Thank you so much, Jerry!
Holy shit, man! 140 days O.O You're doing great, man! You've found the path. Don't get complacent.
Nice job at 140 day! Really appreciate your support and inspiration to me and all of RN! GOD bless you!
Anything that works for you, bro. I can't MO because of what you just said: It could easily lead to P.Thank you so much, Jerry! However, since my last check-in I did MO once on October 26, 2021.
So, my current streak is currently at 151 days without P, PMO, and MO (-2).
The episode regarding MO was done without any P, and no p-subs were directly involved. It was what's called mindful masturbation, which was without (mostly) any fantasy, only stimulation in the present moment.
I know that MO is a red-line behavior as it could easily lead to P, PMO for me (as well as moral considerations), but I felt to not make too big a deal about it, and not count it (though I still track it elsewhere).
On that front, I'll make a note that of my 2x latest MO episodes there were 66 days before the 1st, and 79 days before the 2nd.
Bro, you are an inspiration nevertheless. I relapsed after 50 days and I haven't reached day 50 yet and you have even surpassed that long previous streak and if I remember correctly that wasn't even your longest. You definitely have a way to get longer streaks, you have a method that works, it would all go to waste if you started now to relapse frequently but I don't think this is the case. I wouldn't worry about a relapse in 150 days if it's not followed by completely letting yourself go.Lapsed (P).
This was all but anticipated, as my abstinence was becoming more and more of a technical state, as p-subs and edging were increasing in frequency and content (though with on and off resistance) since August...
My latest streak, however, stands at 157 days without P, PMO, and MO (-2).
It's amazing as I read in my focus list (linked elsewhere) how true it is, how if I follow it I shall come back into a true focus and a true reboot and recovery.
The culprit and target is my social media use, as always. However, drastic (but not overly restrictive) changes have to be made toward my use, especially of Instagram, and others like Youtube. I may post my plan in the coming days...
I wasn't going to post, but this isn't an endurance contest. I know I have a lot of advice for others, so it's of course humbling to lapse. But, hey...
I have initiated a 10 day probationary period, that if I pass, I'll simply continue without (closely) counting. If this isn't reached, I will institute a 40 day abstinence challenge.
Thank you, all, for your support.
Bro, you are an inspiration nevertheless. I relapsed after 50 days and I haven't reached day 50 yet and you have even surpassed that long previous streak and if I remember correctly that wasn't even your longest. You definitely have a way to get longer streaks, you have a method that works, it would all go to waste if you started now to relapse frequently but I don't think this is the case. I wouldn't worry about a relapse in 150 days if it's not followed by completely letting yourself go.
Yes, I understand what you mean by saying that it's not only a long streak that you are after. Without changes, you can return to porn easily. I've seen people who had hundreds of days away from porn but returned to porn because all they had was a long streak. It's not an easy task. That's why it's called "recovery" and not just "abstinence".Thank you, Escape! That's right, we were tracking together for a while...
You will get back to, and surpass 50 days, brother.
All I can do is get back on the horse. I think it's also important to avoid beating myself up, or shame-based thinking. So, I'm trying not to be sad, angry, or depressed, all of which comes with the territory- and throw in tiredness for good measure!
It was strange, but November 6, 2020 is the beginning of the 139 day streak I started with when I rejoined RN! Here we are year later... This passed streak (157 days) is so far the longest since March 2020 to March 2021.
What I've been after now in my own struggles is, not just a lengthy streak (though I'll take that), but a more deeper mind-shift away from it.
Nice, bro.I have come up with an acronym that I can take with me across all social media platforms: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Messenger and Twitter: IMPACT.
I will come onto all social media platforms with these 6 things in mind:
I - Integrity.
This means that when I come onto any social media platform, that I do so as a man of God. That I'm not liking this or that, saving this or that, or commenting, or scrolling as anything other than a Christian. I'm not some lustful connoisseur of women's pics. Though, as an artist, I still appreciate the beauty from that standpoint...
M - Mindfulness.
This means that when I'm on social media, I'm not to do so mindlessly out of habit, but in the moment fully aware. This may mean not going on first thing in the morning, or last thing at night. I will disrupt any patterns that make it some unhealthy habit.
P - Purposeful.
I go on with a specific purpose spelled out in my head before hand. If this is to post, then I'll post; to comment, then to comment; etc... Once I'm done, I'm out.
A - Alert.
How many times across Facebook and Twitter, or sometimes in Messenger, I'll get a 'friend request' or a message from some tailor-made hot sex-bot? This has tripped me up more times than I care to recollect. There's also a carefulness from being hit by a sexy picture unawares.
C - Concise.
That is, across all platforms (even Youtube) I'm to be surgical, or in-and-out. This brevity will keep me from scrolling into mindlessness.
T - Truthful.
This mainly concerns Messenger, where, if a young lady (typically foreigners) engage with me, that- Yes, I am married (though I've not lied about this), and I'm a Christian minister, not some geek in America trying to take advantage of them emotionally. Generally, anymore, I don't converse much with others on Messenger, and most have nothing to say but, 'Hi' anyway.
I will link to this post elsewhere to keep me focused on how I will be going forward that social media no longer trips me up as it has so many times before, despite my efforts to change this.
Nice, bro.
Phineas 808, Thanks so much for these post on how your approaching social media. So helpful as I am positive many of us struggle as you and I do with the psubs and edging that can easily come out of social media use! The IMPACT approach is something I will begin to utilize myself!
God Bless you bud!