Anxiety and depression

Hello and welcome to the forum. I reckon depression isn't directly caused by fapping, but is probably made worse by it. I've suffered from depression in the past, and I guess working towards Nofap goals can help gain a sense of control over your life.

 

You might check out this video, goes through everything about fapping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF82AwSDiU

 

It probably won't start lifting very much for two weeks but within a month or so you'll see full results. So basically you have to give it up forever, or only once a month which is much harder than giving it up forever. It's not easy since it releases so much dopamine (pleasure) but in the long term you will be much happier.

Also 20 mins of cardio a day, if you can and making sure you get plenty of sleep will help with depression. I wish you the best of luck, and no matter what, do not give up because this is something within your control

 

On average, not fapping for about 2 weeks to a month helps to alleviate depression/anxiety symptoms (significantly for me). It will get worse before it gets better though. I don't know if you're doing the 90 day challenge, but an effort at going the whole 90 days is worth it to see what else is being affected by PMO use for you.

 

Hey Duplex, I also recommend trying to go longer than a week without fapping. Check out the Youtube video that pbjohnny posted. Since you've been fapping so regularly, I think changing up your habits for a long time and letting your brain adjust to that could really do you some good. I suffer from regular depression as well. I've only just started the NoFap challenge myself, but my goal is to not masturbate as long as possible, and I really am optimistic that my mood will start changing for the better.

 

Hi, and thank you for this thread. As someone who suffers depression, and has done for years, as well as anxiety, I believe myself that excessive masturbation is merely a way of coping with the underlying causes of depression. At least, this is true for myself. I cannot speak for you or anybody else. I have found that masturbating and porn merely masked my underlying issues, and by going Nofap I am able to face those issues more freely. Tough, but ultimately healing. Not sure if that helped, but wishing you all the best for your challenge. We are all here to support you!

 

I agree with this- I have read research which says that men who masturbate 3 or more times a week tend to be socially awkward, shy and depressed.

Obviously, PMO certainly doesn't help with negativity, but I think it often is a way of masking problems within someone's life.

 

Well said James1976. I agree and relate as someone who's suffered clinical depression and takes meds for it.

 

this might sound a little silly but regular excersise helps me with anxiety and depression as well as watching my caffiene intake.

 

it is so bcz of time to come out medicine from body depending on med.half life...
previous was medicine effect+no pmo so more strong.

 

I'm a woman and I've suffered with depression on and off since my teens. I don't watch p or fap. I don't think it's realistic to expect your depression to go away if you stop fapping. The point here is that fapping adds to your mental health problems. It probably isn't the cause but it's certainly making it worse. I would suggest you quit pmo and start using that time and energy to better yourself. Learn a new instrument, start playing sports, get a new hobby. I would guess that the reason you felt better the first time was because you were trying something new. Your subconcious probably got a kick out of change. It didn't work as well the second time because you're now expecting it to solve your problems. The only way to change is to get off your butt and change it yourself.

That being said, if you actually have clinical depression then going to your doctor is probably the only thing that will help. Medication or therapy will give you more mood stability so you can get the energy to start changing things.

 

I would honestly recommend you to give up PMO altogether as it's a non constructive and non value adding activity and only makes things worse in the long run. Moreover, meditation and anger management also really help along with actually facing issues instead of seeking refuge in something.Stay strong!
Source: personal struggles with anxiety