Glad to be part of this group! I had a reset this morning. I've been on consistent runs of 6-7 days, followed by resets, but I've struggled so much during the past eight days that it feels like all the progress I've made in the past few months has been erased. I know this isn't true, and that it's my addiction trying to trick me ("You may as well give up..." seems to be the buried message,) but it's still discouraging. My goal is a streak that's 10 days or more. That would be a miracle. It's been years since I've gone that long without porn.
Checking in on day 40. Feeling strong and motivated, but also recognizing that sexual desire has fully returned. I have no outlets at the moment, so it's all about using that energy and tension in positive ways while also staying very vigilant against middle circle behavior. I'll also say that I'm going through a very stressful moment in my life, and it feels SO GOOD to have the strength to handle it. I feel like a man--unshaken, able to hold this space with my head high, and deal with the issues of the moment head on instead of ducking away from them. In the past when i've used PMO to help deal with stress, it was a total disaster, compounding any and every issue. Right now I feel full of confidence that I can handle the cards in my hand, and do it with both strength and gratitude. I'm so thankful to be in that position.
Congrats on 40 days! Currently going through stressful life events too and can confirm....using PMO to deal with stress is a total disaster. I'm hoping that I can use this as a watershed moment to obtain my goals related to PMO. I never want to feel this shitty again.
Checking in. I've had a good day so far. I've beefed up the porn blocking on my devices, and knowing that I would be checking in here made a big difference.
You're doing amazing @magvor, it's working so just keep at it, Not long to go until you reach that number and once you get there chuck another 90days on top! That's my plan.
So have noticed any results yet?I mean whatever, even in your perspective or your thoughts about porn addiction?
I was going to leave it a week before checking in again but urges are starting to kick in. In the online book Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, there's a diagram at the end of chapter 5.1 which shows the cycle we go through - from our drop in dopamine to PMO and regret that follows. I've saved that diagram on my phone and I'm looking at it to identify where I currently am on the cycle and to remind myself that I want to break it. Day off work tomorrow. I think a to do list is needed.
Hello all, After reading what @Juxtaposition wrote about dopamine, I've noticed over the last two days a certain let's say light "euphoric" feeling come over me. This is dopamine I believe but on a different level, it reminds me of a feeling I used to feel as a child before I knew about masturbation, a feeling of excitement, It's hard to explain the feeling though it's unlike a dopamine rush effect like you have with porn, it's like a light feel good feeling that only lasts for a few seconds. I love it and haven't felt it in years. Just wanted to add that, maybe others have experienced it? Cheers all
Yes! When I got to a 70 day streak during my early nofap days I had the same feeling. It also reminded me of how and who I was as a child. It's such a more natural feeling of happiness.
