It takes 35.6 weeks of abstinence to cure your brain

I finally found some reliable science study how long does it take to regrowth your grey matter volume to base line or above after being addicted for long time.

It takes 35.6 weeks of abstinence on average (range 26.4–44.9, sd 6.2). With 26.4 weeks in the best case scenario on 44.9 weeks in the worst cases.

Study was done on alcohol, cocaine and heroin groups but according to authors almost the same brain's grey matter changes where observed with people who have compulsive behavior addictions (sex, porn, gambling, overeating disorders)

So we have a timeline guys 250 days on average (185-314 days). We should be aiming for 314 just to be sure.

The very, very good news is that the study shows that we can grow grey matter volume way above baseline (giving us even more self control than control group) if we continue with abstention past these dates.



Weeks of abstinence.
Table 2) were observed to show positive correlations with weeks of abstinence, that is grey matter volume in these regions increased with abstinence. These included left insula, left and right cingulate gyri, the left cuneus, left and right superior frontal gyri, left culmen of the cerebellum, and the right middle temporal gyrus. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, in each of these regions, those CD users with shorter periods of abstinence show less GM than controls. Those who were abstinent longer show greater GM volumes than controls. The cross-over point from relatively smaller to relatively greater volumes was quite consistent across all regions, averaging 35.6 weeks of abstinence (range 26.4–44.9, sd 6.2). Three regions (see Table 2) were observed to display negative correlations with length of abstinence. These included regions in bilateral cuneus and one in the left precuneus. In these regions, on average 24.2 weeks of abstinence (range 18.5–27.6, sd 5.0) passed before the level of GM equaled that of controls and then declined further with increased periods of abstinence.



Here's URL to full study:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0059645

It makes you wonder where 90 days reboot timeline came from. Probably from habit forming timeline (66 day +-14 days) trials but applying habit breaking/forming timeline to addicted brain is complete bullshit.

 

The study is mainly focused in grey matter volume growth in prefrontal cortex (cortex praefrontalis) associated with executive functions (cognitive control of behavior), self-control, if you will and parts associated with self awareness and self control.

Insulae are believed to be involved in consciousness and play a role in diverse functions usually linked to emotion or the regulation of the body's homeostasis. These functions include compassion and empathy, perception, motor control, self-awareness, cognitive functioning, and interpersonal experience.

Anterior cingulate cortex - The ACC is involved in error and conflict detection processes.

 

I have to disagree on that. All brain scan evidence suggest that compulsive addictive behaviors leave very similar brain changes as substance abuses. Because from physiological viewpoint addiction is nothing else as deep learned behavior. If you repeat any dopamine/serotonine related behavior long enough your will brain will rationalize and shift this behavior from prefrontal cortex to your lizard part of the brain (automate it). It's the way for your body to save body energy. Less grey matter in PFC means less energy consumption. Your brain is suddenly getting all the dopamine/serotonine it needs from PMO sessions and brain associates this with all your fundamental needs (food, sex, safety) has been suddenly covered with this "jackpot behavior", so it doesn't need big rational part of the brain that much anymore so it reduce it to save on energy consumption. It sound's FU, I know, but this is how our body functions. It's incredible rational survival machine. But it wasn't build on premise that any highly dopamine rewarding but in reality harmul behaviour could be only one click, glass, sniff or needle away.

 

I'm still recovering addict, there's no doubt about it. I'm doing much better than 5 months ago, but still experience addiction related symptoms. As you can see time heals but it's a slow painful process. You have to embrace it.

 

Typical PAWS, insomnia, mood swings, depression/anxiety, irritability, fatigue, occasional brain fog (though less and less) to name a few.

 

I was in flatline most of my current recovery, so I had only occasional problems with porn craving. By cravings I mean that I found myself on P related torrent sites without thinking. It was like acting on autopilot mode. This stopped to happen around 3-4 months into my recovery. I don't know exactly, I'd have to look back in my journal.
Right now I'm at the stage where P or M just don't attract me anymore and my interest in searching for real life relationship is growing. But I'm still not OK. I feel like I removed a blister (PMO) from wounds to see what's wrong with me, but still need much work on healing the wounds part to fully recover.

 

That's very true unfortunately. From what I've read there is scientific debate if addiction neuropathway once deeply enrooted in brain can be ever completely erased and most of the evidence suggest neuroplacticity can do only so much, if you've been long term addict. Meaning that you can abandon your neurological pathway (look at it as a highway if in long use) through abstention and develop new neuropath (alternate behavior) absent of compulsive behavior, which too will grow from narrow path to highway over the years if alternative behavior is repeated consistently, BUT still your old highway although weakened and abandoned will still stay fully funcional. If you chose to repeat PMO behavior years later, you're in grave danger of reopening it in an instant. That's why we'll have to stay vigillant for the rest of our lives. It's the same reason as to why long term alcoholic can't become social drinker or drug addict recreational user. That's not 100 % true, as some people are exceptions to this findings, but these are extremely rare cases.