Hi everyone, I was bored and wanted to check a YouTube channel, which I know sometimes posts something sex-related, but not primarily. I thought: fuck it, let's see what they posted new and of course.. there was a video with a dildo on the thumbnail. Did this damage my recovery? Thanks
Our brain releases dopamine a bit even if we think about our drug. So yes, it slightly damaged your recovery but so do your fantasies.
Our mind don't want to change so it forces us to do something which has a chance of releasing dopamine. Your case is similar to people who don't want to watch porn but their mind tricks them into substitutes for porn. No it has not damaged all your recovery but a slight damage might have been done. Its like walking 3-4 steps forward and 1 step backward.
Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. Pesky YouTube thumbnails. Maybe you slowed your recovery, maybe, but since you didn't PMO I'd say no harm done.