Stopped watching porn but still have fantasies.

In my experience, fantasies tend to slowly go away. Not 100% of them, I still have fantasies from time to time but way less than when I started. Even if I relapse (and sadly it happens) fantasies seem to be less strong. Give yourself some time and you'll see.
When I have a fantasy that I can't let go I'll go outside for a walk or play with my dog, keep yourself busy in those moment is the key imo.

Good luck!

 

That's a normal part of rebooting. It will pass. The fantasizing will become less frequent and less intense as time goes on.

I think both? Acknowledging the fantasy is a really healthy and important practice. When I find myself fantasizing, here's how I respond: I acknowledge that I'm fantasizing. I put a label on it, calling it an urge, or a fantasy, or whatever. Doing this helps me separate the fantasy from myself, which is to say that it helps me separate the fantasy from reality. Then, I just focus on doing something active. I'll write something, post on this forum, work on a personal project, exercise, clean my living space, practice a musical instrument, meditate, or anything productive. That usually helps.

The more you separate the fantasy from yourself, the more you will realize that it is not who you are. It is something that you are experiencing. Stay focused and stay active, and eventually the fantasies won't be hard to deal with at all.

 

Sap yourself when you start fantasizing. Just focus intensely to stop the flow. It doesn't exist for you. Focus rather on imagining real woman by your side.

 

Good advice so far. I tend to say in the beginning changing what you think about is a good exercise, it starts to build new pathways in your brain. This will help strengthen it so in real tough times you’ll be stronger.

But yess, overtime they do get more normal, they shouldnt go away completely cuz after all we’re human and have sexuality. It becomes more healthy.

For now try to carve your brain to change thoughts and cut off the fantasies. Then in about 3 months into sobriety you might start to test these fantasies and see what it’s like. I found that when I don’t force them away m, now, they’re way more vanilla than ever! Like I’ll see a hot girl and I’ll think about her personality and talking-dating her lol waaayyyy different than my old fantasies... but if I entertained the fantasies on day 1 of sobriety, it would have been all bad... so best to steer clear the best you can for a while.

Also remember that they’re natural so don’t feel ashamed or discouraged if you do get them or if it’s hard to change the thoughts. It takes practice.

 

It helped and still helps me a lot, when i really have strong urges, to make a mantra of all the reasons why I don’t want to do it. And, as a craving for drugs, alcohol or a porn related thought or image comes up to my mind I count from 1 to 6 and backward and visualizing the numbers. I just count and visualize as long as I need to get rid of the porn images or thoughts. This does two things.. Namely, it get's your mind of the urge when you do it consistently and... it helps your brain make need pathways not related to substance abuse (rewiring). I really noticed that after 3 weeks of consistently doing this, the cravings began to weaken... And afterward, when the cravings are gone, i do full the mantra 6 times.. And if that not helps, and i'm at home, i jump under the ice cold shower. It's such a shock to the body and mind that in 90 percent of the time i cant even think about it haha.. And if even that dont help me, i will go run as long as i need. Last time i needed to run i kept on going for 25 kilometer hahaha.

So the other things i do to deal with the urges are..

• Intermittent fasting. I only allow myself to eat from 05:00 to 07:00 in the evening. It makes my willpower grow, i dont have a lot of food cravings anymore. I also fast 4 days a month only on water. So i dont eat, but only drink water for 4 days. It helps me A LOT to have a clear mind and it's fucking good for upregulating the dopamine receptors. I've noticed that in the beginning it's quit hard.. But you have a choice. I have gained so much more willpower and discipline by doing intermittent fasting and the water fasting ritual. Ow, and fasting helps to restore dopamine receptors!!
  Just read this...
  https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-benefits-of-fasting-on-the-reboot.64894/ https://vitals.lifehacker.com/how-to-free-yourself-from-food-cravings-with-intermitte-1702108722
• i meditate a lot. It helps me SO SO SO SO fucking much in controlling my mind.
  Read this
  https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-meditate-for-mindblowing-state.28105/
  
  https://www.reddit.com/r/NoFap/comments/5udawq/meditation_is_extremely_important_to_succeed_with/
  
  It's also FUCKING good for getting new dopamine receptors...
  
  
• I only take ice cold showers..
  It helps me a lot with increasing my willpower. We, addicts, have the habit of always choose the most comfortable path.. So if you're able to really go uncomfortable, it makes your will power go though the roof. and it's pretty good for your body..
• And if you really want to stop hop under the cold shower if you almost giving up!!!!!
• 
  https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.php?threads/cold-showers-are-the-bomb.33956/
  
  https://gettingstronger.org/2010/05/opponent-process-theory/

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