Yes issues like loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, etc. make nofap even harder. What I've realized though is that there is a relationship there. Often we dive into PMO in order to temporarily avoid the pain or frustration with those issues. However as the addiction escalates over time, it actually makes those feelings worse in the long-run (due to all the negative effects like furthering social isolation, lack of sleep/exercise, poor nutrition, losing motivation to improve our lives, etc.) My point is, that nofap is only half of the challenge. We must also fill in the holes that stopping PMO leaves behind. We must work on ourselves - body, mind, and spirit. We must take healthy risks to expand our social lives, take better care of our physical bodies, learn techniques which strengthen our mental resilience towards life's difficulties, work towards goals that will improve our futures (like education, career, community involvement, developing social networks, trying creative pursuits, maybe looking into a spiritual practice, etc.). So perhaps a healthier way of looking at a nofap challenge is to see it not so much as something we're depriving ourselves of, but more as an opportunity for personal growth and self-improvement that will bring us more fulfillment, meaning, physical/mental well-being, and positive relationships in our futures. We're giving ourselves a chance to choose something else in our lives, something better. We've all had enough pain here. When we take on this challenge we're not just saying "No" to PMO, we're also saying "Yes" to life. This takes courage, and hard work, and pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone - but I truly believe change is possible, and beautiful developments in our lives await us in time if we commit to a more positive path.
Current Challenge 1/90 (ends Mar 23) 299/333 Good Days (ave. relapse every 10 days, a huge improvement) Day 109 weight training (M, W, F) Day 43 reduced alcohol, caffeine and sugar Longest streaks 67 then 51 (4 years later) - feeling strong today with no urges - looking for subs for the new year when I quit alcohol, caffeine and sweets so let me know if you have any good ideas. Thanks. - your brother in this world
Day 7/90 , one week done! this is so satisfying i cant wait to go a month. right now its really hard to battle subtle lusts, everywhere i go i see marketing campaigns, catalogs, tantalizing women etc, etc.. and even tho they aren't an immediate danger like porn i feel like a magnetic attraction towards the little things. but we must be faithful in the smallest things..
Back again for day number 4 already. Merry christmas to everyone have a good time with friends and family this year.
well, if no one is in the house try to socialize outdoors, with friends, with colleagues.... try your best bro. loneliness is a good friend of the addiction. is not good for addicts, especially recovering addicts, to stay alone for long periods of time. and reach out bro, even if only by phone, or text, but reach out, developing healthy relations is good for us.