PAWS? — anyone else have issues months after quitting?

[Adastra1991]

Ok, so I am around 5 months since I looked at porn. 31 years old, and have been using it since I was 13…and looking at it as young as I can remember. It’s always been my greatest addiction. Somehow I managed to finally resolve that I need this out of my life. I refuse to go back to it. The first month I felt fine, my normal self, then all of a sudden I started slipping down into an anxious depression. Take into account that a culmination of very bad things also occurred after I decided to quit. I was then diagnosed with a bowel disorder, I almost wrecked my marriage because my ex tried to get back together with me, and a host of other typical sucky life circumstances. I now have little stress tolerance, eye twitches, fogginess, despair, feelings of joy/happiness are completely evaporated. Do I want to look at porn? Yes, absolutely. But I am this far in and don’t want to ever go back. So here are my questions…

1. Is it normal to not feel well mentally months after quitting porn? It feels as if I cannot handle stress the way I used to…porn was the outlet in which I got release, this makes sense to me but I’d like to hear someone else’s experience long term.

2. I’ve heard it takes a year for the brains reward circuitry to go back to normal, is this true?

3. I am pushing through. Exercising, eating well, taking supplements, doing breathing exercises when I feel overwhelmed. Any other tips to help in recovery?

Thanks!

 

[PlusP]

1. You likely have elevated hormone levels, which people often associate with "feeling alive" in the sense that the highs and higher and the lows are lower. Look into other stressors in your life too. Quitting porn is a step, but the rest of life needs to be addressed too.

2. Depends on the person. For some people it can be slow, or fast. You'd be surprised how much we don't know about our own brains.

3. Look up the diver's reflex. Its an amazing emergency tactic. Your head will feel extremely clear afterwards. Just do this:

Immerse your entire face in cold water, hold your breath for as long as possible, and come up when you're out of breath. It's like hacking your animal part to calm yourself down.