Here’s a sampling of the comments of heavy porn users about life without Internet porn. Some have been sharing their progress for months. (Font changes indicate new speakers.) the real take-home from PMO for me was about willpower. I've been a 10-15 a day smoker for the past decade. Whilst drinking alcohol I used to practically chain smoke. Basically the type of smoker who'd smoke it right down to the butt and then eat the ashtray. Mentally, I was a million miles off being able to expel this habit from my life. But on day 50 of PMO I had a realisation. Why am I engaging in behavior that in no way serves my health and happiness? That is, in effect, killing me? I kicked that bullshit habit out of my life there and then, and it was easy. What I realised was that abstaining from PMO seriously strengthens your willpower. Go ask your peers if they want to quit PMO. They will look at you incredulously like you asked them if they wanted to quit breathing. This is because quitting PMO is insanely hard and the willpower required to see it through is mind-boggling. If you have a streak of any serious amount of time then you will have strong willpower because this faculty has been utilised and developed, not unlike a conditioned muscle. So I just hit day 25 today...I feel amazing. I feel so content doing whatever I'm doing. It's cloudy, rainy and cold out. However it feels like a sunny day to me. Everybody at work must think I'm on crack or something lol...my ambition has returned. I feel grateful to be part of this. My life seems like it has turned around in an instant. I was stuck in this anti-social, depressive and emotional cycle. Every day I was going on youporn and polishing the pewter like it was going out of style. It felt good temporarily but afterwards I felt worthless. I felt like a loser...forever stuck in this cycle. I wanted a real woman! It's unbelievable that a few short months ago I had anxiety and panic attacks while doing simple things such as going to the store. Now I feel like I can speak in front of a crowd of people. Then, I was barely on any female’s radar. Now, they smile at me on the street, or even preen themselves within my vicinity. Being able to pick up little social cues is mind-blowing. The other day I was walking downtown and got turned on by the scent of girl who passed by me. Before, that rarely ever happened. Women are trying to get my attention now. I'm really shocked. I've been out of the game so long it’s like it’s all new to me. I finally feel like I can go on dates, or even ask a girl out...I'm still in awe. I feel like I just woke up from a really bad dream. I feel strong to the core...like I feel like nothing can phase me. I am just being me...a man who is comfortable in his skin. It feels good to have this kind of swagger! 1 8 weeks - My social calendar is getting really full. People are inviting me out; I'm inviting people out. I'm connecting people with other people. It's all pretty fulfilling. For the first time since my freshman year in college, I am feeling extroverted. I actually want to go out and mingle rather than stay inside. I still have some anxiety going up and talking to complete strangers, but I feel that anxiety is slowly disappearing. Making eye contact with new girls used to be a struggle, but I feel comfortable doing that now. 6-Month Update So it's been 6 months... Wow time flies. BTW that's 6 months of no porn and no masturbation. I still feel like I'm recovering psychologically and physically. Some observations: 1. no masturbation = motivation to meet women . Guys, if you're shy around women. You'll get a lot less shy when the only way you can get off is to have sex with a real woman. You'll still have those butterflies, but your sex drive will provide a counter-force to overcome the butterflies. You'll be more assertive guaranteed. 2. more turned on by touch than by visual When I "was on porn" I'd see a hottie and want to instantly bone her. It's not exactly like that anymore. Now I'm more turned on by the interaction and the physical touch and less turned on by the visual. Now don't get me wrong. I'm still a male and looks matter a lot for my arousal, but they play a lesser role now that I'm off porn. 3. real women have flaws This is related to porn and media in general. Real human beings have physical flaws. You don't see these flaws on your screen. When I'd interact with real women I notice them and consider the women sub-par. Now it's starting to hit me that flawless women don't exist. I date some of the most beautiful women this world has to offer (toot, TOOT!) and they all have flaws. I always knew it on an intellectual level, but now I'm starting to feel it on the gut level. Flaws now indicate to me that this is a real woman that I'm connecting with, which makes her even sexier. I've just reached 5 weeks of abstinence. That means no porn of any kind, no masturbation or orgasm for 5 weeks. I'm over the flu-like symptoms, which is good and I've started hitting the weights again. It feels good to be squatting again. ROAR! The insomnia has gotten better, though there are still some restless nights, but my quality of sleep has improved dramatically. I've also noticed some morning wood, although I'm not as hard as I'd like to be. I feel again. I feel emotions again. Having cut way back on porn viewing (over months), I notice I find it less stimulating every time I see it. I actually 2 fell asleep during an adult movie the other night! My interest in women has heightened; my confidence is up and gives me motivation again. I'm 28 now and until the last couple of years I felt I had the maturity of a 15 year old. But as I heal and recover from this addiction, I've felt emotions I've never had to deal with before. It has helped me grow up. My boss said that I seem much more in control and something else really positive. I honestly HAVE been off of self-stimulation for longer than any other time in my adult/memorable life. (REALLY! Man. I can't believe that.) But, anyway, I think more clearly, and act more efficiently and my focus LASTS. I can follow through, solve problems, even multiple things in a row for extended periods of time. Additionally, reddit seemed mindless, banal and stupid to me today and normally it's the time-suck of all time-sucks. It feels good to make the two-week mark w/o porn, masturbation or orgasm. One thing I definitely notice is that women in general are looking more attractive. It's like I can see pass all the sexual cues, and see the essence of what I like about a woman. Some of the best benefits are that my voice feels stronger and conversations with people seem so easy. Porn was easy excitement. I didn’t interact with others because it took too much work, I had to think too hard, and interaction was “boring.” I was numb and my senses were dulled. And I feared they would continue to be that way even after I quit using porn. I’m dating a woman now for the first time since quitting (months ago). It’s amazing! She’s not supple and “perky” like the girls in the videos, but I’m more attracted to her real body than I ever was to porn. I never imagined that would happen, and it is so exciting. I had to stop orgasming and keep off of porn for an extended period of time. That got easier. Eventually I looked around and realized that the colors were back in my life! I really like where I’m at now. I am so much calmer. I am losing my rage and anger which I am glad about. I have found out that the temper I had was linked to this addiction. Social anxiety was the problem I faced right from my childhood. (I was too much interested in science, unlike normal kids, so I always had a feeling that I was not "one of them.") I experienced huge improvement in my confidence and self- assurance since cutting out porn. I have more energy now and I am exercising daily. (I never did before.) I now perceive myself as a self-assured, successful guy, rather than some introverted jerk. Daily exercise and porn abstinence really seem to help. I am enjoying my new lifestyle now. In contrast, after I started watching porn, my social anxiety was boosted. 3 I just generally have more fun and enjoy my life so much more without spinning my wheels aimlessly in endless sexual fantasy.