Does reading erotic stories count as a relapse?

I think it is, for me all artificial stimulation( porn websites,
dating sites, erotic literature, youtube erotic videos, erotic images, escort webstites,etc) is a relapse. But it's just my opinion.

 

Anything fake is giving your addiction a dopamine hit. Avoid everything fake (fantasies, pics, videos, reading material) in order to recover. You will not benefit from it. Why would you want to spend your energy alone, instead of real life contact with someone? Endulging in anything fake will cause you to relapse and not gain any benefits of rebooting.

 

Reading erotic stories is practically a form of pornography, just in the form of words. It particularly fuels your fantasies because much of reading focuses on thinking and picturing what is going on, so yes I'd consider that a relapse.

 

It depends on your reaction to it. If you get a high and get turned on, basically it is the same as porn. I don't allow myself to do it. I don't allow myself any sexual fantasies for more than 5 seconds. But that's just me. Do what works for you.

 

Everyone's different but for me yes because it triggers similar feelings, and has led to wanting more and eventually P. I would recommend staying away.

 

Also note: Reset and relapse are different. A relapse is a full binge to your old habits, after a reset. You may decide to reset your counter, but if you continue without "binging" to your old habits, you may still have some benefits of the streak.

 

great advice, thanks you just made me realize what i was doing!

 

I would agree with almost everyone here that everything that gives you a buzz is bad for you progress. But that being said, sometimes the topics here on this forum also give me a buzz or make me think about sex. So how the h*ll do you avoid that then?

 

yes it does for me.

 

It depends on what you're working on. If you're trying to stay away from Porn, I'm sorry to say but erotic stories are indeed porn. It is fake arousal, so stay away from it.
Reading is good, but read wholesome things instead.

 

since you ask, you know the answer

In fact, you must decide for your own. If you are using erotic stories as a way to escape from decisions/criticism/work, then it is a relapse.

Keep in mind that an addiction is a way to escape from real world. It is a way to"cope" with the inconvenient things in our life. If you find in yourself that you are doing this, then be careful.

 

use them as opportunities to re-route and re-wire:

A.stimuli ......... B. your decision how to react C. action.

a. some trigger b. oh i used to do this but in the long run it's harmful. i never liked that before i started getting addicted to p. ... analylize it mechanically, imagine someone catching you stimulated by the stuff , imagine is smells nauseating .. anything to break the old A>C.

c. New C..a quick prayer or mantra, or a realization that you get those thoughts when you spend too much time on the computer so its time to turn it off and go for a walk..

 

Sounds a bit like worrying over having a hit on a cigarette and then thinking you are a smoker again. Not really but it is a sign you need to pay special attension to what is going on within your thought patterns and behaviour.

 

yes it is , any porn material whether visual or text it is counted as relapse but dont release thinking you relasped but reset your steak and start afresh .
the main point is self discipline which doesn't inculcate easily , this is what nofap teaches you - "to control desire", thats why it is not easy and perseverance is required.

 

There are many good books around, reading porn stories will do little to your education. What matters is the intention. If the book portraits other things than sex, then maybe it is worth reading. The same for movies: many movies have at least 1 sex scene, but that is not porn, because the book or movie is not entirely themed on sex, in opposition to porn movies or books.

Pornography is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal. Pornography may be presented in a variety of media, including books, ...

(from wikipedia)

 

the way i understood how this works !!! based on loooooot of relapses
the main reason for porn related illness is centered on the altered pathways in the reward system of the brain..thoughts of sexual pursuits and about targets for sex ----> spike in NA,Dopamine --->initial high followed by craving for more..>addiction overrules conscious thoughts and decision making ....>>>>>>relapse.

 

Oh... I thought I was rebooting... I was 20 days without MO, but watched P more than three times these last 7 days. It's not even that I want to MO.
And I wondered why my depression only got worse.

 

Even if it isn't fake it can still be a relapse. Like if you stare at real woman profusively.