I Quit Porn, Masturbation And Sex For 90 Days, And It Completely Changed My Life.
2. Are Porn and Masturbation Bad For You?
It’s 7:00 AM, and I start my day as usual, with a sip of coffee. I begin to write my journal and notice the date on my smartphone that says “25th July 2020”. I realize that this ain’t any ordinary day as It marks the completion of my porn and masturbation( also sex) free 90 days.
What an incredible but tough journey it has been for someone like me, who has been a porn addict for 2–3 years. I have tried 6–7 times before this to get to the 90 days, but I could only get as far as 45 days at max.
These 90 days have completely changed me and my life. I have finally escaped myself from this addiction and to be honest, this has been my proudest achievement till now, considering how many people struggle from this addiction and how tough it is to come out of it.
If you are a porn addict like me, who wants to get rid of this addiction or if you want to test your willpower while also bringing positive changes in your body and mind, then Nofap can help you do so.
1. What is Nofap?
Nofap is the practice of avoiding all forms of artificial sexual stimulation like watching porn and masturbating for a particular period.
There are many types or forms of this practice. For example, some people avoid porn but masturbate, while some avoid both porn and masturbation but have sex, then some people avoid everything, including porn, masturbation, and sex.
I refer them as easy,normal and hard mode.
- Easy mode- No porn but can masturbate without it.
- Normal mode- No porn or masturbation but can have sex.
- Hard mode- No porn, masturbation and sex.
I followed the hard mode and would also recommend you to do so, if you struggle with porn addiction or if you want to see quick and effective changes in yourself. You can also go with the other two; it depends entirely on your choice.
2. Are Porn and Masturbation Bad For You?
It was harmful for me. Masturbation left me tired and lazy all day long. I always regretted after watching porn and felt guilty about it — this affected my mental health too. So I knew it wasn’t right for me. But everyone is different. If it’s terrible for me, then it doesn’t mean that it’s terrible for you too.
How can you know that its bad for you?
Listen to your body and mind. Do you feel laziness and tiredness after you masturbate? Do you feel guilty about it or kind of regret after doing it? Is it affecting your brain? Does your mind feel heavy or unclear?
If the answer is “YES” then its bad for you. The thing is, you already know the answer, that if its bad for you or not. You are just not accepting it. Do you feel proud of yourself when you masturbate? I guess No.
Scientific answer:-
Researchers have found that Internet porn and addictive substances like tobacco have very similar effects on the brain, and they are significantly different from how the brain reacts to healthy, natural pleasures like food or sex. Think about it. When you’re munching a snack or enjoying a romantic encounter, eventually your cravings will drop and you’ll feel satisfied. Why? Because your brain has a built-in “off” switch for natural pleasures
“Dopamine cells stop firing after repeated consumption of a ‘natural reward’ (e.g. food or sex),” explains Nora Volkow, Director of The National Institute of Drug Abuse. But addictive drugs go right on increasing dopamine levels without giving the brain a break. The more a drug user hits up, the more dopamine floods his brain, and the stronger his urges are to keep using. That’s why drug addicts find it so hard to stop once they take the first hit. One hit may turn into many hits, or even a lost weekend.
Here’s the scientific proof:
3. Why Did I Take Up This Challenge?
1. To free myself from the addiction.
I started watching porn when I was 16 years old. It felt fun and relaxing at first but soon became a self-destructive addiction with no fun left.
I masturbated daily for a year or two, and that thing destroyed me in every way possible. It lowered my self-esteem and soon led me to depression and anxiety.
I finally became aware of how this addiction has become very dangerous, and it seemed hard for me to do something about it.
I wanted to free myself from it, so I started researching on how to get rid of it and then got to know about Nofap communities.
I read about people who cured their addiction using Nofap. Reading their stories motivated me to take up this 90 days challenge.
2. To reset my mind.
Porn and masturbation completely messed up my brain. My mind started relying on porn for immediate satisfaction and temporary happiness. As a result, things like playing soccer, listening to music and eating tasty food no longer interested me.
Porn also changed my perception of women. I started viewing them as perfect women who I could have sex with anywhere I want. I used to fantasize about women all day and even used to undress them in my mind, and I hated myself for that.
Excessive masturbation slowed down my brain and kind of messed up my thought process. My focus and concentration got worse, and so I started forgetting things quickly.
I wanted my brain to return to normal again and become effective as it was before I started indulging myself in these activities. I wanted my powers back, and that’s one of the reasons why I took this Nofap challenge.
3. To become more successful.
There is a chapter in the book ‘Think and grow rich’ called as ‘The mystery of sexual transmutation’ that explains how many successful people have used Nofap to get where they are using a process called sexual transmutation.
What exactly is sexual transmutation and how to use it?
It’s a way for men to gather, save their sexual energy and instead of ejaculating it freely, you use it into getting tiresome tasks, creative tasks done… or even achieving your biggest dreams and goals.
Sexual transmutation is one of the most significant unfair advantages you can have as a man over others when you master it. Many of the geniuses, like William Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon Bonaparte, have used sexual transmutation.
How can you practice sexual transmutation?
Step 1. Gather, supercharge your sexual energy (practice Nofap )
Step 2. Trick your mind and use that sexual energy to get the boring task done, challenging problem solved and refocused back on your goal.
4. Benefits After 90 Days of Nofap.
1. I developed rock solid confidence.
Before Nofap, I was less confident in social situations, and I used to avoid social conversations, get-together with friends and all sorts of social events.
In just one week into this practice, I started to feel the confidence in me. I was talking to the people without any hesitation. It was because I had no thoughts of porn and sex in my head, and also the guilt and shame that I experienced due to this addiction vanished.
I also experienced more confidence in myself and my abilities. I no longer run from things now; instead, I welcome them with confidence.
2. I regained my interest in little things.
When you stop relying on porn and masturbation for temporary satisfaction, you start to re-enjoy little things.
When you watch porn and masturbate, a large amount of dopamine releases into your brain. Due to this Dopamine, you gain artificial happiness, and it becomes an addiction.
As the addiction grows, you don’t find joy and happiness in doing little things. You just like watching porn and masturbating because that’s more satisfying or rewarding.
But when you do Nofap, you eliminate that dopamine stimulation. Therefore your brain starts regaining interest in little things.
As a result, I started re-enjoying things like playing football, listening to music, and eating delicious food cooked by my mom.
3. I developed amazing mental strength and toughness.
The amount of mental strength it takes to get to 90 days of Nofap when you are addicted to it for years, is enormous. It takes a lot of self-control to beat the addiction that has gained control over your mind.
During my Nofap journey, I have experienced extreme sexual urges, where my brain wanted me to relapse, but I stayed mentally tough and avoided those urges. As a result, I became mentally stronger, and this thing also boosted my self-control.
Sex desire is the most powerful of human desires. If you can master your mind against this desire, you can do anything and everything in your life.
4. My stamina has improved and I look bigger now.
I am not talking about sex stamina or my performance in bed ( I guess that might have improved too, but I don’t know about it as I don’t have sex because I am single *sad *), but I am talking about field stamina.
I play soccer, and I have noticed that my endurance has improved a lot. I am able to play quicker and longer without getting tired easily.
There is an increase in my muscle size too. I feel bigger and stronger than before. It is due to the rise in testosterone levels in my body. According to this famous Chinese study, testosterone level increases to 145.7% by day 7 of abstaining from masturbation.
More testosterone equals more energy, so I was able to perform a lot better in the gym, and I started lifting more weight, doing more cardio, and I became stronger.
5. I have a strong willpower and I am motivated as hell.
Before Nofap, I was lazy and lacked motivation even to get out of bed.
Now, I wake up at 5:00 daily, I work out, meditate, and then start working towards my goals and dreams. I have been doing this since I took this Nofap challenge. So, this clearly shows how my willpower and motivation have increased after Nofap.
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter which is something that gives you the desire to seek for potential rewards. For instance, dopamine can cause you to crave for a certain dessert or cause you to level up when playing a video game. It even helps you to get motivated to do a particular work.
Sexual stimulation is the most dopamine inducing activity one can naturally experience. While watching porn, your dopamine level rises to around 200% of what is normal.
The sudden increase in your dopamine level completely messes your dopamine reward system leading to no motivation and willpower to do anything. But as you take Nofap challenge and abstain from porn and masturbation, your dopamine reward system starts to heal itself.
Once it’s back to normal, you feel endless motivation and willpower to do things and achieve something life.
6. I have successfully reset my brain.
My brain is back to normal again. I am able to concentrate and focus better. There is an increase in my attention span, too; I can now work and read for a longer duration.
My Brain Fog has vanished. Brain fog is the inability to have a sharp memory or to lack a sharp focus. You feel like you’re not yourself, and you’re unable to think clearly. Giving porn and masturbation a stop can prevent you from brain fog. So, I can now think better and clear.
I no longer think about porn and sex all day like I used to. When watching too much porn, we start to look at girls in the wrong way; that’s embarrassing because you don’t even know who they are, and you are thinking of having sex with them.
I respect girls more now. I no longer think of them as sex objects but ordinary human like myself. I compliment them for their behaviors and attitude rather than due to their body parts.
All in all, my brain is back to normal again like how it used to be before I started indulging myself in this addiction. Its better and more effective now and it is all because of Nofap.
4. My 90 days Nofap Timeline.
1. Weeks 1–2 :-
These two weeks can either be your hardest or easiest weeks during Nofap; it depends mostly on your addiction to porn.
Week 1 was the hardest for me, especially day three when I got a strong urge, but I somehow avoided it and thankfully survived.
Week 2 was a bit easier, knowing that I passed week one without relapsing gave me the confidence to move forward.
2. Weeks 3–4:-
Around this time, things will start to slow down mentally; your interest in porn will decrease slightly.
At the same time, your brain will start to trick you into taking quick looks of nude pictures or anything else that could be a porn substitute, like looking at girls’ pictures on social media. Please do not fall for this because it will only delay or destroy your chances of rebooting.
Week 3- I felt a lot of temptation during this week. I kept myself busy to avoid the urges. I played soccer and went outdoors to keep myself busy. If you get the urges, come out of your house as quickly as possible. Take a walk or go for a run, and then the urges will go away.
Week 4 felt more comfortable than the previous week. I started to see positive behaviors inside myself. My confidence was at its peak. Ninety days seemed possible to attain from this point onward.
3. Weeks 5–6:-
During these two weeks, your libido ( sexual desire or energy) will drop to the point it will crash.
No morning woods should be expected at this point; during this time, your brain is not sure what is going on.
At this point, when your penis is not getting any erections, this means your body is going through an essential process of the journey.
Your body is beginning to transform and fix what has been destroyed by porn all this time.
Do not be alarmed when this begins to happen to your body but instead be encouraged by it; you are on the road to healing your body; in fact, in the healing process.
Week 5- I got my first wet dream this week. I felt discouraged after it and talked to a few people of Nofap community about it. They told me not to feel depressed about it as I have no control over it and its natural. Wet dreams are beneficial because your body is naturally releasing semen, and you are slowly healing yourself from this addiction.
Week 6- This week was the toughest of all. My confidence dropped immensely. I felt a bit lazy and demotivated during this week. Although there were fewer urges to relapse, I felt really low and stressed. I wanted a way out of this situation, so I thought about watching porn and breaking the streak, but I stopped myself. I thought about how my life has gotten better due to this streak, and I didn’t want my life to turn shitty again, so I kept moving.
4. WEEKS 8–9:-
Around this time, your body will start to fix itself…. you will begin to feel and see new sneak peeks of yourself.
Your thoughts about women around you will start to change, things like random erections might happen, you might find yourself not wanting to be at home being a lazy sluggard.
At this point, you should be getting into new hobbies, never turning down an invitation from someone when it comes to getting out of your house.
Week 8- It was easy and straight. I felt anger and rage inside my body; maybe it was due to the extra energy I was holding on to myself. Rather than wasting that energy in masturbation, I spent that energy doing physical exercises like working out or going for a run.
Week 9- A little drop in confidence and motivation. I felt a bit lazy but got used to it. Some days during this week, I experienced extreme highs at a time and extreme lows at other. This was because my brain was rebooting after years of damage from porn and masturbation.
5. WEEKS 10–11–12:-
At this point, you will feel newer, healthier, and more mental clarity. These last weeks in the Nofap challenge will honestly be tougher than the first two weeks you started.
I’m not sure if it’s because your brain knows you’re reaching your goal or you have told yourself in 90 days you will reward yourself with porn (do not reward yourself with porn, that’s a big no-no)
Whatever the reason, do not masturbate or fap to porn because you will regret it.
Weeks 9,10,11- I was kind of scared of giving away the streak as the 90th day was coming close, but I think its natural to feel that way. I would recommend you stop counting days daily as that might make you impatient or that it takes a lot of time to get to the 90th day. Please don’t count the days or maybe do it once a week.
These last weeks were more comfortable than the first two weeks in terms of the desire to watch porn or masturbate. My mind and body have become used to without porn and masturbation.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:-
1. How to counter the urges?
1. Take a Cold Shower
This is the best thing you can do whenever you feel like watching porn or masturbating.
So the rule is simple. Whenever you feel that extreme urge to watch porn and masturbate, go to your bathroom, then get your cloth off and start the shower.
Just make sure it’s cold, and you do that until you feel calm. The cold shower gives your body a little shock that will put you in a good state of mind.
It can distract your mind from the urge and will keep you motivated to continue with the streak.
2. Meditate
When you get extreme urges, your brain starts to panic. It wants you to take action and will try to force you to end the streak. So, its important to stay calm and mindful about your body and thoughts.
Whenever you feel the urge to masturbate or to watch porn:
- Become aware of your thoughts and try to observe them.
- Set a timer of 5 min.
- Close your eyes and start taking deep breaths.
- Count “1” for every inhale, and “2” for every exhale.
- Do this for 5 mins and repeat positive affirmations like “I will not give in to the urges” “I am stronger than this” “I won’t let this addiction take control of myself”.
Doing this will leave you more positive, and you feel calmer and motivated.
3. Do Push-ups or any physical exercise
Doing Physical exercises will help you to exert the energy without wasting it.
When you get an urge, do push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats, or go for a run. It would help you to get the excess energy out, in a way that doesn’t waste your vital fluid.
Doing just 10 push-ups or sit-ups will make you feel more energetic and will help you release the excessive energy without ejaculating it.
2. Can women do Nofap?
I think Yes. It works both ways for both sexes. While I think men might receive more benefits, it’s not impossible that females do either. When you think about it, it’s more about how you probably perceive yourself.
When a girl watches porn with females in it, she sees how good looking these girls are. And she sees the way they are, their body etc. and that can change how she sees herself, in a wrong or discouraging way.
So if you do Nofap, you might feel better about yourself, more confident, and more enjoyable sex etc. You might feel more feminine or more attractive. You might enjoy it if guys look at you, instead of feeling uncomfortable.
Here’s some links, of girls who did NoFap: http://yourbrainonporn.com/female-things-have-really-changed-me
http://yourbrainonporn.com/female-benefits-nofap-women-theory
3. Should you continue with Nofap after 90 days?
Well, it depends upon your purpose for doing this challenge. If you are doing this to experiment with your body or its habits then its fine to masturbate after you have completed the 90 days challenge. Just make sure not to become addicted. Please don’t make it a daily habit. Do it sometimes, and if possible, don’t watch porn.
Talking about myself, I will continue with Nofap as long as possible. I think 90 days is not enough to reboot your mind from this addiction completely, it takes a year or at least 6 months to say that “Yeah I have finally conquered this addiction”.
Also, the kind of impact that Nofap has brought into my life is fantastic. It has turned me into a new kind of guy with extra energy and motivation, and I don’t want to get back to my old habits and live like shit again.
I have seen people that relapse after the 90 days thinking that they have completed 90 days and their addiction is cured and they fall back to same daily habits of porn, masturbation, and then they regret breaking the streak. I don’t want to become like them and I think you don’t want that either. So, keep going as long as possible.
Thanks a lot for reading, and enjoy the journey.
