The difference between being a disciple or a slave of NoFap?

Hello!

Let me start by saying I'm new to this and that I'm truly looking forward to trying it out! It's amongst the most interesting things I've ever come across and it makes so much sense, I'm super excited!

But like with everything else I also wanna be critical and ask questions, intelligent ones as well as stupid ones. I can see that NoFap means a lot to so many people so please don't get defensive about this thread, I come in peace

OK so let's get to the point:
When I read some of the reports and success stories, especially from young guys, there's a recurring theme that saddens me a little bit. It's when describing the effect of a relapse or reset (or cumming at all). Sure, a relapse of PMO must feel terrible while on a reboot, believe me, i've tried to quit porn many times myself.

But aside from the part of letting yourself down, when on a reboot streak it's also the loss of the benefits, the superpowers. And, according to the reports those go away with any form of resetting. Doesn't matter if it's plain MO, without porn, the feeling of being depleted is all the same, it seems. And even after a wet dream, something you couldn't really control yourself, you may wake up feeling depleted and robbed. And anxious. And only being able to look women in they eyes for short times. This is what i read.

It's when I read these stories, like a young dude almost being mad at themselves after something as natural as a wet dream, that i get a little sad and feel the need to ask these questions:

Is it possible to be so devoted to NoFap and being so attached to the concept as the full on solution to your problems that you actually miss out on the continuous benefits from it? That you put so much credit for your recent success of feeling better because of rebooting to the concept itself, not because of what it's unlocked in YOU? That you fool yourself into thinking you can't continue looking people in the eyes and feel confident and glowing just because you had a wet dream and lost semen? That you're missing out on something by thinking that the only way of getting back on track and feel good about yourself is to abstain from any kind of orgasming and go another 200 days?

Although i'm sure it's true that the super powers are super present at day 200 and i believe the person when they say losing semen takes a lot of the powers away... do you really wanna rely on the superpowers at all times in your life in order to even function the way you want or interact fully with other people?

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not here to promote relapsing in any way! You guys should all be proud of who you are and what you're accomplishing! But it just seems there might be sometimes unnecessary self punishment and total purism attached to the reports and success stories. It's like the lack of self worth and the self punishment is now projected on failing the rebooting and resetting.
If you felt good during your reboot about being YOU then it's because it's all inside YOU, you unlocked it and even if you'll feel less good about yourself without 200 days of semen in your system all those good things are still there... (right?)

So what about myself then?
In a strict technical sense I think I'm in total need of a reboot.
I've been PMO:ing for the last 15 years (i'm 35).
I have not only porn induced ED but actual chronic prostatitis with ED as a side effect.
I've had 10 years of depression, lack of motivation, feeling drained. Sometimes to the point of not even being able to get out of bed.

Now it seems that a reboot, together with other self improvement, would really be able to help me and feel better and i don't doubt that one second. I'm super excited to just have started my reboot.

It's like i can't wait to feel the superpowers. Getting noticed by girls. Being sociable. Being able to look people in the eyes. Not caring about sexually objectifying women but TALKING to them. Have deep, meaningful conversations. Focus less on my ED and getting my confidence back. Meeting a girlfriend. Have girls hit on me and enjoy saying: "sorry i have a gf". Find myself being strangely drawn to and having a massive connection with another woman and leaving my gf to pursue a new chapter in my life.

The thing is that i've already done all these things. Without NoFap. Without a reboot. Now don't get me wrong. I haven't felt the superpowers. In fact this has been during a five year period of time where I'd say I would've needed NoFap and rebooting the most. I've been feeling terrible a lot of the time. Most of the time. I even went on for two years without touching a girl because i was convinced ED made me worthless. But somehow i eventually found myself pushing through at times, letting go of it all and being sociable and confident. Enjoying life in that particular moment. Connecting with people, with girls. Feeling self worth despite being depressed and drained and feeling miserable health wise.
How can that be?

Maybe it's got to do with the fact that there was a time between 15-25 when i had no fear and was just enjoying life, not letting my PMO:ing get in the way of everything else. When using internet every minute of every day wasn't required in order to be part of society and i had to interact with others irl, all the time (yes i'm THAT old!) Perhaps it's because i've been able to recall that feeling and those skills that i've found myself in these moments of pure clarity, of feeling good enough about myself to connect with others?

The reason for writing this is that I've learned something from having to push through anxiety, depression and ED and do good things for myself anyway. It's been a huge eye opener to me that you cannot wait to feel super confident or good about yourself in order to have a shot at life. Sometimes you HAVE to go for it anyway. Even though you're depressed to the point of almost not being able to get out of bed or talk.
That's why i get sad when i read about young guys thinking that they can't accomplish what they want because they've reset due to a wet dream or when they write they're not sure if they should get a gf at this time because they'd have to end their super power streak if they lose semen.
That just seems like a huge restriction on your life to me.

On the other hand who am i to judge? If you've had a massive problem with PMO maybe this is the only chance of getting clean and maybe you have to be on that celibacy streak for longer and longer times until you're finally ready to connect with a real girl?
Maybe if you've clouded your brain during your young, formative years with excessive PMO then there's no other way than total purism for a long time in order to get back on track?

In any case just don't forget to love yourself for who you are and what you're unlocking in YOU... you found it and you're worth having it in your life and feeling it no matter how many days worth of semen you've saved up!

Any thoughts and discussions are very welcome...

 

That's a very good answer! I guess I can't tell someone who's life is destroyed by alcohol that "hey i also have a severe problem with alcohol that i wanna get sorted but i've been able to function anyway."

But that's almost another topic on it's own. Like: "Are some addicts so deep down addicted that they have to treat their addiction like alcohol and not even climax with a partner and instead enjoy the superpowers and perserved energy of never orgasming?"

My question here is is more like:
Is there's some valuable self worth lost by thinking you lose all your social abilities and confidence even after just resetting? (This is presuming that porn is out of the picture).

 

Thanks for the answers, it makes me realize there are as many reasons as there are people However calling the superpowers BS... i think a lot of ppl would disagree and there is some sience to suport what people are experiencing.

 

I have to say i agree a lot with this! It' kind of what i was getting at in the main post. However there are things explained in this link who suggest that there are hormonal benefits from abstaining from any orgasming as part of a reboot. (nevermind the cheesy headline).

https://www.reddit.com/r/NoFap/comments/2i6zwv/superpowers_are_real_and_heres_how_to_get_them/

And while that may or may not be true i sill think that the person should be super aware that the changes happen inside YOU and whatever good things you should happen to feel you should make it your goal to be able to recall those things at any time no matter the circumstances.