Hey guys/gals, I've been masturbating and looking at porn since my freshman year of high school (I just finished my freshman year of college about a month ago), and in the past year I've felt more lonely and depressed than normal. I did get a diagnosis of depression from a psychiatrist and the meds and therapy have certainly been helping. It only occurred to me about a week ago that my frequent use of porn and masturbation could have something to do with my almost complete lack of self-confidence, because although I've asked out several girls in the past, I've never actually had the chance to go on a date, much less form an actual relationship or have sex with anyone. In the time since I started my streak (pretty much exactly a week ago), I have been feeling a bit better about myself, and I'm getting more enjoyment out of hanging out with friends, exercising (when I can actually get off my ass and do it), and just living my life. I was thinking about giving Tinder or some similar app another shot, just to see if I could find any improvement in my confidence, but I think that the best way to potentially meet someone would be in "real life", and I would be better off trying to interact with women in person. I still do feel lonely at times (and sometimes really horny tbh), but I am confident that my mental health will continue to improve the longer I remove myself from the artificial pleasure of porn. Sorry about the wall of text Quick edit: I think that (assuming I'm not in any sexual relationship by then) there may come a day when I feel like I can return to occasional masturbation without porn, but for now I feel that I've become overly dependent on it.
Good luck, it's a painful process but it is possible. Just a note- I try to tell this to as many people as I can here, but if you can cut sodas/energy drinks from your diet completely. Those things mess with your libido so badly.
Thanks for the tip. I did remove soda from my diet a couple months ago and thankfully the stories my mom told me in middle school about energy drinks fucking with people's hearts kept me away from those.
Welcome to the community this will help you on your journey https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.php?threads/if-youre-struggling.232140/