Can one experience porn withdrawal?
Thu, 01/20/2011 - 23:42
Okay, so I have not looked at any type of porn or sexually illicit images in 6 days. No masturbating, no nothing. And this may sound weird, but I think I may be going through withdrawal like a drug addict or alcoholic does. I have headaches, my appetite has increased A LOT, I have disturbing dreams every night, and I have been extremely irritable. I have caught myself clenching my jaws too. I'm not really sure what to do. I refuse to slip back into the porn habit, but I feel absolutely miserable right now. Has anyone else out there experienced this, or is it just me?
Comments
A few days have passed since I wrote the original post, and I feel a lot better. I think it really was my body adjusting to not doing those things.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions! :)
Awesome!!!! So glad you're doing better. :)
I have gone through this. I mainly had weird and disturbing dreams, but also some bad headaches and was irritated.
Hmmmm......maybe not withdrawal, but perhaps you are going through some sort of period of anxiety because of the behavioral changes?
You must remember, you are making a transition from using pornograpjy and masturbating on a regular basis to abstaining from it completely. Were you using porn as an outlet, to relieve some sort of stress in your life? Perhaps not using that as an outlet is causing your body to react.
The symptoms you have described do sound like those associated with anxiety. I know when I am stressed, I also clench my jaws and eat more. I also get stress headaches, so that might be another reaction.
Have you talked to a counselor about these symptoms? Give it a few more days, and if it goes away, then you know that it was your mind and body adjusting to the change. If not, then I would seek help elsewhere.
i wouldnt say i have withdrawls like an addiction, but i have found at times i get very sex focused and its hard to just turn off. i find new ways to channel the energy, but without that i slip up and let my sexuality take over. this has been an ongoing strugle since leaving the industry