When will Porn Flash backs fade away ?

Difficult to say. Based on what I know from neuroscience, it depends on the intensity, length and the number of times ('repeatability') of the visual stimulus. So, if you watched a very intense porn scene (e.g. a high level of arousal) over a long period of time, and you watched this scene(s) repeatedly, it would most likely take longer, perhaps up to 200 days or more (but this is not based on any study, just my estimation). It could also be longer. I think it's impressive that you made it this far. Remember too that other memories come back to haunt us all now and then, meaning all images that were printed in us in concomitance with arousal in any form. So I wouldn't discourage over this. Give it time and I'm confident you will conquer this issue.

 

Hey man, I don't know about that, But I just want to warn you that don't start binging porn videos, thinking it's no harm cuz you won't relapse. EVENTUALLY YOU WILL. I tell you from experience. I had been free of PMO for 8 months. Then, I started binging porn videos like an idiot and BAMM!!! RELAPSE. I'm going through hell now. STAY STRONG MAN. I think it will go away after maybe 5-6 months. Cuz those videos have been fried up in our brain. It'll take time. I GUESS.

 

Imagery fades. I still have light flashbacks and those awful dreams. But reprogramming helps. When it pops up, so to speak, what's your switch? For me its to recite a song. Or do some simple mental maths.

In terms of memory, everyone is different. I can remember events from 2years +. My mom said she can remember from a year and a half. Events that are tied to some emotion is usually memorable. I don't think P imagery would last that long.

At the same, dwelling on a thought embeds it deeper.

 

I like @ArMed_ElK 's response. These things just take time, however, I'm not sure if they entirely go away. Temptations are sure to come as Jesus said. I do think the memory of them fades but, if you're like I was, you've probably invested years into this drug and I wouldn't expect it to wholly go away in anything short of the time you've put into it.

There is always hope though. I don't believe that having these thoughts, indulging in them, and actively pursuing them are on the same level. Having these thoughts is, unfortunately, only natural but because of its nature it is forgivable and you shouldn't feel ashamed for it. Indulging in the thoughts, which if I understand your post correctly you may seem to be doing, is dangerous because it starts this negative feedback loop. If you do this too much you will very likely be tempted to act on these thoughts and that is what we want to avoid because it is the act that is the worse problem.

How often do we think of murdering and stealing and all sorts of other horrendous things? More often perhaps than most of us would like, but those of us with sound minds may think "I want to kill that person" or "I want to steal that thing" but the thought ends there because we know that that would be wrong. Similarly, with the flashbacks that you are suffering from, they need to end there. You need to take control of your mind and dismiss the idea of analyzing them and thinking of them just like you would do with anything else that is wrong amd beneath you.

It is not easy, but it is doable with God's grace.

 

Most individuals usually take nine to fully forget. The significance of the time period is that events can happen that will naturally become more memorable, thus replacing little by little, anything we stored that is not linked to something effective or emotional.

 

I just came to think of something that Guy Finley, the self-help author, said: "Stop playing with painful thoughts and feelings". It's like the more we indulge in thoughts, the more we subconsciously nurture them, thus feeding the 'addicted self'. Even though the thoughts may be resisting porn, it can inadvertently lead to us indulging in porn because we feed the 'addicted self'. So, the challenge for me has been to just observe the thoughts and not play with them. Easier said than done ...

 

@Mr.Tony Just an unrelated comment, is your profile pic, Snake from Metal Gear Solid? Been listening peace walker OST a while back.

 

Figured that much. Solid, Liquid, Punished Venom... that was a series.

 

I think its different for everyone so it is hard to truly say. We are at roughly the same amount of days and for me I dont think about porn that much and when I do it barely does anything to me. It's generally a good idea to try and "push out" the porn memories from your active brain by doing other things that you can think about instead, like some sort of creative endeavour, or something that otherwise forces you to think and pay attention.

 

At first i want to start with a story....Once a man went to a wise man and asked for a powerful mantra for reciting as a rumor got spread that the wise man has a mantra that can transform someone into powerful being....The wise man denied saying that there's no such thing but the man didn't believed him and insisted for the mantra. So the wise man gave a mantra to recite and also warned him to not think of any monkey as it won't work if he thinks of any monkey during reciting the mantra. He went back to his place happily and was about to recite the mantra but was also thinking of not thinking of any monkey. More he tried to recite the mantra more he thought of a monkey everywhere. He went back to the wise man and said you take back the mantra and next time please don't tell me to not think of any monkey........So it's better not to be too focused on thinking of not watching porn and instead concentrate on other useful work. I am also struggling to get out from this shit....