, and help each other to never give up! I wish you all the best in your continued healing! Again, 375 days... you are a champion!
I consider myself to have PAWS symptoms, very similar story to yours. Will post more about it eventually, but just to say the 3 wet dreams a week and bad anxiety and tension for no reason. Never had wet dreams like that before, ever
Maybe yes!!! Mate...I think when we are in paws state so we dont feel any libido.I think thts the case....
Man this PAWS stuff scares the absolute shit out of me. I'm coming from an 82 streak relapsed 2 time and got back on my feet the next day So far all my symptoms have been common flat lines ones and been doing pretty good so far. Like my ocd has been better then has been in years This paws stuff sounds different? With people who have it are you able to get used it and does effect your job? I just a got a job in my field and I have to be pretty social and I really don't want to mess it up. Thanks
I don't want to scare you, but PAWS is hell. I hope you don't experiencing this to the fullest. B6-supplement during this time may be helpful for you
In my experience functioning with PAWs has been a nightmare especially in the early stages. I couldn’t really handle stress, pressure or couldn’t make decisions.
Yep, This is the longest I've made it and I am still not too the end. I've been tapering off PMO for a year and completely off for 3 months. I still get shakes in the morning. Things are coming down day by day, but it is a slow process. I will never question how hard it is for an opium addict to quit again. My irritability is in check and most of the anxiety is gone. I'm starting to have days where I feel "enlightened" like I'm actually lighter in my body. I know at this point one fap will send me into a spiral so I'm abstaining.
Thank man I'll look into B6 supplements. I started working in a high stress environment as IT and I'm trying so hard not to mess up and I hope to GOD this doesn't hit me so hard
https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.p...ecovery-long-post-but-tl-dr-at-bottom.135163/ Read this thread, very useful Good luck on your journey
The anxiety is hell. Social anxiety and panic was new for me. When you quit porn after a decade or so you come to realize what addiction really is. If you do some research, you'll find that the amygdala (part of the brain that controls stress) is actually packed with dopamine receptors, or, should be. I never even knew dopamine was a precursor to adrenalin.
When have you guys started experienceing PAWS? I've been on Nofap for a while. I know for sure if I combine all my streaks I have at least 200+ days sober now but my longest streak has been 82 days. Im hoping to beat it now. Also does everyone get PAWS? I was pretty bad before, I used to fap alot because I couldn't deal with my OCD. (Been going to a therapist for that) I wouldn't surprise me at all if I get it
@bken yea I've never experienced depression, anxiety, tension and fatigue like this until I quit PMO, I am a bad case i think, edging for hours everyday without suppressing the dopamine with release, did that for many years too, and played intense games a lot.... the way the recovery feels right now I'll probably be relatively normal again just over the 1 year mark, if all goes well
@Wario32 ahh don't worry about it, but i guess my paws started from day 60 and is lifting a bit on day 160
Good luck man. We'll get there. I know how hard it is. From my experiences the only advice I'd give someone with PAWS is to never ever relapse until you're out of the woods and even then because it can get pretty ugly when you do. Not everyone gets PAWS I think, but edging for several years and getting into some weird fetishes probably are risk factors.