Welcome brothers! I have made several posts over the course of the past 8 months detailing specific milestones in my recovery. The overall details of my starting point I have come to realize are not important, as we can all exhibit addictive and compulsive traits associated with PMO at differing usage stages and rates. What is important to understand is that I had desensitized myself from real world stimulus to the point where I could not achieve and then maintain an erection, even with the help of ED medicine. I had a warped view of sexuality, my tastes were progressing to more extreme material, and i viewed my now wife as an extension of my PMO, even despising her when she didn’t want to have sex with me at the drop of a hat.
Through therapy, abstinence and developing new and healthy thought and behavior patterns, I feel that I am almost completely healed. It has been 202 days.
I can now achieve and maintain an erection by the simple act of knowing I’m about to start foreplay, without the use of ED medication. My libido is alive, albeit much more controlled then when I was susceptible to compulsive PMO urges. I don’t fantasize about sex on purpose, but I do not look down on myself for doing so now. I do feel you should refrain from fantasy during your reboot.
I did not feel this way until about a month ago. Sex up until this point (day 150-190) would initiate a small and barely noticeable flatline that would dissipate after 48-72 hours. I believe there are two main flatlines in recovery. There is the one from weeks 2-8, which is your brain realizing it is undergoing change. When you think your first flatline is ending, it is just a trick to get you to use again. Months 3-6 are the real flatline. Your brain is going to do everything it it’s power at this point to make you use again. This is your breakthrough moment, because once you make it through this, you are finally ready to start practicing a healthy sex life.
abstinence does not equal recovery. The point of a reboot is to get your brain into a state where it is willing to transform and develop new, healthy feelings and attitudes towards sex and sexuality, and just life and hobbies and people in general. PMO robs you of your time and identity.
I will continue to add to this post, it ended up taking longer than my break at work, but i wanted to share with my brothers that recovery and rebooting do work, snd I feel I owe my life and sanity to this forum. Thank you all, and feel free to ask questions
Through therapy, abstinence and developing new and healthy thought and behavior patterns, I feel that I am almost completely healed. It has been 202 days.
I can now achieve and maintain an erection by the simple act of knowing I’m about to start foreplay, without the use of ED medication. My libido is alive, albeit much more controlled then when I was susceptible to compulsive PMO urges. I don’t fantasize about sex on purpose, but I do not look down on myself for doing so now. I do feel you should refrain from fantasy during your reboot.
I did not feel this way until about a month ago. Sex up until this point (day 150-190) would initiate a small and barely noticeable flatline that would dissipate after 48-72 hours. I believe there are two main flatlines in recovery. There is the one from weeks 2-8, which is your brain realizing it is undergoing change. When you think your first flatline is ending, it is just a trick to get you to use again. Months 3-6 are the real flatline. Your brain is going to do everything it it’s power at this point to make you use again. This is your breakthrough moment, because once you make it through this, you are finally ready to start practicing a healthy sex life.
abstinence does not equal recovery. The point of a reboot is to get your brain into a state where it is willing to transform and develop new, healthy feelings and attitudes towards sex and sexuality, and just life and hobbies and people in general. PMO robs you of your time and identity.
I will continue to add to this post, it ended up taking longer than my break at work, but i wanted to share with my brothers that recovery and rebooting do work, snd I feel I owe my life and sanity to this forum. Thank you all, and feel free to ask questions
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