Is it better quit gradually or cold turkey?

I would say, as instantly as you possibly can. There is no benefit in stopping slowly if you can stop quickly.

But, very few people (if any) find it possible. In trying to stop instantly, you will likely face many setbacks. I don't think you can really do a planned ramp-down like you can with quitting coffee -- at some point you will likely hit a point where you are hitting setbacks, and setbacks are the important thing to start addressing as soon as you can (asking why are you hitting setbacks and changing patterns in your life).

 

Cold turkey. PMO is nothing but a crutch. It ain't worth shit. You don't need it, you never did.
The tapered approach is teaching your brain that PMO is okay in small doses. Well our addictions started in small doses and then spiraled out of control.

 

I went Cold Turkey.

It's difficult but I'm SO glad I blocked the porn sites I frequented, Deleted my porn and cancelled all my Patreon subscriptions as I have no way of giving into temptation (I don't own any physical porn).

 

A few years back I tried doing it gradually and it didn't work, quite the opposite - it got worse. Earlier this year I quit cold turkey and that seems to have done the job.

 

Yeah, you can't keep "feeding" the ogre. Eventually the ogre wants more and then the rationalizations and justifications come into play. "Well, I went one day without PMO maybe two days in a row won't hurt..." then next thing you know you're back at it daily...

 

If you want a cleaner and quicker recovery. I recommend abstinence. Just speaking from experience. I went cold turkey and it has taken me 2 years to finally get my current streak. If there was room for negotiation and excuse making and bargaining with myself I'd still be fucked right now. Good luck.

 

Cold turkey is best. But the relapse after a descent streak is worst. We have done enough Excuses and escape to PMO. So it's a fine line. Find balance.