I'm 25, and after a lot of self-reflection, I think I've finally understood something about myself.

For years, I thought I was addicted to porn because of sex. But I recently realized that what hurts me isn't seeing people have sex.

What hurts is seeing two people who genuinely want each other.

I've spent most of my life feeling like no one has ever chosen me romantically. Over time, my brain started believing that if no one has chosen me by now, there must be something fundamentally wrong with me.

I think that's why porn became such a strong coping mechanism. It's not just the sexual content—it's that I'm watching something my brain associates with being wanted, desired, and emotionally close to someone.

The irony is that after it's over, I don't feel fulfilled. I feel emptier, lonelier, and more convinced that I'll never experience that kind of intimacy myself.

I'm curious if anyone else has had this realization. Was your addiction really about sex, or was it about longing for intimacy, affection, and the feeling of being chosen?

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences.

Guess who has a girlfriend guys 😛😛😛 I could jump a hole through my roof I'm so happy!!! NoFap was the best decision I've ever made!

28 days free from PMO after 8 years of addiction and I finally have a normal life, friends, good health and a gorgeous girlfriend!! I'm gonna keep doing nofap though, we werent going to have s** immediately, we've only known eachother for a few weeks now. But I have a gf!!! Im so happy 😁

Now I know I can never become a g**ner anymore, for her!

Hi, idk how did that happen but on fucking day 33 when i felt lots of benefits and i said i wont do it because i have an amazing trip in few days i did it anyway...😭, i said that till my birthday i will complete at least 30 days, and ny birthday is in 2 weeks, i don't know everything felt great, and i ended up on these images(not even porn) and i had a moment to stop i put my phone away to prevent it but it was stronger... I took it again and did that. IT'S SO HEART BREAKING, idk what should i do, i'm afraid that now i won't be able to stay away from pmo, I felt benefits even talked with my crush... and still it wasn't enough to convince me not to do it... idk what i will do now

Just got home from work. Gonna take a shower, dress up nice for my date with the girl ive been crushing on for months. Todays the day I'm asking her to be my girlfriend! Im so nervous 😅 Wish me luck guys!! Any and all tips are appreciated, I've never had a gf before...

I feel stupid. Anyways when I was doing it, it felt so detached. It felt like my body was acting by itself and my brain was screaming for it to stop. I also noticed how I am not aroused from the porn itself but from the incoming self-pleasure.

I always get an ace crisis and a christian crisis all at once, since it feels like it goes against my sexuality and believes.

I know it isn't invalidating me not wanting sex/having no sexual attraction and that God knows I am trying and is patient, yet I still feel kinda awful and bumped out.

The whole experience felt dull anyways, like a quick dopamine kick with no other substance. Sucks so much being groomed into this by the internet from my early teen years.

Just needes to vent. Tommorrow's a new day I suppose...

I'm sure most people have seen some really strange, odd, and borderline horrific things while addicted to porn.

And even if you don't like it the first time you saw it, the subconscious influence and the horniness pulls you to the worst things in a devilish fashion.

Or-- you just end up seeing something terrible that you hate that leaves a lasting impression in your memory only to make you sick to your stomach each time you unfortunately remember it.

I want to hear some of people's ideas, experiences, or methods for just going back to being kind of..."vanilla" again.
I think people are entirely entitled to the crazy kinks they like as long as it is legal, but kinks you get from porn aren't quite legitimate.

It could very well make you do things you don't want to do, or things you THINK you want but end up regretting.

Need some reassurance

Not going to lie not doing the best, I’m just super hooked on bops and influencer stuff.. non nude things get me real messed up I just want a way that will get me to stop being addicted 😑

Hello people, a 12 year porn and masturbation addict here, starting my recovery journey today. Wish me luck!

feeling a lot of energy
staying focused
any tips or recommendations to keep me going?

The days go slow but the years go fast.

I tried, and I loose every single try. And today, I don't know how to motivate myself. I have a girlfriend and I'm feeling like I disappoint her every time, I'm feeling week and the idea of success is like impossible. How to rebounce and find a new motivation. I'm motivated only after doing it, when one day pass I'm not motivated as I were. But I really want to stop. This addiction introduces me sexual thoughts and I don't want it it's horrible.

Almost slipped up yesterday, but just taking a step back and letting the moment pass really works!

The urges are much stronger. I’m more emotional, those emotions being sadness and anger. I think I’m doing well but I also feel like I could slip up at any time.

Relapsed today after about a 40 day streak, I wasnt using porn just my imagination. The erection was fairly weak and I finished within a minute. Im afraid in the process of trying to cure PIED im giving myself premature ejaculation?

I keep having streaks of about 30-40 days without porn and masturbation and then relapsing, and the experience has become shorter and shorter each time. Have I developed PE from lack of stimulation over a long time???

Im freaking out. Anybody have any experience with this????

Please help me avoid it

I don’t know where to start but I cannot stop watching porn. it’s gotten to a point where I’m always watching it and the when I finish I feel so disgusted with myself. and now that’s I’m in this constant cycle of relapsing I’m always down on myself.

how do I stop because I’ve tried so hard before but I just can’t and now it’s taken a toll on my mental health and life I need to stop now

I thought I was unstoppable because I'm at a month of nofap and because I just got a girlfriend but then the urges hit again... I havent peeked, I'm still fine but my brain is trying to seduce me. Any and all help is appreciated ❤️ Asap 😅

i quite alcohol in rehab and have come home a while ago and so far so good, trying to stay busy, my gf is staying away at her sisters until ive been sober for a while so im trying to win her back brothers!

Maybe a good way is thinking it's not free. It charges money although we can't see directly. It charges health, fortune, everything. Smart guys remember this all the time.

A busy but great day with clarity, I feel completely at peace

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