How long will it take for a hardcore fapper to heal their brain?

A general rule of thumb is to consider how many years you’ve been fapping (in your case 8), multiply that by two and that’s the number of months it is likely to take you for a full recovery (in your case roughly 16 months). Keep in mind that everyone is different. There are no rules that are absolute in determining your recovery time. But it’s best to prepare yourself before-hand for a long recovery just in case it ends up working out that way. Not that it makes you feel any better, but I’ve been PMO-ing for over 15 years and fapping for nearly 18. It’s liable to take me anywhere from two to three years to see a complete recovery.

 

What he said ^^^

 

The withdrawal symptoms diminish, don't worry. But stay vigilant, because they can flood back if there's a trigger (stress at work, etc., etc.)

 

You will most likely have periods where you are in withdrawal/flatline and others where you come out of it. Recovery can be extremely non-linear. With that being said, there are those that are in a constant state of PAWS until well past the year mark. It’s impossible to determine for certain because as I said everyone is different. It’s best to prepare yourself for a long recovery just in case you end up needing it. The important thing is to remember that the only way out is through. You’re never going to get to the other end if you don’t push through the withdrawals and resist temptations to relapse. I’ve been there plenty of times—intense withdrawals, relapse, binging, resetting, the whole nine yards. Unfortunately I have to start again. But don’t make the same mistake I’ve made and relapse just to seek "relief" from withdrawal. You’ll invariably have to go through it again. Might as well get through it now.

 

P.A.W.S: What are they and how to get rid of it (eventually)
Most common symptoms are: 1. depression, 2. Anxiety, 3. Insomnia (F... I experience all of them already )
What causes it: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, adrenal gland imbalances and some other stuff
Cure: diet, exercise, pushing yourself forward, counselling*
Cured: 8-12 months (after 30 years of alcohol, opioid and sex addiction) ->6 to 24 months in general



​

 

A good post for resurrecting; it’s important to manage expectations. I was a long time MO/PMO addict starting at 13 (MO) then morphing into PMO in the early days with copies of penthouse and other magazines. This morphed even further into the early internet and full blown PMO addiction lasting the span of 30 years give or take. Here’s what it has meant for me personally: five years to feel like I have a sense of normalcy in my life for the first time since later puberty truth be told.

The social anxiety that I dealt with over the years through alcohol and this terrible MO/PMO addiction has gone away entirely. It’s like living an entirely different life. I can’t explain it other than to say, that on top of dealing with raw emotions, you will truly see the destructive nature of these addictions as you begin to re-emerge on the other side.