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Symptoms people feel when their brains are healing.

Discussion in 'Rebooting - Porn Addiction Recovery' started by donewithporn1002, Nov 18, 2019.

  1. donewithporn1002

    donewithporn1002 Fapstronaut

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    Hi guys,

    I know this is similar to listing withdrawal symptoms, but I was thinking maybe it was a good idea for people to list all the symptoms they experience when our brains are healing. The purpose behind it is to educate those on Nofap as to what it feels like/what to expect when their brains are healing.
     
    havinghope likes this.
  2. I have no idea.
     
    havinghope likes this.
  3. Homelander

    Homelander Fapstronaut

    Well, the problem is that healing goes very slow and certainly not in a straight line.
    There will be weeks that you are thinking it's a walk in the park and then suddenly you find
    yourself almost relapsing for no clear reason.
    However, there are several signs that you are on the road to recovery and those are for me:

    1. more energy
    2. more focus
    3. very social
    4. unafraid of things
    5. strong drive to hunt for women
    6. heavy balls and then blue balls
    7.better morning wood
    8. no more urge to look at porn
    9. porn memories start to fade away
    10. no more urge for weird fetishes

    The following I haven't yet experienced myself, but am hoping for to happen to me:
    11. no more PIED
    12. good erection with just vanilla sex with a real woman
    13. no more fear of PIED and relapsing
     
  4. Angus McGyver

    Angus McGyver Fapstronaut

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    One thing that I experienced during my first six months of abstinence and slightly during the following year was that my subconscious min (and ego) fought for its life in order to push me back to the comfortable and familiar status quo. It can be best described as a mental and spiritual tug of war where your old demons will try to sneak back and regain control at first best opportunity.
    This normally happens during times where you have been slacking a little with your good habits and feel a little blue and uneasy.
    Be aware of those moments, because for many, they are the triggering mechanism that initiates a relapse.
     
  5. Fenix Rising

    Fenix Rising Fapstronaut

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    Long term compulsive binge masturbators suffer from brain's D2 receptors downregulation symptom common to most if not all long term substance abuses, so what you can expect when you start abstaining from masturbation is dopamine deficiency and cortisol (stress hormone) /adrenaline rise resulting in commonly reported side effects like:
    Cold like symptoms, migraines, muscle twitching, insomnia, anxiety, depression, mood swings (swinging between euphoria and depression), chronic fatigue often followed by anhedonia. Many of us also reported frequent urination problems, flatlining, PIED. I can relate to all of these withdrawal symptoms. From my own experience most of them go away within 5-6 months of complete abstinence, but anxiety, depression and anhedonia (loss of interest and pleasure in everything) can take much longer and need proactive steps from Fapstronaut to overcome as it usually means changing the way you think and live your life. The reward for enduring all this suffering are not superpowers, but becoming normal again. Accepting your past, being able to face your fears you tried to numb for so many years and feel emotions again.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
  6. Username321

    Username321 Fapstronaut

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    Hey Fenix! Just wondering how old you are? I'm 54 and have been in flatline for almost 60 days of my 64 day journey. I got morning wood a few times, but it's been a few weeks and no movement, deadwood would be a good description. ;) I never been the kind of guy to check out women publically. But now I find myself, glancing at women's asses and legs etc a little bit. I'm wondering if I am delaying my recovery in doing so? Or is it a sign that things are getting back to normal?

    It's beginning to feel like 90 days may not be enough time for me. It sounds like it wasn't for you. I definitely feel much better but my libido is next to nil. I really want to date this woman, but I am hesitant because I have no confidence I can perform. Just wondering if you have any advice for me? Thanks!
     
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  7. Fenix Rising

    Fenix Rising Fapstronaut

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    Hey, I'm 38, soon to be 39. To your question, I'd say there isn't one recovery time line, because everyone of us has a different PMO abuse history (I had problems with almost daily (P)MO binges for 25 years). I browsed back through my daily journal (I kept accurate records for the first 6 months of current streak) this is what I found out (I stopped monitoring it after day 189):

    day:
    0-13 -> mostly flatline (3 weak morning woods)
    14-44 -> flatline (1 morning wood)
    45-84 -> occasional urges (13 days of morning woods)
    85-120 -> occasional urges (14 morning woods)
    121-150 -> flatline (1 morning woods)
    150 - 189 -> occasional urges (17 morning woods)
     
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  8. Username321

    Username321 Fapstronaut

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    Thank you Fenix rising! I'll probably pm you at some point. Lots of questions!

    Sorry donewithporn1002 didn't mean to hijack your thread. Let me contribute something here that's on topic.

    About 6 years I had a 3 year period of no pmo, it happened organically and was part of a spiritual awakening I had. Until now, I didn't realize how much no pmo played a part in my awakening.

    In short, I became a sensitive and more empathetic human overall. I think you can tell your brain is healing by thoughts that feel more positive. Eye contact is a big thing too. it connects us.

    Also the ego starts to quiet and you don't "mind" as much. That is to say all the little hissy fits go away and you just don't trip out as much on little bs things. I personally feel that pmo brings me into a dull, reckless, obsessive-compulsive state with almost everything I encounter. So when I forgo pmo, those layers of crap start to fall. For instance, I am a habitual pot smoker. I pretty much quit during that 3 year period. I didn't try to quit. I just put it down, didn't feel the need anymore. So overall "monkey mind" calms down. In other words, the mind starts to quiet down and you become more present.

    No doubt I'm, becoming more present now. I "notice" more things. I feel that's a big part of my mind starting to slow down and not be so revved up and racing all the time.

    I would be the first to say that my mood swings pretty wildly now. But I get glimpses of clarity and calmness. This is how I know I am on the right track. I hope that makes sense and helps. Peace.

    EDIT: For me, pmo was like a big disconnect. Disconnect from friends, family and most of all from my true self.

    This time around I am noticing how I connect with others more readily. Again, things like eye contact are somewhat amazing to me! I practice with clerks. These folks see hundreds of people during the week. When I pmo'ed, sure I was polite, "please" and "thank you" were used. But with no eye contact, they are sort of meaningless.


    You get what you give...

    So now I practice eye contact with clerks and it's so amazing! When I look them in the eyes the energy usually comes back stronger right away! All done in an instant. But I most certainly can feel it.


     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
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  9. Angus McGyver

    Angus McGyver Fapstronaut

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    Flatlines are usually occurring because of your current physical and mental, spiritual state. In other words, if your physical status and habits are average or below at the moment (like it is for most guys) you are more likely to experience a flatline since stopping PMO alone won't do wonders on its own, although it will push you forward. If the only thing you do is stopping PMO while your other mediocre habits remain, the difference won't huge.
    In order to reap the massive NoFap benefits, you need to change a range of habits if you want to become a warrior in the future. The most important (and significant) ones you should change for the better are things such as:
    -Exercising regularly and not only once in a while.
    -Start walking/cycling to work if possible.
    -Stop smoking/drinking and relocate that tobacco/booze-expense to buy things that make you more productive and start growing as a man instead (such as books, dumbbells, training-tools, better food, etc).
    -Start reading more books (if you're not used to read, start with audiobooks and then shoot for at least one book per month. Instead of listening to music, listen to audiobooks instead).
    -Start meditating daily and keep a gratitude journal for the things you currently have in your life.
    Etc, etc.

    I have personally never experienced much of a flatline actually since I was in quite good physical shape (and had many good habits in place) when starting my NoFap-journey. Only during a week or two when I slacked with my current habits, did I experience it but was fast back on track again when I switched them back to normal.
     
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  10. Username321

    Username321 Fapstronaut

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    Thank you McGyver! Most grateful for your comment and guidance.

    Indeed, body, mind and spirit! Body and mind are in bad shape, spirit is no doubt, awakening though, albeit slowly.

    When I was a youngin' I was an international level athlete. Now I have a desk gig and am very sedentary, need to get moving. I'm way overweight and just started eating vegan, mostly because of my heart. I want to start skipping rope. But I am so unmotivated/depressed I can hardly muster the energy to get off my butt. My only form of exercising is walking in nature. It's almost more of a spiritual activity as I practice quieting my mind by observing nature.

    I feel my mind is starting to turn the corner. The prison I created with PMO is starting to dissolve. Rearranging my place, tidying up etc. Getting my house in order literally and figuratively. Deleted all dating apps, it's like softcore porn with certain profiles.

    I am of the mindset that PMO is a symptom of my life simply being out of order.

    What overall attitude do you recommend taking? Thank you so much!
     
  11. Not sure if this is a sign of healing most people experience, but for whatever reason I now have the weirdest dreams now. Just this week I had some crazy dream about avatar the last airbender, and I haven't even thought of that show in ages.
     

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