Day six sober from PMO.
Feel good, clear, confident, clean, more serene...
Wondering how long these feelings will last, because I've been forewarned of withdrawal symptoms that don't sound pleasant.
Educating myself by reading your posts, articles on YBOP, and watching videos. This has helped me a lot.
I've been thinking about some of my reasons for quitting PMO and have listed them below. I've read a lot of reasons others have given on the forum and I might have used some of those here as my own. If so, forgive me, but I related with them. Most of these are mine, though. Might be similar to yours.
My primary reasons for quitting PMO (not in any particular order):
? I?m tired of acting in ways sexually that make me feel ashamed, embarrassed, guilty. P causes all of these feelings
? That depressed, spent feeling after having an O to P.
? Watching P is a short-term fix to a long-term problem
? I can concentrate so much better when I've had some sobriety from P and I?m not actively looking at it. Subtle and various aspects of life all become alive and interesting again. It?s like you finally wake back up. But this only comes when you abstain completely from the behavior.
? Don?t like having to be secretive and sneaky. Want to be open and honest about all areas of my life. Have integrity.
? It?s not right. Doesn?t match my values.
? Quit behavior for your marriage and for your child.
? Do something different, workout, take up hobby, work in your business, meditate, etc.
? Feelings follow behavior, not the other way around.
? My life is out of balance.
? I?ve become a shell of a man. Feel a void inside, an emptiness.
? Don?t want to be dependent on chemicals to alter my mood.
? When you look at P, you abandon yourself.
? Causes you to isolate. This is unhealthy.
? Been looking at P online since I was 30 years old?17 years (magazines back to age of 10)! Regarding online P, think of all the productivity this has robbed you of!
? Dishonest, selfish behavior. Benefitting no one. Creating nothing.
? Time it takes and energy wasted doing it. Distracts you from important areas in your life?marriage, child, career, physical health, spirituality, healthy hobbies, etc.
? Changes your brain in an unhealthy way. Desensitization is a bad side effect. All other activities become boring.
? Return to having healthy, loving relationship wife, child, friends, etc.
? Be able to live in the moment instead of in front of your computer screen.
? Don't want to be a slave to your addictions.
? You feel that you've lost your self-respect, your dignity, and your control over your own life.
? It?s fantasy. It?s not reality. It?s a mechanical, electronic substitute for what is real.
? Biggest reason to quit is acting out makes you impatient, irritable, moody, angry, and frustrated. All of these traits impact your marriage and career negatively. There are consequences to looking at P. The most miserable I?ve ever been in my life have been when I'm actively looking at P over a long period of time, and getting over girlfriends who I just wanted to have sex with even though I knew we were not a compatible couple?didn?t have the same values. Same thing with P. No substance, but your addicted to images, process, chemical changes, etc.! It's shallow, a hollow promise that doesn't deliver, you just end up with ashes in your hands after you're through.
Hope some of you can relate with these!
