Post acute withdrawal and my symptoms. Can you relate?

No

 

I’m basically in a severe flatline

 

No, no such use.

 

1) Depression. - Yes
2) Anxiety and panic attacks for no good reason.- No
3) Forgetfulness.- Hugh yes! Dopamine related
4) Concentration problems. - Yes
5) Mood swings.- Yes
6) Lack of motivation and apathy (things that I enjoyed and gave me the thrills didn't anymore). - Big yes!
7) Difficulty reading/studying efficiently as normal people do (I find myself forgetting and repeating lines or words over and over to retain it but it's futile)- Yes!
8) Difficulty following up a conversation. - Not really
9) inability to handle stress. Any little stress made my symptoms worse, especially the cognitive impairment and mood swing. - Sometimes
10) brain fog from time to time. It seemed brain fog was totally separate from the cognitive impairments. Brain fog made my head feel clouded and worsened my cognitive impairments but it would subside still leaving me with my cognitive impairment. The brain fog usually came when I mistakenly saw a nude pic on the streets or on an ad. I never relapsed. - Oh yes, big yes on this one. My thoughts are everywhere..

 

You pmo’ed heavily for 6 months and got withdrawals for 18 months??!!!!

How heavy are we talking here, how often a day and for how long? I want to know because I heavy pmo for a few years

 

Have things gotten better?

 

I think besides anxiety and depression, so commonly mentioned here, one of the worst withdrawal symptoms is that you cannot feel a thing besides anxiety and or depression.

It's hard to explain for me but it feels as if nothing is capable of making you feel good and happy. It's as if you've lost a connection with Earth or nature and things like sunshine, seasons or nature do nothing for you anymore. It's as if your emotions and feelings are flattened and the only thing you can feel is depression or anxiety. Don't know if it makes sense but perhaps in itself it is the definition of depression or anxiety.

 

That is absolutely spot on too how I have felt for years. Just living life as a zombie for years.

 

I achieved some amazing things during the reboot, so yes. Best decision I have made for myself. But, the flatline is hell. You just have to hang in there.

How is it going for you?

 

Yeah, PMO is the worse you can do for your brain..

 

I feel bad for you...I can definitely absolutely relate. I definitely have felt worse as I tried to stop, although I never succeeded in not relapsing. But as many ppl on here say, it gets better after you get past withdrawal! I really believe that...give it time, stay the course and keep staying positive and doing positive things with your time (relationships, enjoyable activities, sports for example, time with friends, whatever positive habits you can inculcate instead)...