Caved at day 26

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (or dACC) in the brain is in charge of choice, self-monitoring and the resolution of conflicting goals. The dACC chooses what to do from the possibilities held in working memory. So basically, every decision you're making goes through the dACC.

If you quit any addiction and you actively resist it, that means that the dACC in the brain has to keep making a choice: watch porn, or go outside; watch porn or call a friend; watch porn or watch a movie; watch porn or go to the kitchen for something to drink/eat; etc...

When the dACC has to keep working to control an impulse, one that keeps recurring, or just won't go away, it uses up its supply of energy. It can't replenish its store of neurotransmitters. It gets tired. Very much like a muscle. Try holding your arm out at your side for half an hour...

When you finally cave in to porn (or any other substance you're addicted to) you do so because the energy to the dACC is depleted. Psychologists have a name for this, it's called: ego fatigue or ego depletion.

The solution to this is to make the definite choice to quit porn. You have to be done with it, completely. So that you make one, but very firm choice: I-am-done. A mindset. So that you don't have to keep making the choice between porn and something else, which you will loose eventually due to the way the brain works.

Don't take my word for it, I know this from the book 'Memoirs of an addicted brain: A neuroscientist examines his former life on drugs', by Marc Lewis. Very interesting read, I would recommend it (and while reading it you can't watch porn).

 

Great post, it always helps to know the science and biology behind this addiction. The more knowledge we have the easier it is to take steps to battle the addiction

 

Happens to everyone. Now get back up and keep going!

https://www.nofap.com/forum/index.php?threads/seven-days-now-what.183685/#post-1566190

 

Thanks thedarkbird very informative

 

Awesome explanation, I heard about ego depletion but you're on point man i'm going to look for that book it seems very informative, many thanks brother!

 

Yes that has happened to me more than once, my secret to deal with it, just let it go... thinking about you're mistakes will only be good if you do it to learn why you did it, don't beat yourself over it.

Good luck man!