If someone watched hard core porn everyday since age 12 and did a hard mode reboot in their 20s lets say 12-18 months, then they fall back into the addiction in their 30s, would they be recovering as a peron who only viewed internet porn as an Adult or does their history of porn use during adolescence still affect them this second go around? Id appreciate it if you could answer the question directly.
Recovery from Porn
- Thread starter Calvin83
- Start date
joepanic
Respected Member
Hi Calvin
Interesting question you posed
My opinion is that porn addiction is porn addiction and its going to take you at least 3 to 6 months minimum to clear it from your system (although they say an addiction technically never goes away such like an alcoholic cannot just have 1 drink) so a porn addict cannot somewhere down the road just decide to look at 1 movie and walk away You must ask yourself why your quitting porn and have your own reasons If your looking to give it up than you best be prepared for at least 3-6 months before the "withdrawal effects begin to diminish On top of that a reboot should include finding things to do with your time that are more constructive (this will take time) so as to build confidence in yourself to be a better person
Cheers and Merry Christmas
Post often it helps me it helps you
Interesting question you posed
My opinion is that porn addiction is porn addiction and its going to take you at least 3 to 6 months minimum to clear it from your system (although they say an addiction technically never goes away such like an alcoholic cannot just have 1 drink) so a porn addict cannot somewhere down the road just decide to look at 1 movie and walk away You must ask yourself why your quitting porn and have your own reasons If your looking to give it up than you best be prepared for at least 3-6 months before the "withdrawal effects begin to diminish On top of that a reboot should include finding things to do with your time that are more constructive (this will take time) so as to build confidence in yourself to be a better person
Cheers and Merry Christmas
Post often it helps me it helps you
doneatlast
Well-Known Member
Questions like this need good data for answers, and that data just doesn't exist. I assume you're talking about your own story, and you'll be in uncharted territory.
My guess is that it is a little of both. When people relapse after 12-18 months, they usually fall into old habits, old websites, old fetishes and so forth. That tells me that old porn tastes get reactivated, and probably the old porn circuits. Think of an old path in the woods that is grown over and barely discernable as a path... but it is still there. If you find you're living out your porn life more or less as though that sober period never existed, then it is probably a good guess that you'll be dealing with recovery stuff similar to someone who started early. It is also possible that such a relapse occurred precisely BECAUSE you started so young, and it is in deep.
That isn't to say that you didn't do yourself a lot of good by quitting for that long. That time away certainly does a lot of good, and it gives you lots of tools. It also matters how long between that long 12-18 month sobriety and trying to reboot again. A day? Week? Year? Several years? The longer it is, the more the progress erases.
Instead of worrying how bad another reboot will be, I'd just look at it optimistically. If you made it that long, "white knuckle" stuff isn't an issue for you. That stuff usually doesn't let you get past a week or two at most. What other deeper things are lingering in your life that might never have gone away? Emotional stuff? Your perspectives on sex and relationships?
My guess is that it is a little of both. When people relapse after 12-18 months, they usually fall into old habits, old websites, old fetishes and so forth. That tells me that old porn tastes get reactivated, and probably the old porn circuits. Think of an old path in the woods that is grown over and barely discernable as a path... but it is still there. If you find you're living out your porn life more or less as though that sober period never existed, then it is probably a good guess that you'll be dealing with recovery stuff similar to someone who started early. It is also possible that such a relapse occurred precisely BECAUSE you started so young, and it is in deep.
That isn't to say that you didn't do yourself a lot of good by quitting for that long. That time away certainly does a lot of good, and it gives you lots of tools. It also matters how long between that long 12-18 month sobriety and trying to reboot again. A day? Week? Year? Several years? The longer it is, the more the progress erases.
Instead of worrying how bad another reboot will be, I'd just look at it optimistically. If you made it that long, "white knuckle" stuff isn't an issue for you. That stuff usually doesn't let you get past a week or two at most. What other deeper things are lingering in your life that might never have gone away? Emotional stuff? Your perspectives on sex and relationships?
yesyes1234
Active Member
Yes it still affects you. You never get rid of the addiction pathways. You can only decrease their strengths. So if you fall back into using they will quickly regain their power and you will once again feel as addicted as before.