I raised this in my accountability-group but I felt it so important an issue that I would like to raise it here in the forum as well. My question to you is, what's your most common triggers? It would be great to create a 'knowledge bank' with regards to this. You all have important experiences that others can learn from. So I share with you mine first. My most common triggers: Hot girls on the street (looking at boobs and asses), news articles (this sucks!!), lightly dressed woman on FB or other social media, stress, being alone, alienation/feeling outside of society, depressive thoughts, neglecting feelings (and not letting them go after feeling them). Looking forward to hearing about your triggers. Best, RIE.
Mine are feeling bored, feeling rejected, feeling unloved, feeling unworthy, feeling 'no one can see me, no one can know what I am doing'.
My common triggers are females are wearing high heeled shoes/boots, female bare soles of feet, nylons/stockings, fishnets, wide hips, big behinds if women wears jeans, etc. Those stuff like that are unavoidable especially me working at the grocery store helping consumers and bagging groceries or anywhere at public. Not to mention, they're ubiquitous meaning everywhere. The mind doesn't know the difference between pictures and real life. I would get multiple painful erections and they cause me to lose energy and weak. I'm doing my best not to fantasize because that stuff could cause me to have wet dreams at night.
Thanks to everyone posted so far for your contributions to the knowledge bank on common triggers. I recognize many of them myself. Looking forward to hearing from more contributors!
- from seeing lightly clothed girls on youtube - from thinking about some sexual fantasy - from getting a random erection - from boredom - from being angry - from feeling the need to see the new videos on my favorite porn sites
I greatly appreciate the contributions. I plan to make a 'mind map' of all the common triggers, and then post the link to the mindmap here. I hope everyone is OK with that. Please, do come with more suggestions: The more triggers we bring into awareness, the more we know what to watch out for!
Funny shit right there. Why news articles?. I haven't masturbated by arousal in a long time. I think the main reason was always sexual frustration and depression. Also funny thing. It works exactly like if I were a heroin addict or something...
I think it's partly because it feeds the 'instant gratification' mindset which is concomitant with, and is exacerbated by, high-speed internet, keeping multiple tabs open, etc. And partly I think it's because many news articles show pictures of lightly-dressed woman, thus acting as triggers. As I see it, the instant gratification mindset and the addictive mind are perfect 'partners in crime'.
I don't think our brains are wired for high-speed internet AT ALL. And I think "smart" phones actually makes us dumber... Honestly, I think all these are triggers. Any thoughts ?
#1 cause of my relapses has been from being frustrated at a hard problem I have to solve, mostly study related. #2 cause has been from not feeling like I have a purpose, and consequently being overwhelmed by nihilistic thoughts. When nothing matters, that includes nofap.
PeterGrip! Long time no see. You passed 90 days now! That's marvellous I totally agree. Hard problems going nowhere and the frustration that accompany them, is a huge trigger for me also. Also, I resonate with the feeling of having no purpose, and I know it can be a trigger. When it's no point, why care? Right?