A neurophysiologist's perspective

This is an excellent post! Thanks mayfourth!

Guys above, kudos to those of you who have successfully gone cold turkey. I have tried abstaining but the day I break the fast, its not a comma, its the end of the story. What I learnt here is the chaser effect takes over and I get so so horny, I almost make up for all the days I didn't fap.

I have been more successful when I have strong motivation. I found that I was more successful in abstaining if there was the prospect of a girl to get intimate with. This was my frail attempt to get full erections and override ED. Clearly it isn't short pauses that change neural and physiological patterns.

I have been successful here, about to clock 2 weeks, because of all the motivation I derive from the success stories and solidarity I feel with other people in this position. A lot of posts were about avoiding triggers altogether, this sounded like looking away from the problem rather than facing up to it! Porn is a harmful indulgence but surely the point of being here shouldn't be to heavily censor tv viewing, newspapers and magazines. That to me is the small doses that we need to expose ourselves to.

The author above doesn't prescribe porn, he prescribes self-awareness, which is what we all are trying to get at. Watching provocative images/ videos but concentrating on how your mind and body are reacting rather than tucking a hand in your pants.

Simply put excess of anything is bad and so is eating more than you can chew. Of course there's a way to eat without chewing but its hard on the body and mind. Breaking it into small pieces might be more time consuming but it's a smoother way of getting there.

Full Disclosure: I myself have completely gone off MO, but find it easier to sustain with occasional edging and softcore videos like suggestive sex scenes in movies. I ultimately want to stop this indulgence too, just taking my time.