172 day streak just ended

DON'T feel guilty or terrible. Don't wallow in the by-products of what masturbation does to us. Quiet yourself, and calm down. It's time to be very kind to yourself right now, not hard on yourself. It happened, you paid the price, now carry on. But nothing I can say here is really going to make a difference. This happened to you, and you have to decide if you want to wallow in it or fix it, if you want to mope around or get up and keep fighting. After 172 days you know what the benefits are, now you know what the price is when you fail. Time to decide which one you're going to go with. And just let me say, 172 days? Nothing but respect. And getting back up after breaking it? Nothing but amazing.

 

can u talk about wet dreams? what happens to you after them

 

Don't worry, thats not a big problem, just dont go back to porn, u used it, ok, let it be just once, fight for not using it a second time.

 

"Relapsing" is not so much an issue IMO. The purpose of NoFap IMO is simply to prevent one from having "regular release of sexual tension" via fap/PMO (as opposed to regular actual sex). Also, I'm assuming by your usage of the term "relapse" you mean to say that "a single instance of fap/pmo after a very long period of NoFap beforehand" --- so, technically you've been doing NoFap all along and are no stranger to it anyway.

The problem with fap/PMO is that it's an attempt to "trick" the body into relieving sexual tension without actual sex -- hence, "cheating" (there are advantages that you get with actual sex that you don't get with fap/PMO -- and so by doing fap/PMO you are "cheating" your body (which creates your sex drive driving you in the first place) out of them). And, like many forms of "cheating" (e.g., such as drugs), it is not "free" (i.e., without cost). The cost of relieving sexual tension is -- well, less sexual tension/sex drive/etc... and also likely much more "specificity" in terms what would turn you on afterwards (i.e., people who fap/pmo frequently may have much more picky/selective "tastes" (or fetishes, or something else, etc...) as to what would turn them on, as opposed to someone who has not had sexual release (by fap or actual sex) in a long while, who would instead be "turned on" by a much broader variety of things/stimuli). Note that the last part (losing "breadth" in terms what "turns you on") is not actually a bad thing when we're talking about regular actual sex and having someone bond and have their "tastes" become more "specific and aligned" to their significant other! But for fap/pmo?? Now that is something you do not want to happen!!!

And hence, that is the purpose of NoFap IMO -- it can often be the only way for people who don't have regular actual sex to prevent fap/pmo from having a significant impact on how their sex drive functions. However, getting back to the "relapse" part -- if my assumption is correct about "relapse" meaning "a single instance of fap/pmo after having done a very long period of NoFap beforehand", then I wouldn't say that said "relapse" is necessarily a bad thing. The issue is when one begins to "regularize" their sexual release to fap/pmo, or equivalently, entering the state of "not having a lot of sexual tension" but due to something crappy like fap/pmo instead of something real like actual sex...

 

Hi Bro, I know the pain. A couple things here, you need to realize you went a 172 days without PMO. That is fricking awesome!

I think it is good to accept your sad feelings about it but do not wallow in pity and despair. Realize you made a mistake and pick yourself up and move on. Like another forum member said, NoFap is about a lifestyle of removing PMO. The key thing is not to fall back to your old habits of constant PMO. While a slip on your part is a set back, just think about if you were PMOing everyday for the last 172 days. Because of your perseverance you are in a much better place. You have been doing way more good for yourself than bad.

So don't let one mistake derail your entire journey. Refocus and get on with the task at hand. Don't let this little defeat serve as your downfall, let it be a reminder of why you started NoFap, let it be motivation to continue on the NoFap path.

Stay strong bro!

 

Sorry to hear that @jasonofap . Please keep a clear head now!

Agreeing with @maz20 . We would call it a 'reset' actually. And it's important to differ between them actually for the mentioned reasons.

 

Sorry to hear that bro it was a good streak

 

I’m having trouble keeping motivation. Every time I fap I feel better mentally for a few days and then get depressed again. I’ve already been through months of flatline from not severe at all PMOing for less than 3 years (I’m 19). I’m starting to think I need to fap to feel better but I have mental health issues going on and I’m losing hope. Please give me some motivation and sorry about your relapse

 

Hey Jason. First of all, congratulations on making it to do 172. You've done so much to heal your brain. All the healing / willpower / positive benefits you have built have not gone to waste.

Mate, I relapsed a week ago on day 112, which was my longest streak down the drain. I was starting to really believe that I would never relapse again. But then last week an "accident" happened, which led to relapse just like you.

At first, I was depressed, felt like crap, and super tempted to binge. However, I'm so glad I didn't because now I already feel way better. Our brain is almost healed. Last year, my brother relapsed on day 123. Next streak, he relapsed on day 48. Since that relapse, he has quit porn completely. That was over 300 days ago. You've come so far man and are damn close. You can beat this addiction once and for all.

 

Watch out for that chaser effect. You've made a done of progress, and this only a small setback. If you binge now, you could much more damage. Please don't binge!