I have been hearing a lot of talk about Porn/Masturbation/Imagination. Some people believe there is a difference, others believe there is no difference. Some people say watching P w/o M is fine, others say M w/o P is fine. Let me clarify. This is the truth (according to YBOP, various NoFap blogs, my personal opinion) Porn is worse than Masturbation, and Masturbation is worse than Imagination. Imagination isn't THAT bad as before I started watching porn or even masturbating I was Imagining have sex with girls when I was a kid. But Imagination isn't something that should be encouraged. Edging to Porn>Porn>Edging>Masturbating to orgasm>Imagination IMO imagination isn't a relapse, but you should try to avoid it as much as possible. Porn and Masturbation is a complete relapse however. Don't be fooled into thinking that if you are just watching a little porn or masturbating w/o orgasm (edging) then your safe. Imagination is NOT edging IMO because EVERYONE imagined have sex with their favorite classmate in grade school.
Broadly speaking, I would agree with your conclusions @Golgo 13. It all revolves around the enormity of the dopamine hit for different or combined behaviours. Edging to porn is the worst of the lot. Ironically, people still post that they avoided a relapse by edging and avoiding an orgasm. All we can do is keep repeating the message so people do not labour under illusions as to a relapse really is.
I guess it depends. Imagination is an active process - you are producing the imagination and it will blend with reality b/c that's where you draw from to form an image in your head. I use it and I believe that it is good for me. But I wouldn't generalize this conclusion.
I read somewhere that stopping just when you're about to have an orgasm would increase the pleasure. I started doing it and would edge myself A LOT each time I decided to watch porn, simply because I wanted to watch more of the video. Dammit if I only knew what I was getting into :/ I think porn will be one of the biggest health problems of the generation, specially when virtual reality comes out.
All these things. My imagination can run riot, I can almost feel her hands on me and mine on her. Is there a problem in a relationship, perhaps not. Watching P on the net is a sad, time consuming practice that can really have one outcome. The girls are barely real, there is no or little love in porn. Masturbation is not self love - its self destruction - for me at least. O is messy smelly and has to be hidden. Agreeing with Qazwsxedc that perhaps P is one of the bigger health probs of our generation, must be linked to Mental Health in some way. Certainly leads to a very poor self opinion and a lack of status to ones-self. So as a creative person I feel that imagination is probably the lesser of the two evils especially if the lady of your imagination is about.
I concur with your assessment but don't advocate the wild over-thinking that happens on here. Bottom line is it's all bad; sure, some aspects more serious than others but stop obsessing and just realise that anything beyond the realms of real life sexual activity is an unhealthy indulgence.
I agree with every word. Even when it was plausible that I would have sex later, I would watch porn without orgasm. If I orgasmed, then I would not be able to get it up later when needed. On occasion I would slip up and accidentally orgasm. I would have to fake that I was sick and have to postpone sex. Not healthy. Something that I do not want to return to.
Watching porn before sex is pretty much the most stupid thing to do ... it will actually decrease your libido when you need it
I think it depends on where your imagination leads you, if you are fantasizing about someone you know its not as damaging as imagining sex with a model or something like that.In the same vein imagining unrealistic (pornlike) experiences will likely hurt you the most. Bottom line, distract your mind as much as possible, do whatever you can to not get wrapped up in your fantasies.
I agree with every word. Again. In fact, an erection is caused by blood-flow into the penis. However, blood-flow to one area of the body can be too much and unhealthy for your other organs due to lack of blood flow and nutrients. My previous habit of watching porn, edging, followed by sex was far worse than a decrease of my libido.
Exactly, I always think about old girlfriends or girls I had sex with in the past. Thinking about a girl you see online is akin to watching porn. I also notice something, whenever I think about sex I usually have a wet dream that night. And I'm sick of having sticky underwear and pants; not to mention I gatta WASH MY SHEETS EVERY FEW DAYS!