What is the single most important thing that helped you quit PMO?

I would have to say number one was at the beginning:

——-Changing My Mindset From Constantly Negative To Positive——

I was always beating myself up. Looking at myself as a loser. Constantly going on and on with the negative self-talk. Pessimistic. Saw no hope of getting better. I’d even say to others that I was worthless and wanted to kill myself someday.

January 2018-June 2018 went to a therapist who helped me get my head on straight. I no longer see myself as a loser and I feel optimistic about the future.

 

The hope it will fix my life.

Until now it didn't.

 

For me there are 2 things, can't say which one is more important...

The first one is willingness to change. I feel like I reached the point in my life when I needed a major changes. I can't live the same life I used to live in the past. Abstaining from PMO is the main thing that needs to be done for building new, more happy, future.

The second is a fear of depression. I went through severe depression episodes 3 years ago and one more time again this winter/spring. After reading some articles and this forum I realized that it's still not clear how our brain is affected of prolonged dopamine overstimulation and I believe my porn addiction and involvement in porn business were probably the main reasons why my nervous system just collapsed 3 years ago. I don't know how physically and mentally I will react if I'll relapse, I fear that it can bring me back to severe depression again, so I don't want to risk. For me having no sexual life is better than live with severe depression.

I would say in the first year of abstaining from PMO my main reason to quit was fear, now it's more the willingness to change my life. After 16 months of abstination I already see some positive changes and want to continue.

 

I relate to you bro. And Congrats on your mindset change and streak.
I am also on my way to overcoming my mental past traumas and negativity and becoming more positive and myself again. NoFap is my biggest catalyst for success.

 

For me the thing that helps a lot in everyday routine is going to bed early(8pm) ,and waking up early(4am).For me the most risky times are the moments before falling asleep ,so becouse of that i want to make sure i will fall asleep quickly .
For that to happend you need to dont take a naps during the day ,and do something phisical -gym or work for at least 1-2 hours.

 

For me, it was mainly two things:
Many hardships that I went through these past couple of years made more mentally resilient and able to take this challenge head-on.
The other thing was the dawning realization that if I don't stop, my brain will always be wired to objectify women and I won't be able to get married. And even if I do, that relationship would be fractured.

 

Good point, staying up late and bored raises chances of relapse so much. majority of my relapses are like that.
I am going to learn and adapt to this new healthy routine!

 

For me, the answer to this is simple: The heureka moment when I watched The Great Porn Experiment video on Youtube was such an eye-opener, that I finally understood what has been wrong in my life for all my late teen and adult years.

I wish I could've listened to our biology teacher who said that men don't need to M in order to stay healthy, and that I wouldn't have picked up on the constant pornification filters for my mind, which objectified every female I have encountered in the last 20+ years.

 

Wanting to change through acknowledging my suffering, then having a strict routine that is tough but provides enough obvious and enjoyable benefits and side effects to keep me going.

For me this is meditation, cold showers, gym, and therapy.

I am older in years than most here. Time and wisdom teaches you that everything is impermanent (pleasure never lasts) and also that every action has a consequence (meaning our unexamined vices always come back to harm us).

 

Great. I already woken up today at 4:30 ..planning same tomorrow. I think my day was full of some work which I wouldn't do otherwise If I woken up later. Today going to sleep early again.

 

never ever imagine about sex or something

btw: almost 30 D

 

Damn that must have been one cool biology teacher. Nowadays biology teachers will encourage us to Masturbate cuz ''it reduces chances of prostate cancer'' - as if getting prostate cancer was likely before... lmao

 

I wouldn't say that I have really quit pmo. It's a struggle. I'm on this no pmo journey since 2-3 years with some setbacks. The most important thing which keeps me away from pmo always differs. Sometimes it's sports, sometimes it's drinking 1-2 beer. Key thing is to stay busy with something else than pmo, whatever suits best to your life situation

 

When I spent time doing research and understanding why physiologically I was addicted I had the knowledge to quit. I understood what was happening as the days of abstinence passed and why my body reacted when I relapsed. A few times processing relapses helped me see how awful it was for my mental state and overall health. Seeing the changes also proved to me that the benefits will happen if I stick with it. The reward of quitting is so much greater than the fleeting chemical rush (which will never be enough, BTW).

Also, as another post above stated- I know that I will NEVER be happily married or reach my full potential if I do not quit.

 

The memory of anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), avolition (lack of motivation), and the threat of them returning if I relapse.

 

Constant weakness.

 

ED is my answer I am just starting. However, what are the benefits of stopping PMO?

 

Coming here and journaling.

 

Ditto.