The Dopamine Detox Challenge *(Science Based)*

Ah ok been planning on going on a dopamine detox would need to heal the brain

 

Day 1 then

 

Day 2

 

I reset. I used YouTube. Again starting from day 01.gotta stay firmm

 

Reset I kind of indulged in unhealthy foods So I’m resetting day 0

 

Day 1 completed. Didn't use youtube. But almost napped the whole day out.

 

I'm sorry I'm not checking in here. I decided to start small by limiting my entertainment use rather going a completed detox especially since I relapsed recently I think I shouldn't put too much pressure on myself.

 

@Bihari add me as well I am abstaining from everything except number 4 and youtube non educational videos.

 

I'm joining this challenge as well.

Activities I'm abstaining from -

1. PMO
2. All unnecessary internet use ( youtube, movies, etc)
3. Songs
4. Podcasts
5. Day Dreaming

My first target is 7 days.

Day 0/7

 

My Review for the day
Start 11/9/2020
Target End 12/31/2020

I was able to abstain from all these:

0. PMO/P-Subs/edging.
1. Movies/ T.V. series.
2. YouTube.
3. All social media.
5. Video games.
6. Music.
7. Disturbing news media.
8. sex chat with your gf.

Looking forward to tomorrow

 

Update.

Activities successfully avoided -

1. PMO
2. All unnecessary internet use ( youtube, movies, etc)
3. Songs
4. Podcasts
5. Day Dreaming

My first target is 7 days.

Have to act better, and have to slowly improve my brain condition.

Day 1/7

 

I reset indulged in PMO. Starting from day 0 again

 

Update. Day 2/7

Activities successfully avoided -

1. PMO
2. All unnecessary internet use ( youtube, movies, etc)
3. Songs
4. Podcasts
5. Day Dreaming

I will not consider today a failure, slow but consistent improvements.When i fill my day with more activities, the day dreaming problem will go away as well. I know that it is very bad for me.

 

Count me in @Bihari
Extreme mode
I'll abstain from:
0,1,2,3,4,6,7
I also want to give up video games but I only play 30mins a day as a reward for studying Korean.

 

Update. Day 3/7

Activities successfully avoided -

1. PMO
2. All unnecessary internet use ( youtube, movies, etc)
3. Songs
4. Podcasts
5. Day Dreaming

I did day dream today as well, but it was much lower compared to yesterday. I believe in slow but consistent improvements. I notice that my brain is much more noisy place in these starting days of the streak compared to when i was above 30 days. I miss the peace i had then.

 

I survived day one. I was able to abstain from all these:

0. PMO/P-Subs/edging.
1. Movies/ T.V. series.
2. YouTube.
3. All social media.
5. Video games.
6. Music.
7. Disturbing news media.
8. sex chat with your gf.

12/11/20

 

I'm back. I need some accountability!
I'm updating my detox-list:

1. M 'solo'
2. Movies/ T.V. series
3. YouTube
4. Surfing the internet w/o plan or goal
5. drugs

- Porn is not in the list anymore, because I'm starting with the Super Saiyan Challenge today. I want to prioritize no-porn and on top of that I do my best to avoid masturbation as well as the other things on the list.

- I'm skipping all nutrition and alcohol rules and instead try a different approach for now: I allow myself everything and try to consume with care and responsible. Drugs are not really an issue in my life, but I want to avoid it altogether nevertheless, so I left it in the list.

- Rule 2 to 4 are all about one thing actually: online behavior. I will make exceptions from time to time. For example when I need to watch a yt-video to learn something or to see how-to-do. Watching a movie together with others will always be allowed.


I also need some minimal everyday rules for daily structure in these difficult times. These rule shall usually apply at home:

1. Don't stay up after midnight
2. Use bed only for sleeping
3. Keep your home clean - clean after using ASAP

- Of course to all the rules there are exceptions. Only for MO there's no reason to allow it. Failing this first rule will always be a fail.

Finally, in my opinion, in addition to the don'ts there need to be dos. So I'll list the most essential dos that I should do on a daily basis:

1. Exercise
2. Order / Cleaning
3. Creative work or Learning
4. Reading or Writing
5. Meditation or a mindfulness practice

- The minimum for these tasks to get a check is 10 minutes

 

A little report

I watched a series just now. I allowed it bc the day - nearly over - was absolutely lazy and I decided to start my new go not before tomorrow. But at least staying clean from porn and MO, that was my intention.
After the movie I had the urge to watch porn. An excuse was quickly found: just one last time on this anyway lazy and unhealthy day. But then I thought: what kind of porn should I watch? And all choices seemed to be lame and boring.
Then I realized: the funny movie raised my mood; it triggered a release of dopamine and maybe serotonin and opiates. My brain then wanted to top that by getting a still bigger kick. For sure, if I would start watching porn it would trigger more release and I would feel great for some moments.
However, I DON'T actually WANT to watch porn. I even consider it to be boring!
What's more, if I would indulge into it, I would loose this good mood that I'm in right now. I would waste myself riding this hyperbolic dopamine wave. The only question is: how long will I ride it and how bad will I consequently waste myself.

So I decide now, that I won't do it. I won't watch porn or engage in any sexual act whatsoever. Instead I will reward myself with one more episode and then that's it. I'll shut my computer down.


Another thing: today I was really hungry and in consequence I overate on sweets. I couldn't enjoy it much. At the moment I fancy good hearty meals much more than sweets. Although my addictive behavior just drives me to sweets.
Maybe I can focus on hearty meals to combat my sugar-addiction. Yes, that really could work in the next days!

 

Really! No sex chat with our girlfriends, joanabore25! Only with your own one. Come-on, please!

 

Day 1

No ...
- M 'solo'
- Movies/ T.V. series
>> I allowed one short movie to chill out during meal though
- YouTube
- Surfing the internet w/o plan or goal
- Drugs


Basic rules
- Don't stay up after midnight <pending>
- Use bed only for sleeping
- Keep your home clean - clean after using ASAP


Daily Chores
Exercise
Order / Cleaning
Creative work or Learning
Reading or Writing
Meditation or a mindfulness practice


Comment
Today there was little time to do those daily chores. When I look back I think however, at least I could have done the reading.
It occured to me, that the daily chores might be too rigid, not flexible enough I mean. I thought, I just need to have the right mindset plus the routine of writing down on every day what I did and what I haven't done.
But then again, while I build that mindset and routine I better stick to that list, which is actually quite good.
So that's it for today. Good night!