Hit 40 days for the first time last night. Proud of it. If you'd told me between 3 years ago and the time I first discovered PMO in my teens that I'd someday go 40 days without, I would have had a tough time believing it. Been doing this effort (on and off) for just over 2 years now and never have gone this far. It's a great feeling and it's also an odd feeling - the brain will do its best to see if it can make you go for the easy rush again. And it's also odd because I'm at 40 yet I feel like I should be at 80 or something. I think it's because of the mind game. I think a handful of big reasons for this streak are the following: (1) No alcohol. Okay, I had one glass of wine but that was it. That stuff will mess up your sleep and that leads to irritable behavior and we all know where that leads to...so (sort of) sadly, I've been staying away from the drinks. (2) Daily exercise and/or routine. More energy and it feeds itself into good habits. (3) Maybe the biggest factor(s)...Meditation/reading this book called "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. Yes, it's sort of Oprah-like but it's all about taking in the present moment over anything else, acknowledging feelings and not being identified with your thoughts. It sort of follows the "urge surfing" thing but there's a lot more to it. I'm reading it for the third time in a month. I've taken notes and put them on note cards to help me. I've a long way to go still but I have seen definite improvements of the typical things people talk about here (even when I don't think they're there, they will show up subtly later or in ways I didn't expect - do be aware it's not like a linear thing, though...you don't feel the improvement all the time and while it does get a little bit easier after two weeks in some ways, your mind/ego will find ways to tempt you and sneak attack) and just thought I'd share this.
Nice report.Good tips. I never drink alcohol because i simply never liked it.As a child i drank a glass full of pure whiskey on a new years party when nobody saw me. That was a nightmare.So no alcohol is distracting me from my nofap challenge. Like you said,exercising is extremely helpful.I do it twice a day since i began nofap.Its the perfect fill in for the extra time you get. AND it makes you happy.AND it calms your brain.Its easy afterwards to simply think of NOTHING. I will buy that book too.
Congrats man! Keep going, it only gets better but you're right about one thing, its not a linear progress. Stay strong!
I've been there. Probably everyone on this forum has. The first day after a relapse is actually one of the toughest. Even after doing this for 2 years, the first 24 hours after I relapse have been as challenging as any. And after that - while it doesn't become easy - it does provide considerable hope...like the first few dark clouds that are gone from the sky after a hard thunderstorm.