Help Requested: How To Heal From Masturbation, Mentally And Physiologically

[Kunstruct]

Is something as isolated as the Hikikomori, a large part of the society. The are 8 billions of people.
Seems exaggerated to call a minority the large part of the society.

 

[boris]

I think millions of people is a large part, but I wasn't phrasing it correctly. In general I mean a "too large" part. Hikkikomori are just extreme cases were people put a name on it. But a lot more people are on a similar spectrum.

 

[Kunstruct]

I think millions of people is a large part. Hikkikomori are just extreme cases were people put a name on it. But a lot more people are on a similar spectrum.

Like I have said before. Society puts a massive pressure on people. After working like mad and avoiding being fired, narrow streets, overly crowded everything can make some find peace in an apartment. Not everyone has the cash to spend time taking planes to enjoy some turistic destination which can also be extremely crowded.
At a touristic destination in Vienna I had to wait 1 hour and 30min to get in because the line was monumental.

 

[boris]

Yes, I feel the same way about this.

 

[Tristan Loscha]

So many of you here might already be acquainted with my journey to reduce, ultimately eliminate PMO. I started this because I noticed a significant change in mood and psychology (for the worse) when I had my extreme bout during the Summer of 2018. Since then, I have consciously tried to eliminate masturbation, to no avail as I keep relapsing when I am in a condition that elicits a relapse. Also, many people don't believe it, but I think that masturbation also affects hair growth, or inhibits it, more specifically. I noticed that I have medium length vellous hairs that sprouted over my period of abstinence, and the hair grew considerably thicker. Again, nutrition and supplementation were unchanged factors in this observation.

This is a narrative on my most recent relapse, as of yesterday, which was after a 72 day period of abstinence. Honestly, I feel absolutely terrible. I really wish that I could have done anything else but relapse, but I did, and I ended up doing so 4 times within 24 hours.

I am posing the inquiry here as people here tend to be much more in line with evidence based approaches and are generous enough to provide much more descriptive and insightful anecdotes than on other forums I have visited: How can I recover from this? I never thought I would relapse again and its tearing me apart. From a physiological perspective, can I recover from this? I worked so hard trying to get some hair regrowth these past two months, and I feel like all my progress has been lost. I think I know what I wrong: I got complacent. I stopped tending to my daily journal, I stopped caring about masturbation, and I stopped the intention. Ultimately, my mental discipline weakened over the 72 day period because I started to feel "normal" again and thought I could ride it out to infinity and beyond. That obviously wasn't the case, and here I am, imploring to anyone who can provide some perspective. Thank you all so much for your time, and I wish you all the best of health.

So,is this based around the notion of a belief-system or religious conduct,
or is it an physical illness,do you get sore throat after doing the job, etcetc?

 

[Experienced]

I don't masturbate or watch porn since February of 2018. 21 months strict no fap. Not even once. Honestly I don't feel any difference. Makes me think NoFAP movement is kinda pure marketing/cult sort of things. Anyways I'm going to continue practicing it, probably life-long.

Are you for real bro? Haha it's going to work out.

From:Cupid's Poisoned Arrow


***“On the 7th day of abstinence, however, a clear peak of serum testosterone appeared, reaching 145.7% of the baseline ( P < 0.01). No regular fluctuation was observed following continuous abstinence after the peak.”
A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men. - PubMed - NCBI


***Even though ejaculations seemingly have no significant effects on serum testosterone levels, they can (at least according to rodent studies) alter the body’s ability to utilize testosterone. It has been seen that after multiple ejaculations a sharp decline in androgen receptors takes place inside the hypothalamus, and not only that, but a sharp increase in estrogen receptors follows as well. One rodent study also found out that 1 or 2 ejaculations in short span of time increased androgen receptor activity in the body, while 4 or more ejaculations caused a significant drop in the activity of AR, suggesting that ejaculating yourself to “sexual exhaustion” might lower your body’s ability to utilize androgens.
Ejaculation and Testosterone Levels: Masturbation Lowers T?


***Studies have shown if you masturbate more than twice in a day, there becomes a decline in androgen receptors in your brain. These are what allows your body to use testosterone by binding to it – with less of these, the less your body can use and lower your active testosterone levels will be. [7]

And to make matters worse it’s been seen to make estrogen levels increase. [8] While your androgen receptors are on the decline, estrogen receptors are on the rise, meaning they’re binding to more of the female hormone in your body and increasing your risk of lower testosterone.

[7] Romano-Torres M, Phillips-Farfan BV, Chavira R, Rodriguez-Manzo G, Fernandez-Guasti A. Relationship between sexual satiety and brain androgen receptors. Neuroendocrinology. 2007;85:16–26.
[8] Phillips-Farfan BV, Lemus AE, Fernandez-Guasti A. Increased estrogen receptor alpha immunoreactivity in the forebrain of sexually satiated rats. Horm. Behav. 2007;51:328–334.
Does Masturbating Lower Testosterone? - TestoFuel Blog


***Today, there is also a growing number of evidence that links testosterone levels with the number of times you ejaculate in a single day. This is evidenced by changes observed in your number of androgen receptors or receptors that allow you to utilize testosterone throughout your body. Hence with lower androgen receptors, you will essentially also have lower active testosterone levels.

According to a study conducted by the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico, one to two ejaculations for a short period of time can increase androgen receptor activity. However, when ejaculations are done four or more times during a short period of time, there is a significant reduction in androgen activity. Specifically, it was observed that androgen receptors returned to its baseline level after the fourth ejaculation. (study)

This finding seems to be supported by another study done by the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados and Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición 'Salvador Zubirán' in Mexico. Their experiment revealed that multiple ejaculations resulted in a significant decline in androgen receptors. (study)

At the same time, a study conducted by CINVESTAV in Mexico found that while androgen receptors are decreased after multiple ejaculations, there is also a significant increase in estrogen receptors. (study)
Is There a Link Between Masturbation and Testosterone?


***Dopamine is a major factor. Drugs and activities whichc change the regulation of dopamine will alter libido. Dopamine agonists (pramiprexole), dopamine reuptake inhibitors (wellbutrin, cocaine, methamphetamine) will all cause increases in reward seeking behavior including but not limited to libido. Dopamine blockers such as antipsychotics are often considered libido killers.

Dopamine is counter-regulated by prolactin which is released after male ejaculation, so increases in prolactin cause dopamine and libido to drastically fall off. The other name for dopamine is prolactin inhibiting hormone, or PIH. Males who are able to ejaculate multiple times in a row with no refractory period tend to have a reduced production of or response to prolactin.

Testosterone is a huge factor in libido for men and women. Testosterone acts as a neuromodulator and potentiates dopamineric activation of the sex drive.
ELI5: What causes libido, and why does it vary so much between people? : explainlikeimfive


***It not only helps regulate testosterone production in men, but also helps to regulate immune functions, salt and water balances, metabolic functions, endocrine system, brain and behavior, and growth and development. Prolactin is what tells your body that it’s satisfied after sex, and lets the arousal mechanisms (aka dopamine) know they can settle down for a bit.
...
Because higher levels of prolactin are found in fathers of young children and in expectant fathers, as compared to un-mated males, according to a large-scale study in the Phillipines, behavioral endocrinologists have theorized that a modest rise in prolactin helps prepare men for the task of fatherhood. It quiets the sex drive, they figure, and along with oxytocin—with its weird reputation for being both the “cuddle” hormone as well as a byproduct of stress—helps dads of young children bond to and empathize with their offspring.
…
Elevated levels prolactin in the blood signals the gonads to make less testosterone (hypogonadism).
…
Sometimes levels also go up during periods of stress, even briefly.
...
It can be helpful to look at prolactin levels next to testosterone levels, because ongoing high prolactin secretion will signal the body to lower testosterone production.
Prolactinemia | Causes of Male Infertility


this is what 'YOU' can achieve after 'X' amount of days!

• 5 minutes - heart rate returns to normal.
  
  
• 2-3 days - guilt and shame seems to decrease.
  
  
• 7 days - brain fog lifts.
  
  
• 14 days - prolactin starts to drop.
  
  
• 14 - 21 days - due to drop in prolactin, dopamine sensitivity increases, you can start to enjoy the little things in life again, no longer emotionally numb, energy levels start to increase big time, confidence also increases.
  
  
• 30 days - cravings and flashbacks noticeably reduce.
  
  
• 30-60 days - PIED symptoms disappear or improve. Erections become rock solid, unless you're PIED symptoms are severe. Confidence keeps rising
  
  
• 42 days - ΔFosB (DeltaFosB) that has accumulated around the nucleus accumbens starts to remove itself. This makes it possible for the neurons in the porn-addicted pathways to now start to slowly break up over time without use.
  
  
• 90 days - considered a full reboot for most people, however people with severe PIED will need longer. Confidence still rising
  
  
• 120 - 150 days - symptoms of severe PIED disappear or improve.

this is what 'YOU' can achieve after 'X' amount of days! : NoFap

source Injaculation (Retrograde Ejeculation) As A NoFap Substitute

 

[Peatogenic]

Feeling physically bad after ejaculation is some kind of disease-state,and people need to fix their diet
and micronutrient deficiencies.

I agree with this, fapping bad or not.

 

[cellboy]

Just make sure to never edge. Get off as fast as possible to not mess pituitary hormones up. And ofc don‘t overdo it

 

[Katia]

If you say so.

Elephants, dolphins, rodents and many more animals masturbate.

Probably they feel great about it and don't chastize themselves afterwards.
Feeling bad about masturbation is a social construct (unless you are zinc deficient )

The animals will behave as a animal.

 

[Tristan Loscha]

..but sometimes we need to monkey around!!

 

[Katia]

..but sometimes we need to monkey around!!

We are here, on planet Earth, to get rid off the animals' instincts, if we want so. But there are consequences if we decide no.

 

[redsun]

We are here, on planet Earth, to get rid off the animals' instincts, if we want so. But there are consequences if we decide no.

Feel free to also stop breathing, ignore hunger and thirst, ignore all natural instincts you have. Everything you do is animal instinct whether you realize it or not. To think there can ever be a separation between the animal and "you" (which isn't real, just a manmade concept) is a deception.

 

[Katia]

Feel free to also stop breathing, ignore hunger and thirst, ignore all natural instincts you have. Everything you do is animal instinct whether you realize it or not. To think there can ever be a separation between the animal and "you" (which isn't real, just a manmade concept) is a deception.

 

[boris]

Katia, I don’t know if you are religios, but it sounds like it. I know instinct in humans is portrayed as something negative in the bible. I think our god given instincts are what makes us human. One of the biggest problems in our societies is we lost these instincts. For example our instincts what food is good for us got destroyed partially because of manipulation by greedy corporations. To be collaborative, to form families and societies that live in harmony with our environment is all human (and animal) instinct and we are losing it because of outside influence.

I believe all religion has a pure origin, but it is known fact that holy books got changed many times throughout history to support the agendas of the ruling forces. Personally I am highly wary of what is written in them, but I respect your opinion.

 

[Gone Peating]

Feel free to also stop breathing, ignore hunger and thirst, ignore all natural instincts you have. Everything you do is animal instinct whether you realize it or not. To think there can ever be a separation between the animal and "you" (which isn't real, just a manmade concept) is a deception.

not all of our tendencies are necessarily instincts

 

[Gone Peating]

Katia, I don’t know if you are religios, but it sounds like it. I know instinct in humans is portrayed as something negative in the bible. I think our god given instincts are what makes us human. One of the biggest problems in our societies is we lost these instincts. For example our instincts what food is good for us got destroyed partially because of manipulation by greedy corporations. To be collaborative, to form families and societies that live in harmony with our environment is all human (and animal) instinct and we are losing it because of outside influence.

I believe all religion has a pure origin, but it is known fact that holy books got changed many times throughout history to support the agendas of the ruling forces. Personally I am highly wary of what is written in them, but I respect your opinion.

except we still have the original New Testament Greek texts

 

[boris]

I didn‘t really make a clear point. I meant the origin of some of the teaching have a pure intent. Not the books themselves. These texts aren‘t trustworthy to me, but that‘s just my opinion.

Regarding the other part.
The traits or tendencies I mentioned are those we share with wild animals, that‘s why I think they are instinctual. Or rather the result of instinctual behaviour.

 

[Summer]

Comparing yourselves to monkeys is such a ridiculous thing to do. There are also instances of them eating their own feces and newborns. Let me know when you guys decide that is justified behavior just because chimps have done it. In reality, they are exposed to a lot of the environmental consequences of the modern world (chemicals, EMF, etc) that we are, so who’s to say if their current behavior is all that natural?

 

[boris]

@Summer the point is not to hate yourself for doing it whatever the reasons might be. THAT‘S BULLSH**. It‘s destructive and makes you sick.

But you have interesting points.

 

[Summer]

@Summer the point is not to hate yourself for doing it whatever the reasons might be. THAT‘S BULLSH**. It‘s destructive and makes you sick.

But you have interesting points.

I totally agree with you. Any moral argument aside, fapping infrequently isn’t going to harm you. Like I don’t even think once a week is going to cause any sort of harm. I think people get so down on themselves because it feels like they failed when they break their streak or feel like they have no self control. I haven’t had any sort of soda in about 15 years but even to this day, I have nightmares that I drank one and feel so ashamed even though one Coca-Cola isn’t go to do anything. Same principle I guess.