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FLATLINE!! Let's talk about our experiences

Discussion in 'Rebooting - Porn Addiction Recovery' started by mc_9393, Jun 15, 2015.

  1. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    So I'm currently 84 days into nofap, and I've recently realized that I've been in flatline since the beginning of this whole journey. This realization came to me after I noticed that I haven't felt any 'superpowers' after over two months of giving up PMO.

    I'll explain my PMO history briefly:

    My mom was a babysitter when I was very young, so I had other kids to interact with in my house as a young child. I had my first sexual experience at age 5, when I discovered what orgasm felt like with a girl who was my age. I started masturbating at age 9, and I did it about 3-4 times a week as a kid. As I got into my teens, I did it a about 1-2 times a day, and I also started watching porn at that time.

    When I started university, I watched porn almost everyday and PMO'd about every day, sometimes twice or 3 times. I PMO'd out of boredom, when I was depressed, or when I was lonely. I did it habitually before sleeping, sometimes in the morning. It was also something I did to procrastinate, or to avoid thinking about problems in my life. It was basically an addiction that I used as an escape from the discomforts and realities of life, even though I didn't know it at the time.

    I've always had low energy and motivation, throughout high school and university. Although I did well in my studies, I've always felt like I wasn't living at my fullest potential. I was socially awkward, I had low-self esteem and confidence, and I've always found it hard to make friends. I also suffered from mild depression and anxiety issues. The weird thing is that I thought all of this was normal, that this is how I'm naturally supposed to be. Obviously it's not true, and I was getting tired of living my life like that. One day I stumbled upon nofap, and thus I began my journey.

    So fast-forward 84 days, and here I am, still on my first attempt of nofap. Since day 1, the urges have not been very strong at all, so it's been easy for me to avoid PMO. But I haven't felt any "superpowers" yet. In fact, I feel about the same as I did before I gave up PMO. The only difference is that I'm thinking about sex and fantasizing less. I feel like my sex drive is completely gone right now, and I rarely wake up with morning wood. When I have an erection, it's not much stronger than the erections I've had before nofap, although the sensitivity has increased. I have not experienced genital shrinkage though. These symptoms tell me that I'm in flatline, what do you guys think?

    So can you guys share your experiences with flatline? I know this topic is less openly talked about than things such as "superpowers", but I think it is something we should all discuss. It can give others comfort to know that they're not the only ones who haven't been feeling any "superpowers".
     
    frogg05 likes this.
  2. PftB

    PftB Fapstronaut

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    I'll share

    I don't really count the days, I guess it's been like two weeks and I feel almost no sex drive at all (though I do have some weak erections from time to time). It's not that I'm depressed or anything, but it feels like my libido is gone and I just wonder when will it go back.

    The cool thing though that it is really easier for me to interact with girls, because I feel no pressure at all. none. zero.

    So, what can I do meanwhile? Just wait? :b
     
  3. Musta

    Musta Fapstronaut

    I take my hat off to you. 84 days in the first attempt is something really admirable !
    30 days in, some depression, not much of superpowers , almost the exact same situation as yours. My libido is partly gone but I have many morning woods and almost daily erections. Can't really decide whether I'm flat lining or not. it is mysterious indeed ...
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2015
  4. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    I've been taking cold showers for about 12 days now, and I've realized that it's been helping me deal with this flatline (mostly the depression and lack of energy, but the motivation to be productive at work is still not there). I'm wondering: is there anything that you guys have done to help you get out of flatline?
     
  5. curt

    curt Fapstronaut

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    Just like some of the rest of you I have not been counting the days, but I looked at the calendar and this is day 81. I think most of the time I have been in flatline and frankly I felt like that was a gift.

    I've been trying to deal with what I think is sex addiction for many years and the only thing I've never been willing to do was a period of abstinence. I've been married a long time and I wasn't sure how to address that with my wfe.
    She has been very understanding and supportive.

    I normally sleep in boxer shorts and perhaps a T-shirt depending upon the weather. Occasionally I sleep in the nude and did so last night. I had repeated dreams that I was having a wet dream, but did not. I woke up with Morningwood and feeling very aroused.

    When I went to the bathroom my penis was extremely sensitive and it really felt like I've been edging all night. After some morning meditation all that passed and I felt fine.

    I've had two other similar situations except in both of those I woke up feeling like I was just seconds from ejaculation/orgasm. I really think if I had touched myself it would've been all over. I did not and so I have not had any sort of ejaculation in these 81 days. I really haven't done anything but wash myself and go to the bathroom. Just to be clear my wife and I have abstained from any kind of sexual contact at all.

    My goal is to go sometime longer and let the reboot really take effect. Obviously I don't look at porn either.
     
    Surrender likes this.
  6. curt

    curt Fapstronaut

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    Not sure where you are spiritually, but I pray and meditate
     
  7. Surrender

    Surrender Fapstronaut

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    My last run I got into what I thought was a flatline at day 20-ish. Lasted til day 58 when I decided to "test" if it still worked. Stupid, stupid mistake.
    Embrace the flatline guys, it means youre doing progress.
    Your focus shouldnt be to get out of the flatline, but rather to just accept things as they are right now.
     
    Musta and mc_9393 like this.
  8. JegErFransk

    JegErFransk Fapstronaut

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    The flatline is a dangerous gift. I flatlined for 70 days when I first started NoFap: from day 10+ to day 80+... Even though you know it is supposed to be normal, you can't stop thinking about it after 50 days without any activity under your belt (not even a morning wood in my case). Do not give up to the temptation of 'checking' if it's still working! Yes it is!

    My flatline-period ended at day 87 when I had sex, and I can't tell you the dead-dick problem was just an illusion... Wait for a beautiful girl to wake up your senses!

    The flatline makes the challenge easier. I had a lot of trouble to continue with my streak after I had sex with that girl for the last time (around day 110) and I ended up giving up to PMO at day 140+ after an horrible month of urges (whereas the challenge was at first really easy for me).
     
  9. PftB

    PftB Fapstronaut

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    JegErFransk - Weren't you afraid from the possibility of actually getting into bed with that girl and that the whole thing won't work?

    And please let me repeat my question: Theoratically should I just wait?
     
  10. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    So you had the urge to watch porn after day 140, rather than just masturbation alone? wow, I guess the urge for watching porn is stronger than I thought
     
  11. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    Why was it a stupid mistake? Did it get you to relapse, or did it hinder your progress of getting out of flatline? I'd like to hear your thoughts :)
     
  12. JegErFransk

    JegErFransk Fapstronaut

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    PftB: Yes, you should wait. I know it is hard to accept it (it's sometimes even scary), but after a while things will return to normal! (Note: 70days is way above average but I've also read about a guy waiting 5months, everybody's different, don't be scared if it lasts too long).
    And yes, when I went back to my place with her, I was sure I would be able to do it... But it didn't take me long to realize that I actually was harder than ever!

    m2correi: Actually my urges were mainly about sex and sometimes about M... But since I had no girlfriend, I gave up to masturbation... The problem is that my brain had connected P and M so not only masturbation was involved even though I wasn't actually craving for P. This is the worst kind of relapse because it releases a lot of dopamine suddently and often causes several relapses in a row...
     
    PftB likes this.
  13. Surrender

    Surrender Fapstronaut

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    Yeah. I didnt really struggle anymore at day 58 but I had a headache and a limp penis.. So I thought that masturbation might ease my headache and I, for some reason, felt that I needed to try masturbating to see if it all worked and so on.

    Afterwards I felt a lot of urges and gave in to PMO just hours later.

    My headaches get really bad at day 40+, so Im still trying to find a way to do hardmode and withstand those.. But if you dont have them, then its an easy decision: Dont masturbate. Everything just gets easier. Embrace the flatline, it will end eventually.
     
  14. numpty

    numpty Fapstronaut

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    Op how was your nutrition? Energy levels? Have you lost weight in the 84 days?

    Does nutrition and energy have any affect?
     
  15. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    My nutrition has been okay, some days healthy, sometimes not, but I try to be consistent in having good nutrition. Energy levels at work have been low, but after work I have more energy and can do things like working out and playing soccer. Cold showers help me with waking up in the morning, but I feel like I still need a lot of sleep. In terms of weight, I don't think I've lost any. My weight doesn't normally fluctuate, but I may have put on a few pounds of muscle from hitting the gym.

    In general, I think I would be feeling a lot worse if it weren't for excercise and cold showers, so I'm holding up okay. Just wish I had more energy and motivation at work, though. And a sex drive of course lol
     
  16. mc_9393

    mc_9393 Fapstronaut

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    Here's another question I'm curious about: What is it like to come out of flatline? Does it just happen one day when you wake up and feel good, or does it happen slowly and gradually over time?
     
  17. Knight Solaire

    Knight Solaire Fapstronaut

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    It's kinda hard to explain. I've had flatlines like both of your examples. The one I'm in now just leaves me meh and restless all the time. I still have sex every once in awhile with the SO, but it's not like my normal drive. I've also had flatlines where I didn't even have a fucking sex drive, so it is different every time for everyone.

    The only similarities seem to be that people have a lowered sex drive, none to some urges/thoughts, and depression.
     
  18. BlackCoffee_

    BlackCoffee_ Fapstronaut

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  19. SerpentEagleHeart

    SerpentEagleHeart Fapstronaut

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    I have had a few different flatlines in various different fap-free streaks.

    Usually lasting about a week each time, but have found they can come at any point during reboot, especially if you're resetting frequently like I was/am.

    Learnt to embrace them rather than trying to 'beat' them or 're-energise myself' or whatever. "Whatever you resist persists", as an aphorism, was helpful for me.

    Symptoms include, for me at least: low energy, shallow breathing, tiredness, low motivation, no sex drive whatsoever, feeling of emptiness, no sexual thoughts whatsoever, acting quite strange and distant to women because I was so uninterested by them and found it so strange...
     
    mc_9393 likes this.
  20. nobingeing

    nobingeing Fapstronaut

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    @m2correi Hey buddy! I am in the exact same boat as you. Last MOed on 22 March. Cheers Buddy! When i read this post on my mobile, i just KNEW i had to reply you when i reached home to use my laptop.

    I flatlined at about day 20, and have been flatlining ever since. No Wet dreams, No libido, few erections, and a time to time urge to look at P which i caved in a day ago. I guess the flatline is just a passing phase. You can read my daily journal (link below) to see how i have coped so far.

    Sometimes i grow impatient and sometimes feel despair because the thing that really pisses me off uring this journey is the moodswings. I can literally be high AF one moment and freaking depressed the next. And when it comes to girls, i have one person i would like to chase after but sometimes i feel that i am disinterested and apathetic, other times i am incompetent, not worthy, etc. It has been one hell of a ride.

    I am also waiting for the moment where i am "officially" out of the flatline. I personally do not know how that looks like or feels like. What i know is that i am still having moodswings, i wear an underwear to bed each night to make sure if i Wet Dream i wont soil my sheets (hopefully) and i am trying my best to show interest in the girl i want to chase after (though i honestly feel that i am not desperate for her)

    Its pretty confusing and even frustrating if you ask me, but the whole journey is objectively speaking, beautiful.

    Edit: Yeah, waiting for my superpowers to fall from the sky too, i guess i have to wait until the flatline passes so i will have fewer moodswings then i can really focus!

    Sorry, wished i had more to share but i have to do more important stuff now that my time is really really limited.

    Watching this thread, would really like to see how fellow fapstronauts are coping with the flatline too!

    Cheers,
    A
     

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