Is looking at girls on the street bad for my PM recovery

Work brought me deep into the city today, couldn't help but stare at these beautiful fit girls there were so many... Some had a guy with them, all it does is make me feel bad but its uncontrollable you look at people. I'm in recovery mode and I will not approach them because In the past I dated a girl while I had ED and she got tired of waiting and moved on it sucked! it is basically impossible to not run into an attractive girl in person hell it happens at the supermarket. But my question is does anyone or everyone have the same problem if so has anyone figured out a way to change their mindset to a more positive one when these situations happen?

 

I definitely appreciate it, maybe I feel like too much life has been wasted with PM and it frustrates me I could have found love by now.

 

There are some I think about more than others and I think its the fact that there might actually be something there, but sex is a big part of dating and relationships for most people and that's definitely something I won't be able to provide for some time considering I've relapsed just yesterday, if looking and becoming aroused is as bad as porn then I'm in a bit of a pickle.

 

I guess Its hard to distinguish. You will only find out if you are interested in being with them and there's a strong chance of mutual emotional connection if you talk to them, but if they just look similar to a woman you've seen on the internet and its your addiction driving you then its a bad idea. Two people who are dating and aren't just in it for each others looks but personalities is my idea of pure, just need to try and ignore the ones I know i'm only interested in for the physical reasons and the ones who are obviously taken. Also I found the longer I stray away from porn and the more often i exercise to get my head straight the less inferior I feel.

 

I haven't been very good boyfriend material in the past hence why I no longer have a girlfriend, I'd say porn made me oblivious to the fact that I needed to show them the respect they deserve and not treat them as some sex object. It has been around 4 years since I've been with someone so I've had a lot of time to reflect.

 

Yeah you definitely try to compensate and level it out, over the past year or two I have done a lot of smoking and binge drinking while attempting to quit PM until now I thought staring was harmless but I'm learning, no more excuses.