Don't use NoFap as instant reassurance...

This is exactly the thing that I'm most concerned about on NOFAP .

 

Really good post. Can say from my own experiences that I sit and almost bang this imaginary drum in regards to NoFap. Yet haven't committed to any big long term results.

Glad I'm not alone and will be fighting for change.
Best of luck!

 

I feel for you. I am back on Nofap for much the same reasons. I have a good streak going and end up failing and the cycle begins again and again. Sometimes I have even less and less of an honest steak going.
At sometimes being on nofap is the one thing keeping me going and other times it makes me obsess about pmo so much I feel it becomes counterproductive.
I do think it can help. If you can become more self aware and more alert to what causes urges and triggers and you apply what you learn each time you can improve drastically. That said, the road is long and ever winding. it can become easier, it has for me and even with that my sense of commitment failed me.
Still, better to be here than on things that are stealing the joy of life.

 

This hits home bro. One of my sign before relapsing is losing the sense of purpose in my life, followed with overthinking and self disappointment. Although I've managed to achieve consecutive 13 days abstinence, I'm still working on garnering my will power to deflect those dark thoughts I mentioned and regain control over my true self.
Well, nevertheless, quite the insightful post you've made. Thankyou for sharing brother.

 

Personally i believe 90% of people give up on NoFap because your brain will start going "what's the reward for doing this?", "why should i abstain from this thing i want to do and feels good" and then people find there's no big outcome for them in struggling to get out of it. Almost like the effort is not worth for the reward, i totally understand how this feels as it crossed my mind many times.

But as a christian i have a different perspective obviously from someone who doesn't believe masturbating or watching porn is ethically wrong or is not a big of a deal, all i know is that for one to succeed in this hard journey you have to realize PMO regardless you believe there's no spiritual damage when doing it, certainly it will change your brain, the way you look at people and how you act as a person that is more than enough to stop.

Stay strong and keep fighting the good fight

 

I agree that NoFap is not enough. It is a good part of a process and can help clear the brain to allow me to really address my issues. For me, the issue is trying to address why I turned to PMO in the first place and why I kept returning to it. I wonder why when practically every guy is presented with porn access and masturbates but many don't "get hooked" on it, why did I get deeper into it and continue it to the detriment of other aspects of life and relationships? That's why I can't do this alone. Reading NoFap posts is helpful much of the time, but I need more. Reaching a magic number or streak doesn't help me and I need to get at the underlying reason in order to push through this and recover. I've chosen to work with a therapist, join a weekly NoFap group where the same group of guys talks about our stories, struggles and provides support, as well as an SAA group which does the same thing. Voicing it out loud to other human beings who are non-judgmental, supportive, can empathize with your story and want to help you recover, is really helpful. This addiction thrives in secrecy and isolation, but can be overcome in honesty and connection. And I think a connection to spirituality, whatever form that takes for you, is important. I've kind of lost mine along the way and need to work on getting that back. Best wishes to you guys and stay strong.

 

Beating a previous streak is important but obcessing over it is bad, I'm afraid this could lead me to a relapse on my day 15 streak, but as they say fear is the path to the dark side.

That side, you should look more towards the benefits of Nofap, been noticing I'm less Shy and more honest around my family so far it looks like a benefit, but a solution to blue balls is definitely required if you wanna do it long term, I now put some coconut oil on the parts so I dont have issues going forward with it.

 

NoFAp is a tool for success but not the end of the road. I have done reasonably well just being in the clear frame of mind and putting other things in my way so that PMO was less alluring. In the end there is no special streak number that makes this work. If there was I would have done it by now.