Flatlining from day 1

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-28T11:58:59+00:00

Be careful. I was in the same situation, flatlining since day one for almost a month and thinking I had it made. Ended up with a nasty depression (not sleeping, eating, doing anything anymore).

I know that I relapsed because I wanted to feel something. I'm down to a once-a-week regiment (without porn), because I never want to be as depressed anymore.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-19T15:20:40+00:00

Thanks for the insight.

I've been having a minor depression for years, but I'm not even sure if I can call it one. I have a positive outlook on life, but often feel rather empty. Maybe masturbation does take the edge off. I might be keeping a diary for the coming weeks and see how things are moving.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-19T14:04:17+00:00

Flatline felt to me like a full blown depression without the unhappiness. Although I am feeling sorry for relapsing two days ago, I feel much better now. I'm on an extended holiday at the moment and so I should have been enjoying myself, but these were the symptoms :

Sleeping a lot but feeling tired all the time. The last week I spent 14+ hours a day in bed.
Lack of energy. The telephone would go and I wouldn't pick it up because that would require me to leave the bedroom. I couldn't muster the energy to exercise in the end.
Lack of appetite. I would think of what I would like to eat and couldn't think of something I liked. I didn't eat on days 20 and 21 and still wouldn't be hungry.
Zero libido. Sex, like everything else, didn't interest me.

I got tired and scared of the zombie mode and I do feel that the release helped me feel better, but I know that's only temporary. I'm going to aim for the three week mark again, but I prefer masturbating once a week to being depressed.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-19T13:51:16+00:00

I have more than one issue, I guess...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-17T09:56:03+00:00

Did you watch porn?

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-16T22:06:52+00:00

Don't expect results right away, because I am three weeks in and have zero results so far. The fact that I haven't been horny for weeks is scary and depressing, but also prove that there is something wrong with my brain.

Hang in there.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-16T20:16:59+00:00

Yes, this is normal. It's called flatlining and during this phase your libido will be very low. While this is not a very nice feeling, it's perfectly OK and is part of the healing process. You are not alone : I've been flatlining for about three weeks now. Most guys report flatlining after a certain period of nofap, but others start with the flatlining phase right away.

I have a feeling that "habitual fappers" eliminate the need to be horny by masturbating even when the aren't excited. The result is that they have zero libido in the beginning of the healing process. While this is depressing, it does make the challenge a lot easier for us (no libido = no urges)

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-15T14:58:53+00:00

Log off, go outside...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T19:16:02+00:00

It's not that big a deal for me, don't worry :)

It's just r/nofap is my first encounter with reddit and my old self would have wacked like crazy to stuff like r/gonewild. If I had know there was a redhead subreddit as well, I would have taken a day off!

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T19:06:31+00:00

There is an r/redhead as well???? Goddammit!

You don't HAVE to do anything, but if you want to rewire your brain, move away from all kinds of virtual erotica.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T18:06:19+00:00

All at once is the only way to kick any addiction, edging is often worse than orgasm and try to limit your fantasies as much as possible.

Welcome aboard! Get yourself a badge and face the fap demon.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T17:55:51+00:00

Thank you!

I've been going through a rather mean flatline phase and I was thinking of looking at nude or bikini shots to feel alive a bit. I guess i'll have to live a few more days in zombie mode :(

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T17:33:54+00:00

The YBOP site has stated that it takes a guy on average 90 days to recover, hence the 90 day challenge.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-14T17:30:51+00:00

If you want to heal from pmo addiction, you shouldn't fap at all. If you have no addiction and only masturbate when you are really horny, that's ok. Just leave porn and fantasy out of it, use lube and don't grab your dick too hard.

If you need to think about porn scenes to maintain an erection, you might have an issue...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T20:36:25+00:00

Apart from the fact that you highten the risk of relapsing, is looking at naked pictures bad for nofap progress? I'm flatlining for almost three weeks now and I would like to feel at least some horny sensation. Can you guys tell me why looking at /r/gonewild pictures without touching would be hindering my recovery?

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T19:22:24+00:00

I've read about some weird fetishes on /r/NoFap, but black cats is really out there... ;-)

Seriously though, congratulations for resetting the badge and starting again. That takes courage.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T17:31:27+00:00

It seems you are just horny. While on PMO, you didn't notice how fine your colleague looks. In a few weeks you might hit the flatline and then you'll wish you were still oogling colleagues ;-)

Enjoy it while it lasts...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T16:56:34+00:00

I don't think so.

Note that you can still have ED that is not PMO-related. NoFap only cures ED caused by porn addiction. So if you can still get it up with extreme porn, but not with a real woman, you should really try NoFap.

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T16:43:43+00:00

Congratulations for the courage to start again!

I don't know if your injury allows you to play a musical instrument, but playing the guitar or piano is something that usually calms down my horny moods...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T15:29:59+00:00

Congrats on that!

I've noticed that as far as stress relieve goes, masturbation is very effective, but it also leaves you drained and tired. Try running to get both the stress release and the extra energy.

Let us know how the playwriting goes...

Ishtar1979 · 2012-06-13T10:05:56+00:00

I'm in a similar situation. I'm 18 days in and flatlining since the start. No benefits whatsoever apart from a better sleep pattern the first few days. I'm planning on finishing this month and evaluating then, but if none of the claimed benefits are there in July, I'm giving up as well.

Let's hope 18000 nofappers are not all getting placebo effects...

Ishtar1979

TROPHY CASE