My 10 Part Plan to Reboot

1.No porn (obviously)

2.Masturbation not more often than every 7 days. No casual masturbation! (My partner can help with this too)

While masturbating, focus on my body and sensations. Do not allow visual porn fantasies to take over. Focus on how this empowers me and learn more about my body.

3. Video games 1 hour per month MAX.

4. Stopping to constantly check emails, stats, browsing forums (very hard!)
Weekly reflection journal instead to track progress.

5. No Junk TV (reality TV etc)
Intellectual programming like TED talks, documentaries, generally less TV overall.

6. No CONSTANT music

7. No binging on comfort food

8. No binging on physical comfort (= sitting around all day)
Instead, exercise daily, or at least take one long walk, preferably through nature.

9.Research and Incorporate the right food into diet. This includes testosterone building food and mood altering supplement like Addium.

10. Stop compulsory and negative thought patterns.
Need advice on this.

I welcome discussion and criticism. This is a plan that I think will work for me. It may not be right for everyone. I am treating my addiction as an arousal addiction. Just because I quit porn does not mean I am quitting sex. I am quitting porn and treating my arousal addiction in order to have a more healthy sex life. I want to share my sex life in private with the one I love. To do this I have created this plan. I will try to report my experiences implementing this plan next week to share with the community hopefully as a positive and the beginning of a success story.

 

Why keep masturbating? - I never felt addicted to masturbation. I felt addicted to being aroused. I would browse Porn for hours with a constant erection and not masturbate. To me it was more rewarding to see a contestant stream of images and videos than it was to masturbate. Rarely practiced edging. So generally when I did PMO it was a really quick session. That often just lead to hours browsing afterwards. I also want explore myself in more depth. I think my own sexual response with out the addition of Porn is something that is worth exploring.

CONSTANT music - I believe to be good treatment for preventing unwanted arousal. Music is good in moderation. One of my triggers is dub step, trance, techno music. I listened to it constantly keeping me is a state of arousal (not necessarily erect) even when not viewing. So instead I am choosing to listen to better music like Lindsey sterling and pentatonix for example in moderation. I agree some music can be good. I guess this could evolve into not listening to trigger music. I will tweek my plan after working it for a week.

Video games - Because from what I've been researching video game addiction is very similar. It's similar in that the same reward response system is triggered as in viewing Porn. It's the novelty of constant new digital experience VS real life experience. I wouldn't call my video game usage an addiction at this point (2-3 hours a week) but I don't want to devote my new found time and energy (from quitting Porn) into a different digital medium instead of a real life one. I also believe this to be a step in a healthier direction.

Thanks for questions. Hope that helped clear it up a little.

 

@Sun Bro. Do t give up on quitting tobacco. That is something I conquered earlier my life. But this addiction is much worse. The video games for me is an appropriate reduction from my current level. I game only about 3 hours weekly.

@21decisionforlife - I see your point about triggering the dopamine and that being a possible way to relapse. One of my motivations for doing this is to develop a healthy sexual life and relationship with my partner. I see a lot of people who perceive giving up porn is also giving up on sex and that aspect of life. I don't want to give up sex by giving up porn. I want to develop a healthy relationship with sex. Sex is not sitting in a dark room with a dick in your hand. To develop a healthy sexual relationship I need to know myself and doing that includes an appropriate level of masturbation.

Both - Taking many issues at the same time is a challenge and difficult one at that to go through while epierencing withdrawal symptoms. I keep telling myself when the symptoms show it is a temporary item and it will pass. The symptoms haven't been physical but more psychological for me. It is my version of hard mode because I have a partner.