Tackling porn and masturbation addiction
Hi y'all I'm in the process of quitting masturbation and porn. I'm doing it for myself and to see if it will help me with my anxiety too. Was wondering for those who have tried or are trying to quit what goals/plan of action you set for yourself. I completely went cold turkey but obviously the withdrawal symptoms are hard to deal with. Is it better to cut down to like 2-3x a week, 1x per week, etc? Do you tackle both porn and masturbation at the same time? Or do you try to try to stop one before the other so like letting yourself watch porn but not masturbating. Does having a wet dream count as failing/relapse being that wet dreams come from not masturbating for a long time or having a really sexual dream? What are your thoughts? Thanks
@Pudgy hello!
Well I am a fellow abstainers and I recently went on a 50 day streak but broke it a week ago . I usually make a list of all my triggers and try to find alternative ways to handle the problem. You could also look at why you want to act out, and then try to find other ways which can soothe you, for example , talking about it with a loved one. Also wetdreams are something that are a normal part of nature and having them will not reset your recovery. Although beware that after a wetdream occurs you will likely experince more urgea than before. It's something nicknamed the chaser effect. Anyways, you can alwaya join online forums such as Nofap.com or download the app Rewirecompanion to help you on your journey 😊
Thanks for the advice! All very helpful info and insight for the situation. I will look into those resources. Intrusive thoughts are a given but are there any ways to help manage the withdrawal symptoms specifically the insomnia, headaches, and lack of appetite?
@Pudgy Hello! I'm sorry I didn't reach out earlier... I hope you're doing well . They'll just decrease with time although for insomnia, you might want to consult some medical professional because that is the hardest part to deal with. Tbh I have never heard of apetite being gone, that might be new. As for the headaches, pain killers usually work for me but everyone is different, consult a medical professional if they don't clear themselves out in a week's time
