How long does withdrawal last? And are my symptoms "normal?"

Hi everyone,

First of all, great initiative, great website. Glad to have found it and to have joined, although I have heard of the website before.

I've been a pornography user for over a decade, it first started when I was about 13 or 14. Like many others, I was really addicted as an adolescent.

Long story short, I am now 27 and suffer from panic disorder/exhaustion. Something that could be related to the porn, not sure, although I definitely do believe it's contributing.

That's why I have decided to stop using porn all together. That, and because I'm religious as well.

Over the years I have developed some nasty obsessions and thoughts, confused about sexual orientation, OCD-like symptoms and I am quite sure that these are addiction-related.
Porn is just evil, I'm completely aware of it, I've been struggling for years, watching it, not watching it...

I'm now in my first or second week of not using, not sure if I was in fact addicted but I did notice that the tension around my head already got better after day 1! I'm feeling physically stronger and somewhat calmer but I am experiencing some nasty withdrawal symptoms. I do take antidepressant so I'm not sure what the effects of the combo could be.

Some other points I'd like to share: high cortisol, (very) low testosterone, high blood sugar, low prolactine, high calcium, high blood cell count, high liver function.

Symptoms I've been experiencing: feeling stronger physically, mentally unwell. Kind of sick to the stomach, kidney stone, depression, brain fog, anxiety and panic (of course), confused, stressed, tics, fear of losing it, body aches...

Fatigue has improved, thanks to diet and exercise as well... But the AD and panic disorder provoke similar symptoms, so I was wondering if all this boils down to porn withdrawal or what?

I'm definitely determined to stop porn once and for all, especially because I just know it's draining me mentally and physically, I've been ashamed way too long, have had no self esteem whatsoever. I want to fight back! I'm quite surprised by what willpower can do, I hope the determination and self-discipline lasts.

Any tips would be welcome, especially when it comes to the withdrawal symptoms and how to cope on a mental and physical level.

All the best,
Thanks,
Ken

 

Would like to add that my longest period of time without it was about 6 months. Abstained smaller periods of time as well (3 months)... then relapsed. You could say that the anti-depressant contributed to these smaller success stories.
Cheers,
Ken

 

Thank you for your reply! The fact that it does get better is really motivating. The symptoms are all related.

Thanks for the tips, I am taking something called Krill oil, basically fish oil but absorbed better in the cells. I do take other supplements but I can't tolerate all of them yet. I believe zinc is an important one as well?

Do you think low T could be porn-related or is it anxiety-related? I'm thinking about asking my dr. for replacement therapy.

Thanks,
Ken

 

PS. Has anyone felt as if time has slowed as well?
Ken

 

Hey Ken,

I'm in the same boat mate. Porn ruined my life completely, I'm 28 now. I was once a highly motivated, energetic, social, enthusiastic kid. Porn robbed me of all this and I never knew it was that, until I found nofap. Now at least I have a glimmer of hope. I am currently in my 23rd day, even though I have an active social life, money, good looking, girls at a phone call away, I feel like SHIT. I have no self esteem, I am scared of my own mind, that I will lose control and do smth to myself. What I found to help is the fact that whenever you have a bad thought or feel bad, just remember the days when you felt good and were happy (I had lots of them back in my youth). That keeps me going. I moved back in with my parents in the meantime to have homemade food and someone around me to kill the loneliness (even though I have friends, I can't spend a lot of time with them, because I am still a little apathetic and anti social from my PMO days).

2015 was terrible for me, I had exhaustion, burnout, depression, OCD, anhedonia, nothing brought me pleasure (and this is a year where I graduated university, traveled to France, moved downtown, went out a lot, met new people - practically I had every reason to be happy or enthusiastic about what's going on in my life).

I am currently in my 4th week of nofap, I still feel anxious, scared about everything, nasty thoughts (my brain is very impatient and is acting up on me), low self esteem and confidence (even though people around me respect me and I get girls and all that). It is indeed weird how chemical stuff in your brain makes you not care about what happens in life around you and you just live in your own world. But stay strong man, even if it takes months or years, I know that one day we will be back to happiness and bliss.

Cheers,

Alex

 

@kamado86 by orgasm you mean sex with women as well? I had sex 2 nights ago and the day after I felt weak and depressed again, so now I want to try and abstain from anything related to ejaculating.

 

@Tull keep at it man, the first 2 weeks are the hardest.

 

i am no doctor, but I would say if you were into porn for several years, panic atacks could come from watching p. see if your panic atacks go away..with time.

 

anybody has any advice for headaches? Lately they've been unbearable and I can't sleep because of them