Killing the Dragon
- Thread starter Zeke30
- Start date
This is a great chart about quitting PMO, and how your mood changes over the following days. Three things to note here:
1) The first 15 days feel like hell
2) After day 17, the mood starts to improve quickly.
3) Benefits really start to kick in after 26–30 days
This chart is of 'Dopamine focused warriors." I saw a post of the guy here, somewhere (I don't remember in which forum). I was watching his YouTube channel, and it has great videos. Highly recommended.
blog link: https://www.dopaminefocusedwarriors.com/blog/nofap-quitting-porn-withdrawal-timeline-visual-graph
youtube link:
1) The first 15 days feel like hell
2) After day 17, the mood starts to improve quickly.
3) Benefits really start to kick in after 26–30 days
This chart is of 'Dopamine focused warriors." I saw a post of the guy here, somewhere (I don't remember in which forum). I was watching his YouTube channel, and it has great videos. Highly recommended.
blog link: https://www.dopaminefocusedwarriors.com/blog/nofap-quitting-porn-withdrawal-timeline-visual-graph
youtube link:
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Day 13 - (12-day streak)
I just beat my November streak record!
Yesterday I was feeling so depressed. I cried my eyes out. I felt sad and angry about so many things (including being single, injustice in life/society, etc), but then I prayed and talked it out with God and felt better.
Also, today, Sunday, I just slept for 10 hours or so. These last few days, I had been sleeping only roughly 7 hours. I've come to the conclusion that I might need 8 hours, I've been tracking it for 5 months. I think the lack of sleep definitely played a part in how I felt yesterday.
I just beat my November streak record!
Yesterday I was feeling so depressed. I cried my eyes out. I felt sad and angry about so many things (including being single, injustice in life/society, etc), but then I prayed and talked it out with God and felt better.
Also, today, Sunday, I just slept for 10 hours or so. These last few days, I had been sleeping only roughly 7 hours. I've come to the conclusion that I might need 8 hours, I've been tracking it for 5 months. I think the lack of sleep definitely played a part in how I felt yesterday.
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Day 14 - (13-day streak)
I’ve been feeling really down these days. To get through it, I’ve been leaning on prayer, journaling, and listening to specific music mindfully.
Some songs to give them a listen:
-Jelly Roll - Winning streak
-Jelly Roll - Unpretty
-Jelly Roll- God I'm Tired Of Trying To Be Okay (ft Miley Cyrus)
-NF - Happy
-Tye Tribbett - Only One Night Tho
-Stephen Stanley - Find some peace of mind
-ASAP preach - Blessings
-Whitecross - You will find it there
-Whitecross - I keep prayin'
-Whitecross - Behold
-Thousand Foot Krutch - Be somebody
-Alive Worship - Wenn ich fall (German song)
Listening to those mindfully helps me a lot with PMO abstinence symptoms (depression/anxiety/loneliness/despair/boredom)
I’ve been feeling really down these days. To get through it, I’ve been leaning on prayer, journaling, and listening to specific music mindfully.
Some songs to give them a listen:
-Jelly Roll - Winning streak
-Jelly Roll - Unpretty
-Jelly Roll- God I'm Tired Of Trying To Be Okay (ft Miley Cyrus)
-NF - Happy
-Tye Tribbett - Only One Night Tho
-Stephen Stanley - Find some peace of mind
-ASAP preach - Blessings
-Whitecross - You will find it there
-Whitecross - I keep prayin'
-Whitecross - Behold
-Thousand Foot Krutch - Be somebody
-Alive Worship - Wenn ich fall (German song)
Listening to those mindfully helps me a lot with PMO abstinence symptoms (depression/anxiety/loneliness/despair/boredom)
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I’ve been feeling pretty down the last few days—partly because of that girl and some other stuff going on. Yesterday, I ended up having two beers, even though I’m trying to quit drinking, too. Funny enough,, it actually seemed to boost my mood.
There’s a lesson in this: dopamine fasting might not be the best move while trying to quit PMO. A little bit of sugar, music, a movie, or even a video game can actually help.
Here’s my main takeaway: trying to quit every bad habit at once is incredibly tough. When the brain is used to constant dopamine spikes and you cut everything off at once, it just gets overwhelmed and 'irritable.'
Right now, my top priority is quitting PMO. I’m going to be a bit more flexible with other things like sugar or the occasional beer. Rewiring the brain takes time, so I just need to be patient with myself.
Regarding the dopamine fasting, I’ll pick it back up once I've moved past the PMO abstinence low-mood phase.
There’s a lesson in this: dopamine fasting might not be the best move while trying to quit PMO. A little bit of sugar, music, a movie, or even a video game can actually help.
Here’s my main takeaway: trying to quit every bad habit at once is incredibly tough. When the brain is used to constant dopamine spikes and you cut everything off at once, it just gets overwhelmed and 'irritable.'
Right now, my top priority is quitting PMO. I’m going to be a bit more flexible with other things like sugar or the occasional beer. Rewiring the brain takes time, so I just need to be patient with myself.
Regarding the dopamine fasting, I’ll pick it back up once I've moved past the PMO abstinence low-mood phase.
I'm on a 16-day streak, which is a first in 14 years!
However, I’ve been having frequent, intense fantasies lately. But I’m keeping these 4 things in mind:
However, I’ve been having frequent, intense fantasies lately. But I’m keeping these 4 things in mind:
- I won't fall into the 'just a peek' trap. I learnt my November lesson.
- I’m better off this way than with PMO. I'm not feeling better than before yet, but I can build real-life stories and improve my life overall
- I need to learn to find joy in things other than sex/PMO.
- My brain is still sensitized. I need to wait out the 90 days before I draw any real conclusions.
Also, I read these days someone said:
"Addictions and PMO basically borrow happiness from the future to increase it in the present."
In other words, one might feel better in the present at the expense of the future. Don't fall into that trap!
What a great analogy! It's really helping me to frame all this stuff properly.
"Addictions and PMO basically borrow happiness from the future to increase it in the present."
In other words, one might feel better in the present at the expense of the future. Don't fall into that trap!
What a great analogy! It's really helping me to frame all this stuff properly.
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I’m feeling great and have so much energy right now . I just pulled 3 reps of 150kg (330 lbs) on deadlift! I’m also feeling super focused, even though I only got about 6 hours of sleep. My morning wood even came back today. Honestly, I don’t think this is just about having higher levels of testosterone or dopamine; I think it’s more about increased sensitivity to my normal levels.
Keep in mind that dopamine spikes can desensitize your receptors. I really feel like I’m finally regaining that sensitivity.
Key takeaway: If you’re struggling with PMO, please don’t fall for the lies your brain tells you (that the only way to feel happy is through PMO)—that was the hardest part for me. It’s like those movies where a character gets tricked by hallucinations; you have to fight through the noise to see what’s real.
After 15 days of depression and anhedonia, now I'm feeling happy on the 16th day.
. I just pulled 3 reps of 150kg (330 lbs) on deadlift! I’m also feeling super focused, even though I only got about 6 hours of sleep. My morning wood even came back today. Honestly, I don’t think this is just about having higher levels of testosterone or dopamine; I think it’s more about increased sensitivity to my normal levels.Keep in mind that dopamine spikes can desensitize your receptors. I really feel like I’m finally regaining that sensitivity.
Key takeaway: If you’re struggling with PMO, please don’t fall for the lies your brain tells you (that the only way to feel happy is through PMO)—that was the hardest part for me. It’s like those movies where a character gets tricked by hallucinations; you have to fight through the noise to see what’s real.
After 15 days of depression and anhedonia, now I'm feeling happy on the 16th day.
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Day 19 - (18-day streak)
YELLOW ALERT!
When I woke up today, I almost slipped into MO. I was still in bed when I started fantasizing about a girl and ended up grinding a bit. On its own, it might not be a huge problem, but I know it’s a slippery slope that could lead to MO or even full PMO.
That’s exactly how I lost my last streak back in November.
Overall, I’m feeling happy, non-depressed, non-anxious, but I need to stay disciplined and cut out the sexual fantasies. It’s definitely easier to have a 'zero-tolerance policy' than to flirt with the idea.
YELLOW ALERT!
When I woke up today, I almost slipped into MO. I was still in bed when I started fantasizing about a girl and ended up grinding a bit. On its own, it might not be a huge problem, but I know it’s a slippery slope that could lead to MO or even full PMO.
That’s exactly how I lost my last streak back in November.
Overall, I’m feeling happy, non-depressed, non-anxious, but I need to stay disciplined and cut out the sexual fantasies. It’s definitely easier to have a 'zero-tolerance policy' than to flirt with the idea.
Day 25 - (24-day streak)
The dragon seems to be bleeding! ...but
Today, I got overwhelmed and frustrated at a certain point at work (feeling that I have too many hard things to do and that I might fail) but I have to learn how to deal with it, because it could lead me to PMO as a way to escape.
This is what I’m going to do:
When I feel overwhelmed or frustrated with work, I’ll make a to-do list and follow through on every single action—one step at a time. I'll avoid old habits by focusing on the next action ahead. When it comes to this particular kind of craving (overwhelming and frustrating), a to-do list can be a huge help.
The dragon seems to be bleeding!
...butToday, I got overwhelmed and frustrated at a certain point at work (feeling that I have too many hard things to do and that I might fail) but I have to learn how to deal with it, because it could lead me to PMO as a way to escape.
This is what I’m going to do:
When I feel overwhelmed or frustrated with work, I’ll make a to-do list and follow through on every single action—one step at a time. I'll avoid old habits by focusing on the next action ahead. When it comes to this particular kind of craving (overwhelming and frustrating), a to-do list can be a huge help.
Day 27 - (26-day or 1-day streak)
Even though I’d almost lost interest in sex (and PMO), I ended up slipping into MO last night.
I was feeling really anxious about work and the risks of AI, plus I've been worried about not finishing university fast enough and how tough it is to find someone to marry.
Despite that, I’m turning my life around. PMO isn't the center of my world anymore. I’m learning how to cope with things and becoming more self-aware. Last night, I just wanted to see what MO felt like without porn—and honestly, it wasn’t a big deal. Lesson learned. I really believe this will be the last time.
Even though I’d almost lost interest in sex (and PMO), I ended up slipping into MO last night.
I was feeling really anxious about work and the risks of AI, plus I've been worried about not finishing university fast enough and how tough it is to find someone to marry.
Despite that, I’m turning my life around. PMO isn't the center of my world anymore
. I’m learning how to cope with things and becoming more self-aware. Last night, I just wanted to see what MO felt like without porn—and honestly, it wasn’t a big deal. Lesson learned. I really believe this will be the last time.