new to nofap

Hello,

Joining forums is not normally my kind of thing, but I need help and I feel like this is a good start.

I struggle with quite serious depression, have done since I was an early adolescent, and I believe this to be the root of my masturbation/porn/sex addiction. I have been a chronic masturbator since I was around 13. I am now 22, and it's fair to say that masturbating has always had an unequivocally negative impact on my life. With the help of a therapist I now understand that I have used it as a quick fix coping mechanism to deal with my depression (as I have also done with other addictive substances and processes.)

In the past I was always able to contain my addiction and compulsive sexual behaviour to private fantasy, but lately I have found this more and more difficult, ([in certain moods/circumstances] unable to deal with sexual thoughts in public, sexualising everyone I see etc.) as well as accessing increasingly unsettling content when I go through the ordeal of masturbating in private.

I am in a relationship with a girl who I love very much - she knows about my issues, but doesn't really engage with them: we were previously together and split up after too much emotional intensity became unbearable, and are now back together in a more casual, self-dependent capacity.

I feel increasing unassured that my sex(/porn/masturbation I'm still not sure what to call it) addiction won't get the better of me in a way that seriously hurts her, and this is a thought I can't bear.

Despite joining nofap literally five minutes ago, I already feel better equipped to overcome this issue - feels good to know I'm not entirely alone in it.