Wassup dudes, i'm starting today, but i'm also worried about the following days and weeks, cause i feel like i wont be able to handle it. U guys got any tips to surviving the first days/week until it becomes a habit?
Day 6 achieved. Had some good conversations with my roommates and friends on the phone. Did a lot of cooking as well. On my way to becoming a Padawan Learner.
Take some time and read these if you haven't already: https://nofap.com/rebooting/ https://nofap.com/porn-addiction/ https://nofap.com/faq/what-is-a-porn-addiction-relapse/ https://nofap.com/faq/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-porn-addiction/ https://nofap.com/glossary/ Exercise, cold showers, and cooking are good places to start.
Day 5, Youngling Welcome to the Temple! Have you chosen any replacement behaviours? When you remove porn from your life, it is a good idea to replace it with something else. You need to find better ways of dealing with stress if you watch porn when stressed, figure out what to do with the free time not fapping to porn gives you etc. Keep busy. Don't give yourself time to fap. Welcome to the Temple by the way!
Day 6, Youngling Make a list of reasons why you think porn is bad for you and why quitting is good for you. Keep going back to this list until you internalize it and can call up these reasons when you feel tempted to relapse. Quitting porn isn't just giving up a habit. It's changing who you are. A part of you has to die. It is very unpleasant, but it has to happen if you want to give up porn. Also, when you relapse, a part of your mind - your "porn brain" - usually gives you some excuse as to why it is okay to fap this one time. Your porn brain is very clever and will find ways to convince you. These can be things like "Porn doesn't harm anyone", "I'll do it one more time and then never again", "Everyone is doing it". These are lies. Keep track of them and write down answers to them. Then when your porn brain tries to trick you, you will have an answer ready. Many people have found exercise and meditation helpful. I can attest to exercise. It puts you in a whole new mindset. If you were feeling horny before, you won't after going for a run or working out. Figure out which times of the day you are most tempted and find ways to counteract that. You can replace your porn behaviour during those times with something else. For example, I'm most tempted when I wake up and when I go to sleep, so I now use that time for prayer. If you aren't religious, you can find something else, like reading or TV.
How has the pandemic affected your fight against porn addiction? Have things gotten better or worse? Or do you think it hasn't affected your porn addiction at all? For me, it's been pretty bad. I was going strong entering into lockdown and I reached 90 days porn free for the first time ever. Then I relapsed and I've been in a binge cycle ever since. I really think that being inside so much and having a very limited social circle has played in a role in my lack of motivation. There's so much I wanted to get done this summer and the fact that I can't get out to meet girls and better myself in that area leaves me feeling frustrated, like I will never find love. And that leads straight to porn. The good news is that I am now on Day 6 of my current streak, so I might have finally found a way out. We'll see.