As I am getting deep into one of the better streaks I've had in quite some time, a familiar phase is coming into play that I had forgotten about because of how long it's been since my last good streak. Does anyone notice that they get relapse goggles when the withdrawal symptoms start to kick in? What I call "relapse goggles" are pretty much the same think as beer goggles (note: I don't drink, so I've never personally experienced beer goggles), except that instead of alcohol causing the artificial perception of women around you, your dopamine withdrawal is causing it. For example, today I was around a lot of women that were dressed extremely conservatively--i.e., clothing generally did not reveal legs, shoulders, cleavage, back, etc. and nothing form fitting--but somehow many of the woman seemed extremely sexually attractive. I mean, despite the lack of anything truly provocative, I still was perceiving the women as extremely voluptuous and sexually desirable. Over time, I've come to recognize that my perception literally changes. Women that I see regularly that never cause me a second glance suddenly become sex symbols. [NSFW]Their breasts seem to become larger, their waists seem to slim to that "ideal" proportion, their butts seems to become fuller and more shapely[/NSFW] It makes everything get harder. It gets me thinking in a way that often leads me down a dangerous path. I can't get away from all women, so I'm constantly surrounded by triggers. It's inescapable, and it makes this phase extremely hard to get through. Does anyone else notice this?
Yeah, I can relate. I compared it to my comfort zone getting really small. I am constantly triggered (mildly, but still) by almost anything female that surrounds me. I certainly hope that it won't stay that way forever. How will we survive summer if it does? For now, I treat it as a reboot phenomenon and try to make it a habit cutting triggering strings off. We can only wait and see.
I'm not convinced it's really relapse goggles but just the way we're wired. Most sexually healthy men have a strong urge to reproduce; that manifests itself as being able to find women sexually attractive without them being half naked. When we're addicted to porn, we're so desensitized that we don't notice clothed, normal women. I've definitely had the same experience though. After going just 30 days of hard mode, I noticed a LOT of attractive girls in ways I never had before, and my wife wearing yoga pants when we worked out made it almost impossible for me to think of anything other than sex.
i know what you mean, when i feel urges i put my "PMO goggles" so to say, and i remember just how miserable, depressed, self hating scumbag i felt after PMO, and it helps A LOT fighting the urges, when you show yourself the end result of the so called "pleasure" you could be getting, man i tell you i put things in perspective real quick
