Fenix Rising
Fapstronaut
Quick update as not much has changed since my last reporting, but I've decided to write down some of my observations on this round number nevertheless.
First the positive notes. I can confirm now that my social/general anxiety is gone. I don't know if I can contribute this to NoFap or changes in the lifestyle I've made during current streak, but does it really matter? The point is that the disorder I suffered from throughout my late teenage years and all adult life has finally disappeared.
I must stay humble and vigilant when writing this down, never say never again, but still the second great thing that abstention has brought me is the absence of compulsions to view explicit material and/or MB. Even if I see explicit material, I get no reaction to it anymore. Coming from severe PIED, return of regular solid morning woods is another positive consequence I should report.
Now to more negative ones. Anhedonia is a very real problem. I don't know if it should be contributed to PAWS or preexisting chronic depression but it's here and doesn't seem it will go away anytime soon. It doesn't bother me all that much but it still is a problem when you live in a society where vast majority of population is motivated by pursuing sensory pleasures and endless consumption. When people discover your I don't give a f... attitude towards most of today's distractions consumerist culture is throwing at us constantly, you become a social outcast. The funny thing about it is that once you learn to stop caring about their response, that pissed people off even further. Life has become kind of a flat line, absent of dopamine spikes instant gratifications used to bring and absent of lows, disappointments would normally produce.
Depression is still a thing. I've learned how to control it, but »black dog« is far from dead. It takes a lot of effort and self-discipline to keep it asleep.
If I could give one advice to the forum members who stand at the beginning of the NoFap journey I'd say don't set yourself big goals as you'll most likely get overwhelmed by them and give up. Put emphasis on small goals/tasks achieve them and gradually build up upon them. The point is to set and achieve small tasks that are good for you over and over again and before you'll know it you'll achieve something big plus improve self-discipline and patience along the way, two crucial elements needed to beat this addiction. When you fail/relapse, don't let self-guilt/self-shame take over your mind, rather analyze what went wrong and focus on failing a bit better next time (but do not plan to relapse in advance). I know this sounds strange, but slips and relapses are inevitable part of recovery. The important thing is to keep trying and never ever give up, seek self-improvement constantly and one day you'll break-out of addiction cycle for good.
That's about it. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
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First the positive notes. I can confirm now that my social/general anxiety is gone. I don't know if I can contribute this to NoFap or changes in the lifestyle I've made during current streak, but does it really matter? The point is that the disorder I suffered from throughout my late teenage years and all adult life has finally disappeared.
I must stay humble and vigilant when writing this down, never say never again, but still the second great thing that abstention has brought me is the absence of compulsions to view explicit material and/or MB. Even if I see explicit material, I get no reaction to it anymore. Coming from severe PIED, return of regular solid morning woods is another positive consequence I should report.
Now to more negative ones. Anhedonia is a very real problem. I don't know if it should be contributed to PAWS or preexisting chronic depression but it's here and doesn't seem it will go away anytime soon. It doesn't bother me all that much but it still is a problem when you live in a society where vast majority of population is motivated by pursuing sensory pleasures and endless consumption. When people discover your I don't give a f... attitude towards most of today's distractions consumerist culture is throwing at us constantly, you become a social outcast. The funny thing about it is that once you learn to stop caring about their response, that pissed people off even further. Life has become kind of a flat line, absent of dopamine spikes instant gratifications used to bring and absent of lows, disappointments would normally produce.
Depression is still a thing. I've learned how to control it, but »black dog« is far from dead. It takes a lot of effort and self-discipline to keep it asleep.
If I could give one advice to the forum members who stand at the beginning of the NoFap journey I'd say don't set yourself big goals as you'll most likely get overwhelmed by them and give up. Put emphasis on small goals/tasks achieve them and gradually build up upon them. The point is to set and achieve small tasks that are good for you over and over again and before you'll know it you'll achieve something big plus improve self-discipline and patience along the way, two crucial elements needed to beat this addiction. When you fail/relapse, don't let self-guilt/self-shame take over your mind, rather analyze what went wrong and focus on failing a bit better next time (but do not plan to relapse in advance). I know this sounds strange, but slips and relapses are inevitable part of recovery. The important thing is to keep trying and never ever give up, seek self-improvement constantly and one day you'll break-out of addiction cycle for good.
That's about it. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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