Introducing more accountability

Have you noticed that poor sleep negatively affects you will power?

  • Yes

    Votes: 32 91.4%
  • No

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • Other

    Votes: 1 2.9%

  • Total voters
    35
Onto Day 55,

Time change has caused some sleep problems this week, which has showed up as a little more nagging in my mind. I've had more desires to think about lust related things or look at woman. Thankfully the 55 days so reenforced healthier habits like pausing or stoping to pray.

I'm looking forward to adjusting to the time change and being less tired. I wish everyone strength and perseverance.
 
Touching base on day 57.

I've still had the nagging in my mind. It has actually increased. I feel myself wanting to fantasize more about porn like situations. To be completely honest I've been concerned. I know my activity with NoFap has decreased, and my spiritual life has also been lacking (less intentional and more of going through the motions. This has happened before and I am able to get back in the groove).

I will be holding myself more accountable for this next week. My intentions are to:
  • Post everyday and become active in the community again.
  • At least 10 minutes of meditation everyday.
  • And some for of free-writing (brain dump) to allow my mind some space.
  • I will also inform my SO of how I've been feeling and let her know what I'm doing. In the past when I've don this, it has helped me not feel unnecessary guilty around her when I am struggling.
Please let me know if you have healthy practices you do that have kept you on the path. Thanks!!
 
Back for day 58

Since yesterday, things have felt a lot better. It's strange the impact being transparent can have. I'm not out of the woods yet, and likely won't be for a long time. But the important thing is that it doesn't have to be a struggle everyday. There is a direct correlation between the quality of my recovery and the effort I am putting in.

I'm so close to two months!!! 60 days is a huge milestone. If you are reading this and struggling, I can not emphasis how impactful these writing have been. Not being alone in my recovery has made a world of difference.
 
I've just updated my day counter to accurately represent where I am (Day 1).

My intentions for today are to do my morning routine (pray, meditate, write) and try to be more present today. Trying to listen more to others and practice watching my breath. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Also, if anyone could share how they have dealt with physical triggers. Most of my Fapping happens in the shower. I am a little afraid of this for my recovery. Several times I've gone in there with no intention only to "do it again". If anyone has had success with a similar issue I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!
During those period, did you experience any significant changes in your overall self?
 
During those period, did you experience any significant changes in your overall self?

Hey @Da sylver ! Yes I did. I experienced physical, mental, and emotional changes so far since I've started.

I will preface this by saying I saw a huge overall change in my reaction to porn usage, fantasizing, and checking out woman. There is now more control/willpower/what-ever-you-want-to-call-it. Most of the time (and I mean like 95% of the day) it's not a nagging problem. There are days where I only remember it because I'm trying to be conscious that it is something I want to be aware of.

Physically: I've not had issues with ED when I'm intimate vs beforehand the only way I could address this was to fantasize about porn during and hope that would keep me erect long enough. I would also say I have more energy, but I don't know fully if this is true. I may just feel better and therefore have more of a willingness to do things. Either way I feel better

Mentally: I've seen a dramatic increase in my patience and reactions. Before, most everything with my SO seemed to be irritating. I think a lot of this was guilt and frustration I had with myself that got projected. But yeah, Huge improvements there.

Emotionally: I think this is the slowest of the three. I've gained a lot of empathy and understanding in experiencing this journey myself and watching others. My view has changed on this addiction.

Let me know If there is anything else I can help with!
 
Day 62,

I only met about half of my intentions, but I am not punishing myself. I will try again to do better this upcoming week!
 
Hey @Da sylver ! Yes I did. I experienced physical, mental, and emotional changes so far since I've started.

I will preface this by saying I saw a huge overall change in my reaction to porn usage, fantasizing, and checking out woman. There is now more control/willpower/what-ever-you-want-to-call-it. Most of the time (and I mean like 95% of the day) it's not a nagging problem. There are days where I only remember it because I'm trying to be conscious that it is something I want to be aware of.

Physically: I've not had issues with ED when I'm intimate vs beforehand the only way I could address this was to fantasize about porn during and hope that would keep me erect long enough. I would also say I have more energy, but I don't know fully if this is true. I may just feel better and therefore have more of a willingness to do things. Either way I feel better

Mentally: I've seen a dramatic increase in my patience and reactions. Before, most everything with my SO seemed to be irritating. I think a lot of this was guilt and frustration I had with myself that got projected. But yeah, Huge improvements there.

Emotionally: I think this is the slowest of the three. I've gained a lot of empathy and understanding in experiencing this journey myself and watching others. My view has changed on this addiction.

Let me know If there is anything else I can help with!
WOOW This is some growth.......
 
Onto day 63!

Just finished my daily practice and am filled with gratitude for my journey so far. I can't say how thankful I am to Nofap for this community and everyone in here trying to better their lives. Where ever you are is where you are. And it is sufficient enough to make a beginning. Self forgiveness has been huge for me. Taking responsibility for my actions and doing better has been enough. Its become the 1% better each day mindset.
 
Wrapping up day 64!

Smooth sailing today, no real issues and made time for my morning practice. Looking forward to trying to do better going into the next week.
 
Coming back to check in at day 75!

I've procrastinated quite a bit before getting back here to post. A weird part of it was guilt, that I've been away so long. More so guilt along the lines of wanting to be more active here and knowing it will help, but not doing it.

75 days in, life is different from the first week. I am in no way cured, but my first responses and "willpower" have become more in line with my ideals. I do still notice provocative ads while online and get the urge to stare and fantasize. But it isn't as strong as it used to be, and 5 minutes later (most of the time) I've already forgotten about it.

My performance in the bedroom and my ability to natural get (and stay) erect is phenomenal. I still can't believe how much of my problems stemmed from this unhealthy addiction. I'm extremely grateful to be in recovery!
 
Checking in on day 78

Feeling a little off today, going to do some prayer and meditation. Hopefully that helps, most of the time it does.
 
Hey everyone,

I can not do it alone. I've been off and on porn use now for over a year. Initially, I had no idea it was a problem and how far a reach into my life it had.

The longest I've been able to stay away from porn was around 3 months. During this time I was doing daily journaling about it. I've learned a lot about myself, but it has not been enough.

I hope to be able to successfully recover and help others that suffer here along the way. I know it is achievable, but I can't do it by myself. I'm going to become more active on this forum and post at least 4-5 times a week (my goal is daily).

A huge factor in my recovery has been my sleep health. When I am not getting adequate sleep, all my defenses seem to fail. It's what (I think) caused my last relapse and what broke my 3-month streak.
I have been able to succesfully rewire my brain "Not completely" But I can happilly declare that "Porn disinterests me, and that I have zero motivation to go after it" simply because I have discovered how badly it affected my life. Which is why I have made an unequivocable decision to quit, with no room for doubt or fear.

I am truly a succes story but that doesn't go to say that I didn't suffer along the way. In fact now that I look back at it, I think that I have suffered much more than neccesary.

My longest streak in the previous year was 150 days no PMO, and life seemed to be going so smoothly for me, but this one time I was watching a series and there was a sex scene for which I was surprisingly immune to, and for the first time in a long time I have and with my entire free will decided to skip a sex scene without having curiosity to look.

It was then that I became "Overconfident" Which in fact turned out to be the thing that turned my life upside down, because I got cocky, I slipped and allowed myself to masturbate at first without looking at porn, but because of that mistake "The urges to masturbate came back stronger than ever, and I couldn't tell you how horrible I felt when I didn't masturbate 2 to 3 times a day" And so here I was after 150 days clean streak, I am now a perv again. But that didn't discourage me "It taught me that I had to learn from my mistakes"

So my advice is, if anybody here has a long streak, they ought to keep it that way. Don't test yourself and especially don't allow yourself to slip because that may prove to be your biggest downfall.
 
Coming back to check in at day 75!

I've procrastinated quite a bit before getting back here to post. A weird part of it was guilt, that I've been away so long. More so guilt along the lines of wanting to be more active here and knowing it will help, but not doing it.

75 days in, life is different from the first week. I am in no way cured, but my first responses and "willpower" have become more in line with my ideals. I do still notice provocative ads while online and get the urge to stare and fantasize. But it isn't as strong as it used to be, and 5 minutes later (most of the time) I've already forgotten about it.

My performance in the bedroom and my ability to natural get (and stay) erect is phenomenal. I still can't believe how much of my problems stemmed from this unhealthy addiction. I'm extremely grateful to be in recovery!
You must not feel guilty brother, in fact you should actually be appreciative of the fact that you were out for so long.

You have made a mistake by compromising your great achievement but that's ok, consider it a tough lesson and especially do not do it again under any set of circumstances.

Let your mistakes be the blueprint for a true succes story.
 
Checking in on day 78

Feeling a little off today, going to do some prayer and meditation. Hopefully that helps, most of the time it does.
I would highly advice the following 10 commandments that would change your view about porn in general, once you read and grasp the following you'll be set on the path to stop feeling as if you're making a sacrifice by staying away from porn, which in turn will eliminate most of the cravings.

1- Set your date and time to stop
Set a date and time to cease masturbation to porn and carry on as usual right up to the moment you select to stop – Don’t quit cold turkey from day one, as that will make you feel as if you’re depriving yourself of something. You must particularly not think that you’re making a sacrifice. It is vital for optimal recovery.

2- Look forward
Remember – you’re not giving up anything because porn did nothing for you. In fact, it only made your life miserable. You get no long-lasting healthy pleasure from it, and it simply kept you in its belly for far too long – a slave to lust. Get it clearly into your mind: you are losing nothing, and you are making remarkable favorable improvements not only in health, energy, and money but also in trust, self-esteem, independence, and, most important of all, in the length and quality of your future sex life. You’ll enjoy being a non-porn user from the moment you go through your last session.

3- Have a final PMO'ing session
There’s nothing to sacrifice – you’re getting rid of a heavy burden. Watch your final porn video and make an irreversible promise that you will never watch another video again or view women on the net as sexual objects no matter what happens. This is the most crucial decision you will ever make because the length and quality of your future sex life critically depend on it. What’s more, you know it’s the right choice actually as you make it. You know that you made the correct decision, never even begin to question or doubt that decision, and never let anyone influence or shake you confidence in your own decision.

4- Be cool about the process
Your brain will eventually rewire from the effects of porn consumption the more you abstain from porn use, but that doesn’t signify that you will feel utterly miserable because you can’t have another sneak peek. The physical withdrawal is very moderate, and it quickly fades. Take the time to appreciate that you won’t have to deal with any pangs after successfully leaving porn addiction behind you.
Slowly but surely, reprogram your mind to function without porn because it can and always could.

5- Don't keep waiting for the moment of revelation
Do not try to avoid discussions about porn out of fear that you’ll be influenced to relapse. You must be highly confident that nothing can reverse your decision. Go out and appreciate social events right from the start and do not envy porn viewers; instead, you should pity them. Realize that they will be coveting you because every one of them will be hoping they could be like you: free from the nasty porn dependency.

No porn addict wants to see their loved ones PMO’ing which means they desire they hadn’t begun themselves. Recognize that it’s not you who are being deprived, but poor porn consumers are. They’re being denied their mental health, vitality, peace of mind, self-esteem, courage, self-worth, and freedom. If you’re ever questioned about your no PMO lifestyle, just ditch the conversation and don’t even bother explaining the long list of benefits of NOFAP. Do not cast pearls before swine.

6- Think about porn
Don’t try to resist thinking about porn – it just doesn’t work. If I say: “Don’t think about a monkey”, the first thing you’ll think about is a monkey? Just make sure that whenever you remember porn, you’re not thinking: “I am craving just one more PMO’ing session right now, but I am deprived” but instead think: “Isn’t is great that I don’t need to waste my valuable time on porn anymore and I have no motivation to do so anymore. I’m a recovered porn addict!” Then you can safely think about porn all you want and you’ll still feel no threat to relapse at all.

7- Don't sneak a peek, not even one
Never be fooled into thinking you can “sneak a peek” just one time to get over a stressful life situation. If you do, you’ll end up trapped in no time at all. Never think about it one last time; always think of the clean streak. Don’t compromise your outstanding achievement by dropping your guard down, don’t slack off. Stay vigilant and disciplined.

8- Don't go on a porn diet
Do not use porn to quit porn consumption. That will make it more complicated and painful to stop because it’ll enhance the illusion that you’re making a sacrifice. You can’t treat poison with poison. Get through your head that by going on a porn diet, you will keep the cravings alive and constantly suffer and end up very confused. You can’t heal a heroin addict by prescribing fewer doses of the substance that caused the very problem in the first place.

9- Never doubt your decision
Get rid of all the porn content and cut all possible ways porn might appear in your life again. You were already a non-porn addict when you finished your last PMO’ing session. In fact, one of the best joys of being porn-free is not having to deal with it anymore. You have put an end to your own self-imposed slavery.

10- Once free, preserve your freedom
You will soon recover your lost powers back but be on your guard not to get trapped again. If you ever think of having “Just one last sneak peek,” remember that there is no such thing, so the question you should ask yourself is: “Do I want to throw my great achievement into the dirt only to get back in the trap that I have fought so hard to break free from? a disgraced porn addict again, every day craving those perverse scenes ?” The answer is “No.” Why not? “Because I hated being a porn slave every day – that’s why I decided to better myself in the first place and become normal again.” It’s essential to remind yourself if you slack off and unconsciously drop off your guard. A little reminder every now and then works as a powerful inner suggestion and will do wonders.
 
I've just updated my day counter to accurately represent where I am (Day 1).

My intentions for today are to do my morning routine (pray, meditate, write) and try to be more present today. Trying to listen more to others and practice watching my breath. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Also, if anyone could share how they have dealt with physical triggers. Most of my Fapping happens in the shower. I am a little afraid of this for my recovery. Several times I've gone in there with no intention only to "do it again". If anyone has had success with a similar issue I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!
praying is silly, meditation just ain't for me, writing seems useful tho.
 
So my advice is, if anybody here has a long streak, they ought to keep it that way. Don't test yourself and especially don't allow yourself to slip because that may prove to be your biggest downfall.

I could not agree more.
 
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