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Creating new neural pathways

Discussion in 'Rebooting - Porn Addiction Recovery' started by PepitoGrillo, Aug 8, 2014.

  1. Aug 8, 2014 #1
    PepitoGrillo

    PepitoGrillo Fapstronaut

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    Hey guys, good morning from Europe :)

    I have one question that's been wandering my mind lately about the triggers that lead to the temptation of PMO and my future "relationship" with those triggers.

    The way I see it, some of our behaviours and actions trigger a temptation to fap. I don't know the exact scientific terminology, but I would say it is something like "there is a neural pathway that connects this particular behaviour/action to the part of the brain that controls the segregation of dopamine", so when we active that neuron, it actives the other one. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

    So, my question is, what can we do with our current neural pathways? Do they "disconnect" over time or do they keep "connected" as long as we don't give them another meaning/path?

    I give an example. I used to watch porn on DailyMotion (DM). So, in the end, every time I ended up in that site for, let's say, watching another non-porn related video, I felt the temptation of watching porn. I trigger that neural-pathway.
    Now, I haven't been in DM since I started no-fapping, and my question is: will that DM site keep triggering the temptation to fap if I enter it in 2-3 months? Or will that neural-pathway disappear and I won't feel anything when watching another non-porn related video there?

    Thanks beforehand and have a good day! :)
     
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 8, 2014
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 8, 2014
    #1
  2. Aug 9, 2014 #2
    PepitoGrillo

    PepitoGrillo Fapstronaut

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    Hey guys, any ideas about this? ;)
     
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 9, 2014
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 9, 2014
    #2
  3. Aug 9, 2014 #3
    Phoenix-free

    Phoenix-free Fapstronaut

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    What I understand about it is that the brain remains plastic...or re-shapable. Old neuro pathways can be 'erased', if you will, by non-use. Neuro-pathways are a lot like a path in the woods, or a field. By going down the path over and over, the plant-life dies, the ground becomes hard, resisting new growth. By staying off the pathway, it can be over-run again by plants, effectively erasing the path.

    I'd be careful about going to watch videos at that site if it has been a known trigger to you. And if you want to be able to go back to that site, make sure you've got the support of someone to be there with you, so you can create new neuro-pathways. You'll need to replace the old path with something new...a path that may begin at DailyMotion, but ends in talking to a friend about a video you've seen there...and leave the website in the process. Once you have a new pattern of behavior associated with the site, and that path is much more traveled...with a healthy reward at the end of it, you may be able to use that website again. BUT, I'd proceed with caution, and never feel that you are strong enough to look for that old-overgrown path to go down it a ways. You know that path leads you to PMO, and all the negative side-effects of it.

    Those are my two cents...not a professional by any means.
     
    Phoenix-free, Aug 9, 2014
    Phoenix-free, Aug 9, 2014
    #3
    Niloy likes this.
  4. Aug 9, 2014 #4
    hirop

    hirop Fapstronaut

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    My understanding is that the neural pathways you're talking about may weaken over time but are never completely gone. You might be interested in a book called "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge.
     
    hirop, Aug 9, 2014
    hirop, Aug 9, 2014
    #4
  5. Aug 9, 2014 #5
    Break the Chain

    Break the Chain Fapstronaut
    NoFap Defender

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    I echo the sound advice Pizzaman has given you there.

    If you haven't watched the videos on YouTube from Mark Queppet of NoFap Academy, I recommend you do; they're invaluable tools. This one addresses your original question.
     
    Break the Chain, Aug 9, 2014
    Break the Chain, Aug 9, 2014
    #5
  6. Aug 14, 2014 #6
    PepitoGrillo

    PepitoGrillo Fapstronaut

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    Hey guys, thanks for your replies!
    I'll check the videos of the NoFap Academy and the book "The Brain that Changes Itself".
    Interesting stuff ;)

    Just what I thought. I guess the connections weaken over time although they will be there in one way or another. So maybe the way to go is to stay away from triggers as much and long as possible and then try to build new pathways for those triggers slowly and easy. For the moment, I'll just avoid websites like those and triggers in general until I feel comfortable enough.

    Thanks!
     
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 14, 2014
    PepitoGrillo, Aug 14, 2014
    #6

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