My Journal: The Neuro-Chemical Autopilot

D

DavidRI

Member
Gab', I am on my second day of PMO freedom.  The title of this blog thread ("The Neuro-Chemical Autopilot) caught my eye, so I started reading it from the beginning.  Thank you for posting your thoughts over the past several months.  Those posts are really helpful to me. 

In any event, I am four (4) hours away from the 48-hour milestone.  I am off to exercise and daily mass. 
 
D

DavidRI

Member
As I approach my third full day of PMO freedom, I feel great.  I am motivated.  This morning I did have the urge to get aroused and masturbate, but laughed it off, and it passed.  Over the last few days of PMO freedom, I've kept in mind the research that I did on the neuro-chemical autopilot; that is, each time I get the urge to have phone sex, text sex or to view porn, I remind myself that I am damaging my brain. 

To say it another way, by PMO'ing I am un-learning how to be truly intimate.  By PMO'ing, I am un-learning how to develop a meaningful bond with the woman I love (who I am presently separated from due to my infidelity).  Since I am not inclined to act in a way that damages myself, the thinking goes, I have (thus far) have been able to push off the urge to PMO.  That's my secular approach.

Since I am Catholic, I dovetail the logic of not damaging my physical self with my faith.  Namely, when I've gotten the urge to PMO, I realize that it is the devil exploiting a weakness, a momentary low point, in my God-given free will to gain entry.  To make me sin.  Picture the cartoon'ish image of the devil on one shoulder whispering in my ear, and an angle on the other whispering, too.  For the past three (3) days, I've been able to push off the devil's whispers! 

Since I not inclined to do damage to my brain, and avoiding sin is in keeping with my faith, I have not PMO'ed.   

That's my "Keep it Simple, Stupid" approach to this. 

Thank you to all who post on Reboot Nation; for your stories and experiences really help me to put the compulsion to PMO behind me. 

Merry Christmas!!!! 
 
D

DavidRI

Member
It's day four (4) for me.  I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning and had the urge to masturbate before getting out of bed.  I fantasized about two past lovers as I laid in bed.  I took a deep breath or two and it passed.  I jumped out of bed and put on a pot of coffee.

A quick summary.  My habit was not necessarily porn per se, but dating websites.  From there I would I have cybersex, text sex and phone sex with women.  Sometimes, thought not often, I would meet those women.  I did watch some porn, too. 

In any event, on this fourth day, there is something I am noticing about myself.  Before I stopped PMO'ing, I would wake up each day with an erection and completely aroused.  As I progressed through each of these four days without PMO'ing, I don't wake up in an aroused, erect state.  Not sure what this means, but I thought I would make a note of it. 

It is also worth noting that I feel better as each day passes.  I was able to complete more  items on my daily "to do" list.  I've been eating healthy and exercising, too. 

Thank God for Reboot Nation and "Your Brain on Porn".  The candid posts on these websites have been the greatest help for me. 
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Alcohol - Nineteen years
Credit cards - nine years
Gambling - one year
Sugar - eight months
Rage - three weeks
Porn - twenty days
PMO - see below

Merry Christmas and Happy Whatever-Else-You're-Celebrating.

Over the weekend, we adopted a four year old Yellow Lab.  His previous owner died in a freak car accident, and the family couldn't handle him due to his size and strength.  He's a very strong dog.  Like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07cjVcykgRo

Luckily, due to this PMO thing, I've been working out!!!  Woo-hoo!  The dog likes to wrestle and be carried where he is supposed to go (for now).  Not always fun, but do-able. 

May we all remain abstinent!!!
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Hi All

We all need to acknowledge our successes, however miniscule, along the way.

Alcohol - Nineteen years
Credit cards - nine years
Social media - five years
Gambling - one year
Sugar - nine months
Rage - one week
Porn - three days
YouTube - three days
Reddit - three days
PMO - see below

Love to all.
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
I must say that getting off sugar, which I embarked on as a result of effort to get off PMO, has had a profound effect on me. I'm experiencing some pretty profound life changing experiences, which trace back to my getting off PMO.
 
M

malando

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
I recently quit sugar too. After going through an initial flat spot, I am noticing now that I am getting my energy back and it's more stable and consistent. I think the process of getting off sugar is remarkably similar to getting off porn in a lot of ways. I'd say if somebody can get off sugar for 90 days, by that stage the cravings will be largely gone and other more positive effects will have kicked in - weightless, better energy, improved health etc. We need to get off all the addiction that enslave us.
 
Karzam

Karzam

Active Member
Gabriel1960 said:
I must say that getting off sugar, which I embarked on as a result of effort to get off PMO, has had a profound effect on me. I'm experiencing some pretty profound life changing experiences, which trace back to my getting off PMO.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about this one as well, I don't eat a huge amount of refined sugar, but I don't think it's doing me much good either...strangely enough, I think it'll be tougher than the no PMO for me, partially because I can indulge in some comfort eating...

Do you have any tips for starting? Aside from not eating it, heh. :)
 
M

malando

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Karzam said:
Gabriel1960 said:
I must say that getting off sugar, which I embarked on as a result of effort to get off PMO, has had a profound effect on me. I'm experiencing some pretty profound life changing experiences, which trace back to my getting off PMO.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about this one as well, I don't eat a huge amount of refined sugar, but I don't think it's doing me much good either...strangely enough, I think it'll be tougher than the no PMO for me, partially because I can indulge in some comfort eating...

Do you have any tips for starting? Aside from not eating it, heh. :)
Click to expand...

I didn't just quit sugar, I have also cut all carbohydrates down to less than 10% of my diet. For me, bread, rice, pasta, grains, etc - none of it is good for me. It gives short term energy, but it's followed by a crash. I'm focussing on good nutrition though good fats, meat, salads, veggies, yogurt. Nothing low fat. My body is adapting to using fat and protein as its main energy source. I've got more stamina than before and I'm dropping weight because my body isn't on the constant sugar/insulin rollercoaster.
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Have not been exercising since we brought home the dog last month. Made it to the gym today though!

Looking to get back in the saddle with my morning workouts. That's my new mountain to climb.

Also read YBOP today.
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Need to go running tonight. Ugh! Don't want to. Know that it's good for me.

Did my morning meditation and read YBOP this morning.

Love to all.
 
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Yo.

This blog is helping tremendously. It continues to do so. Meditated and read YBOP this morning.

Alcohol - Nineteen years
Credit cards - nine years
Social media - five years
Gambling - one year
Sugar - ten months
Rage - two months
Porn - one day
YouTube - three days
Reddit - zero days
PMO - see below

Assuming I make it to one year, it will be a messy finish line. That's life.

My experience has been: early milestones are almost always messy.

Love to all.
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
I need to turn to guided meditation, rather than reddit.com, to address stress.

Being informed is overrated.

Alcohol - Nineteen years
Credit cards - nine years
Social media - five years
Gambling - one year
Sugar - Eleven months
Rage - two months
Porn - one week
YouTube - one day
Reddit.com - zero days
PMO - see below

Love to all.
 
Gabriel1960

Gabriel1960

Active Member
Made it! Hooray!

Alcohol - Nineteen years
Credit cards - nine years
Social media - five years
Gambling - one year
Sugar - Eleven months
Rage - two months
Porn - eleven days
YouTube - one day
Reddit.com - zero days
PMO - one year

Amazing!  Totally worth it.

Love to all.
 
F

Firstbigstep

Active Member
Fantastic achievement! A year is amazing!

I'm about a third of the way and doing ok - Trying to address one issue at a time, but porn use has been the big one that affects so much of my self esteem and identity.

Next targets:

Smoking
Sugar
Carbs
Reduction in drinking.

Thanks for the inspiration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top