We dont know how to handle real life stress

I definitely think depression/inability to cope with stress/bad coping mechanisms is an underlying reason as to why many people turn to porn. People in general do this with lots of things--alcohol, smoking, eating, video games, etc. Thats why I think literally any activity or substance can become an addiction. A key part of recovery is learning how to deal with that stress in healthier and more productive ways. People who just try to strong arm/repress their urge to watch porn will never succeed because they are not actually addressing the root cause of their urges.

 

It is definitely linked.
We look for an easy escape - we're wired to be captive in our own build cages of our minds.

 

I definitely relate on the using porn as a crutch to help myself feel better sitch. Porn is just way too easy and way too available I feel. Whenever you feel bad, you can just go watch something, rub one out, and get a slight moment of respite. I am very new to this whole NoFap thing, but in my case you have to find other things that give you a strong sense of happiness or fulfillment, because porn gives you both way too easily. No matter how little you feel after doing something constructive keep with it if it interests you. Over time you start to gain a new connection to different outlets. Also whenever you feel this way, you don't have to resort to outlets but one key thing definitely is to separate yourself from your phone and other electronic devices until you can reground yourself. Removing the ability to look up the stuff at all definitely helps, god speed brother

 

I have always been a pervert and an antisocial being all my teenage years and when I am trying to quit porn, it is always anxiety due to which I relapse.

 

Not only are people antisocial in the usual sense of not being consistent with the standard norms and customs, I think even the norms itself is not normal and all that social a lot of times. You don't have to look too much further than the successful professional who may not have a conversation with any empathy and/or real emotional relating as a matter of course, because they would be considered normal and of course people don't qualify "successful" only in economic terms.

Anyway, as far as stress I think what we accept as the norm and our expectations from people has a lot to do with it. Basically, I don't think we can hold our breath because most people do seem to just go by what's customary most of the time, not whether it's truly social or healthy either for individuals or the collective. There IS a bit of improvement because I think the lockdown has just gotten people so down, and maybe on some level people realize shit.. maybe we can't count on govt. etc. and have to count on EACH OTHER when it comes down to it, but it really needs to go a lot further than being a little nicer. Still it's an opening.

Basically I think we have to go deeper than "stress management." I mean why is a given thing causing stress in the first place? There's our own worry about it but some things are honestly inherently stressful and worrying. Whether you take a pill or do yoga or whatever a lot of it comes down to people doing this other thing that doesn't directly relate to the stress of the situation even if it dials down the physiological reaction a bit. A lot of it just has to do with how people relate to each other or don't, and the indirect effects - like technology which of course enables PMO. You don't tend to experience that in nature like that tree is causing you stress, or the birds singing is giving you a headache.