Would a massive binge reset ALL the progress?

[DonLorenzo]

Hypothetical question: if one would have made it, say, 5 months without looking at porn, and then, would relapse and spend 48 hours watching porn, jacking off, browsing, browsing, doing whatever gets that dopamine high and so on, then would ALL the progress be lost, or would it set that person back for 1 month, 1 week, or what? I know it is impossible to answer this question accurately, but if someone would have any idea about it, it would be great.

 

[lookingahead]

It will definitely take some time to pick up where you left off.  Maybe a few days, or a few weeks.  But it won't take another 5 months. 

 

[sender]

Here is the formula:


days set back = hours of porn use * minutes of whacking * # orgasms + 1.25 * e ^ (orgasm intensity)


ok, all joking aside, everyone is different so it's impossible to know or predict what effect it would have, but what difference does it make?  Porn is a drug; just say no

 

[gtl923]

Not sure if this will be helpful or detrimental but I relapsed after 4 months no PMO and it took me about 4 more to get back onboard. I'm now over a week back in it and so far the reboot seems to be moving much faster. I am already getting morning wood and had a wet dream (something that never happened before stopping PMO and took about 2 months of reboot initially). I also did not feel like I had lost all my progress though my social anxiety and ability to talk to real women was hindered. I think something people forget when rebooting is it's not all about abstaining from porn; you also have to build productive and meaningful habits to fill the void that no PMO leaves. If you have successfully created new habits (which, btw, take about 3 months to form) then you have made progress that will not be completely lost in the case of a relapse, unless you stop engaging in those habits. I hope this does not rationalize a relapse for anyone, and I want to be clear that relapse is detrimental to recovery. That should be obvious. But you should not think that you have lost everything you worked so hard for in a couple days, weeks, or even months. You will always have the knowledge you have gained through experience and reading forums/YBOP/etc. which will help you when you get back onboard your reboot, and you will have (hopefully) developed life skills and productive habits that remain with you throughout your relapse period. While it can be frustrating to think about where I would be if I hadn't relapsed for the past 4 months, I know beating myself up over it does no good, and I must instead look to what I can accomplish over the next 4 months, years, decades. Hope this helps answer your question.

 

[DonLorenzo]

Thanks for replies. I agree that no matter what you do, you cant just erase all the progress made in the months/weeks rebooting. I think the situation for most people is: when you relapse, for few days it might feel like all is lost. Like youre back in day 1. But the progress now is much faster, and you get to the point where you were in few days or a week. Thats what I am guessing. But the longer you have been clean, the quicker you get back to the point where you left off after relapse.

 

[Nomorepornfromtoday]

I would think it would set you back considerably tbh because you are imprinting fresh sexual images in your brain,
As with drugs,alcohol, smoking etc i don't think it wise to play with fire whilst trying to beat any addiction tbh.

 

[Tomte]

I agree with Nomorepornfromtoday. I consider relapses a huge setback. I am trying to become a stranger to porn and sexual fantasies. Relapsing and strengthening my connection with porn is a big deal.

By no means do I want to say a relapse is a reason to beat yourself up about it, that won't help anyone. Of course, 4 weeks with two times PMO are way better than 4 weeks with 25 times PMO. But nonetheless, a single relapse is very counterproductive to the rebooting process.

Say you went 15 weeks PMO free, relapsed, and are now 4 weeks clean again - obviously it's not like you were in your first attempt once more. But it sure as hell is not the same as 19 weeks PMO free.

 

[DonLorenzo]

Completely agree with you guys. But I guess I have been underestimating how detrimental a relapse actually can be. Of course my question was only hypotethical  and I am planning on being porn free for rest of my life.