Sexual thoughts

In my experience, entertaining sexual thoughts is always the first step to relapse. That doesn't mean it always leads to relapse, but it certainly can.

 

I experienced it yesterday. It's best to get rid of them as soon as possible.

 

It’s a vicious cycle. It starts with the slightest temptation of a thought about watching porn. Those thoughts will escalate and then the anticipation creates overwhelming excitement with all those feel good chemicals in the brain. Sometimes I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Because my heart was beating so hard and blood pumping through my body because of the anticipation. It’s so intoxicating. Then caving in to the pmo. When done with that I feel like crap. Plenty of guilt and wishing I could quit. I tell myself to write a letter about my feelings after. Then I can read it before I decide to pmo again. Then after a few days the body has recovered and then the slightest temptation pops in again. Rinse repeat the cycle. Yes, it’s best to stop all thoughts before it gets out of control.

 

I try not to entertain them.

 

In my case it depends (37 days without PMO).

If those thoughts are porn related (thinking about scenes, actresses, porn fantasies...), I reject them.

But if they are related to my gf, I don't (as I don't masturbate to them) and if I get wet, I consider them a good sign.

 

I have sex fantasies of me and my wife. This isn’t the same as porn fantasies. As this is creating healthy connection to someone you love and care about. And they can actually return the affection. Isn’t this what life was meant to be?

 

Sexual thoughts aren't always bad, they're pretty natural. However, make sure you are in full control of them and don't attempt to advance them. You'll have wet dreams, those are unavoidable. When you start with sexual thoughts, they can lead start up to a multiweek meltdown that will end in a relapse, as problematic behavior will increase as the days go by. Whenever you have a day full of sex filled thoughts, I would focus on NoFap remedies a lot more, like cold shower, push ups, walk outside, stuff like that.

 

Let them come and go as they are. Like you are an hotel and they are guests.. they have already entered, they will also leave.

 

Maybe your S thoughts are natural. But mine are downright perverted. So I don't give myself permission to think on such things that my messed up subconscious mind could use to indulge in it's perversion. If I don't think it, I'm not going to crave it. And if I don't crave, I won't cave. Game over. I win.

 

I get a lot relating to porn but I just ignore them.

I see it as my brain trying to get me to relapse out of desperation.

 

No, that's not how it works. Replace "one picture" with "one sip" for an alcoholic, it will never end at just one.

 

If you are seeking out something as a p sub you will never "get away with that". Anything that fires up those hardwired p neurons in the brain is a set back.

Cold turkey, no sexual fantasies and no peeking at porn. To give into these things during your recovery phase is to set yourself up for failure.

 

If you fantasize you sensitize your neurological pathways. Creating more and more cravings. Cravings making addicts relapse. Cravings and using (porn equalls using, due to dopamine flood) is creating delta fos b wich remains for 56 days in your brain. That proteine delta fos b makes you crave more. If you have fantasy, thos will change into urges, urges to sneek peeking, peeking to edging, edging to relapse.
So. 1 if you fantasize you realise the seks fantasy is nice. But there is no sex partner nearby so fantasy now is a porn scene in your brain. Creating dopamine flood interupting your reboot.

fantasize for 15 swconds and decide the women is nice or not and what tou would likt to do with her is healthy, But dont lose your awereness of the reboot! It will take you over and relapse and interfere your dopamine receptor upregulation.
So while rebooting and your addiction is strong. Hypofrontality strong, willpower weak! Dont think and fantasize to much.

big story, do some research about what intold you, Once you understand, You can become aware of what happens in your awareness / consiousness.
Goodluck

 

Hi, thank you for that information.
I'm only on day 5, don't laugh, but I'm very serious about this.
One question I like to ask your experiences, if similar, and what to expect next....

I am feeling a strange sense of euphoria, a more grounded me.
I've interacted with others in public outing situations quite different, knowing in myself I'm not a wanker anymore.
I've had a couple of healthy erections, after talking to a lovely girl I managed to bump into, due to improved confidence.

Has anyone else had this early great feeling, and can it last?

Thanks