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Being extremely turned on by a non pornographic image?

Discussion in 'Porn Addiction' started by skaterdrew, May 3, 2019.

  1. skaterdrew

    skaterdrew Fapstronaut

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    Basically long story short I have a lot of porn blockers on my computer that are difficult to bypass. They block porn and most social media. I don't use a smart phone.

    I was horny earlier on today and was masturbating and my penis wasn't 100% erect. But then I put this image up of an attractive girl I know on google images safe search on my computer and literally just looked at this image of a fully clothed girl for a second and got an extreme sexual rush and a solid erection.

    Now I know this is far from ideal, as this is still artificial sexual stimulation. But I mean surely it is a good sign if someone was getting turned on so easily? I mean when you logically think about it if I am getting as turned on from one single image like that, then you would think I would actually be more turned on by that girl in real life?
     
  2. Tryingto

    Tryingto Fapstronaut

    Hey @skaterdrew.

    First off, congrats on taking all the actions you note above and congrats on hitting eight days. Neither of these are small accomplishments. All, as a result, demand a certain amount of acknowledgement and celebration. So hooray!

    Now, in terms of the questions you raise around non-pornographic images, these are what the noFap world calls 'porn substitutes' or p-subs'. That is, these are non-pornographic images that we look at and use in a pornographic way.

    For me, learning of this designation marked a major turning point in my recovery. Prior to this, I was getting increasingly clean from porn - for stretches of months and even a year in one instance. At the same time, however, I was using non-sexual images to get off. For the life of me, I could not understand why I keep relapsing - until I found out about p-subs.

    It all made such sense. It was obvious I was using these in exactly the same way I was using porn. Moreover, some of the same needs for novelty, newness, intensity and volume were also becoming evident - in other words the progressive character of addiction was showing itself. It is also worth noting that I also ran into some research around this time that suggested from the brain's point of view, whether and image is overtly pornographic or not is irrelevant - the dopamine release comes from how that image is being used.

    All of this should have made the next step easy - stop looking at p-subs! Well, what I've discovered is that this is proving equally - if not more difficult - that my original attempts to get away from overt pornography. In other words, yup it's an addiction.

    So is it a good sign, what you report? It may be that your sexual responsiveness does reveal a measure of healing and recovery. At the same time, however, it may also be that you've stumbled into another addictive dead-end. That's been the case for me.

    For what it's worth...
     
    over50 and fhoger like this.
  3. Good but also dangerous during recovery. Is it your mind getting more "normal" or is it the stage where your mind is desperately trying to grasp onto almost anything and use it as a turn on (p-sub).
    Early in recovery do not trust your mind.
    Congratulations on the steps you are taking and your success so far.
     
  4. skaterdrew

    skaterdrew Fapstronaut

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    Thanks for your answer.

    So would you say I relapsed on porn from searching and looking at this images for a few seconds?

    Surely doing this was no where near as bad as actually searching and masturbating to what is categorised as porn content?

    Lie would you agree if you relapse that it's true that less extreme stuff you look at is better, and the less stuff you search and look at it, and the less amount of time you're on it is always better?
     
  5. ultrafabber

    ultrafabber Fapstronaut

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    No, not necessarily. Being hyper-arousable is not something to celebrate.

    You shouldn't masturbate anyway, just don't think of sex and don't get yourself aroused. Avoid being aroused as much as possible unless you're with a real woman.
     

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