Effects of avoiding PMO

I use "avoiding" as that's how it has seemed over the past few weeks.

I haven't even been counting the days (of course once I post this and see my counter I'll have a better idea of how long it's been).

What has happened is that I'm feeling emotions a lot more. Every so often I'll binge on video games, etc. I find myself edging as a means to procrastinating on productive projects, chores, errands, et al, but what I'm really procrastinating on is feeling.

I have a girlfriend that I'm not all that physically attracted to, however, she's the most sane and smartest woman I know. So it's difficult seeing/meeting a physically attractive woman and wondering more about her.

That said, as cliché as it is, "I just keep doing the next right thing." It's a struggle, sometimes it takes me into the afternoon to do my morning routine (yoga, breakfast, blah, blah, blah...) but I'm happy that I haven't turned to my old staple of running from emotion and responsibility through PMO use.

As Dory from Finding Nemo says, "Just keep swimming...just keep swimming."

With depression, that's difficult enough. Indeed Dory. Just keep swimming.

 

Yay! 22 days! That's my second longest streak!

Just keep swimming...

 

Thanks for the video! I've already preexisting double depression (dysthymia along with acute situational depression) so PMO has always been a way of "self medicating."

Historically I'm not good with discomfort or pain. Lately I've been suffering from my usual seasonal allergies which includes painful headaches so the task of staying away from PMO is a little more challenging.

I just come here, look at my counter, and think, "Well, I've made it this far, and it's only a matter of time before I up my game to include cold showers, regular work outs, and doing stuff I enjoy that benefits me in the long run (in contrast to doing something like PMO that, while enjoyable, has little to no benefit in the long run).

What really stood out for me in that video was that it's important increasing dopamine should be done naturally.
I've always done "to do" lists and, as a "creative," I know very well the zone of flow. My challenge has always been doing things I enjoy (creative pursuits, etc.) as I tend to do what society/others expect of me first then run out of time to do the things I want to do. I prioritize things that I need or supposed to do.

And "monkey mind" is definitely a problem. Anyway, congrats on your 78 days!