Only answer the poll question if you have experience with your partner. Is it wise to have sex with your significant other during a reboot, for example after 2 weeks? If so, how does the partner of the addict experience it? And how does the partner of the addicted partner experience it?
Yes. Porn addiction works by creating a parallel pleasure system in your brain that's totally different from and opposed to real sex. The two can't exist in one brain, it's like fire and water. Having real intimacy will weaken the porn system and strengthen the real sex system. There is something called the chaser effect to be aware of, though. Having an orgasm can make you more vulnerable to urges. But my experience is that good sex only helps recovery.
I think it depends on how disciplined you are with some guys having a gf and engaging in sex can actually free them from porn as it is more fulfilling to have a relationship but some guys however remain lustful and start to use girls for sex so it depends on an individual
I know some couples have tried it and found it very helpful. After a period of hard mode (15-30 days, for example), they do karezza for the remainder of the reboot. Those who I've talked to about it say that it was very helpful in rebuilding a deeper intimacy and that it allowed them to still feel close to their partner while also getting the benefits of the reboot. A lot of people automatically think it's a bad idea and that it won't be helpful for them. Or, they think it'll make it too hard to continue the reboot, but they are surprised to find out otherwise when they actually try it. I realize it isn't for everyone, but it might be worth a shot.
I’m working on a 90 day reboot and for the first time in my life hoping my SO doesn’t want to have sex!! I’d prefer to get as clean a run at this as I can! But if she does… I’ll try to focus on pleasing her… and avoid any focus on an O for me! If I do O… it will only be as she wants me to and that in itself will be worlds apart from what drove me to O before.
I've done NoFap in a relationship and single and it's way easier when in a relationship. If you can have sex with your other half, you can pretty easily quench your sexual urges. Single, it really depends on whether you can find a partner that evening. I've actually never done it whilst being celibate and can't imagine how hard that would be. And why make it harder than it really needs to be?
During my husband's reboot we still had sex but he found it actually made it more difficult because orgasm created the chaser effect. He decided he wanted to start over and abstain. He found abstaining completely helped him reset his brain much more easily and after about 30 days we started doing karezza like @hope4healing mentioned. It was very healing and connecting.
I’m saying “it depends” because it’s the “right” answer, but realistically I’ve found more people deciding they need the hard reboot. In theory it’s good to retrain your brain to understand what real, good physical intimacy is, but it’s too close to PMO and an addict will typically end up using his partner, not being with her. In the end, we have to learn how to live without sex before we can learn to live with it.