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is watching porn really harmful? is nofap legit?

Discussion in 'Physical & Sexual Health' started by Hope4love, Feb 8, 2019.

  1. Hope4love

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    I've been addicted since i was 12, i tried nofap and it worked great, but then i thought i was just limiting myself from all the fun, then i relapsed and now i'm stuck on day 1 for months.
    so i need reassurance that it actually is harmful, maybe we are all (nofappers) lying to ourselves and by practicing self discipline and commitment in behalf of sexual energy we become more powerful?
    that being said, i'm 100% certain that i was more active, smarter, healthier, focused, when i went through 72 days, it's just that i forgot, and i need something to reassure me like science or psychology..etc
     
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  2. Destin

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    Honestly, Nofap is a bunch of made up crap. It's been proven to do literally nothing a bunch of times. People feel better while doing it purely because they trick themselves into thinking it does something, like a placebo affect. Hundreds of millions of guys have sex every day and clearly are still able to function normally, so sex/masturbating isn't harmful like nofap claims it is.
     
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  3. Totesgaybrah

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    Sex/masturbation=healthy!
    Porn=unhealthy.
    It’s as simple as that.

    I watch porn, it’s just that too much of it is bad for you. Like alcohol it shouldn’t be an everyday thing.
     
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  4. Chiroptera

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    May I ask what do you mean by addicted? I mean, do you do it dozens of times a day? Do you frequently skip other activities because you need to masturbate?

    I don't think there is any solid scientific evidence that you become smarter or healthier by stopping masturbation. Most of the texts i've read about this talk about this "sexual energy" as something almost like a mystical form of energy that you can "redirect" to other things you do, which is nonsense. In addition, many people who end up in sites like nofap aren't actually addicted, but instead they have other issues, like shame, related to masturbation.

    In other words, like @Destin said:

    Masturbation is, actually, quite healthy. You get to know your body, experience pleasure, and feel better with your own intimacy. It is a natural mechanism, and there's absolutely nothing wrong in enjoying it.

    Cases of addiction may exist, but, as far as i know, they aren't as common as people in these sites say. Even if you do it a couple of times per day, it is usually fine. The problem exists if masturbation is negatively impacting your life. And I don't mean unrelated things like "damn, I got 2 or 10 in this test! If I only stopped masturbating, I would be smarter and would get better grades!". That's nonsense. I mean things like if you never go out with your friends because you are masturbating, you skip work and other activities because you feel the need of masturbating, etc. Those would be real signs of addiction and, if you are experiencing those, talking to a therapist may help (instead of relying in internet coaches who ramble about discipline, mystical energies and how doctor-who from no-university proved, against all other scientists, that these energies exist).

    Like @Totesgaybrah said, porn is usually a bit more complicated, because you are visually stimulating yourself with something intentionally designed to grab your attention. It doesn't mean you can't watch it every now and then, but if you can only masturbate by watching porn, then it may be a good idea to stop watching it (but you can still masturbate using your mental fantasies).
     
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  5. Bouldghirl

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    If your only sexual outlet is masturbation then porn can’t be wrong. If part of your sexual outlet is masturbation then porn can’t be wrong. If none of your sexual outlet involves masturbation then why watch porn. See where I’m going here?
     
  6. I'mStillStanding

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    Well... I had to google Nofap!

    And honestly I’ve not thought to much about watching porn... like as it could be a bad thing. I mean it’s not an all day long thing, just a get the job done thing. It’s weird... I kinda like that I don’t have to try and avoid porn anymore, but I don’t remember the last time I masturbated without it. I’m just curious as to why using it during self loving can be bad? I mean if it’s interfering with your day, I get that... but if it’s not, I don’t?
     
  7. Chiroptera

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    It's not that using porn is inherently and always bad. The problem is that it is made to please you and catch your attention. Unfortunately, that also means it may lead to some issues when you are having sex/masturbating without it.

    Furthermore, porn is unrealistic, and frequently reinforces stereotypes and an idea that sex works like X, which isn't real. For instance, in porn, sex almost always starts with oral sex and ends in ejaculation, which is done in specific ways. In straight porn, it always ends when the man ejaculates, and the pleasure of women are only represented by unrealistic moans, with the videos never focusing on their own pleasure - it's them pleasuring the man. Sometimes it also reinforces violence (like when the woman/bottom says "no" a lot of times, but ends up enjoying it).

    There are many people who believe that represents reality, and they become confused, disappointed or angry when they see that real sex isn't like that. Or, in other cases, there are people who just become dependent on porn, and can't orgasm in a satisfactory way without it. Dependency is never a good thing.

    Now, like I said, it doesn't mean you can't watch it every now and then, if you know that it is just a fantasy and it doesn't represent reality. However, it is a good idea not to rely on it all of the time. Take your time fantasizing and enjoying your own mental state during masturbation. Not only you will avoid the potential problems porn may create, but it will be easier to know your own thoughts and discover more about yourself.

    Quoting Chip from an old thread, porn isn't addictive for most people. However,

     
  8. Chip

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    Not only is masturbation not unhealthy, orgasm is actually healthy and provides various benefits to brain and immune function that cannot be had any other way. So yes, nofap is full of it, and can be safely ignored.

    I do agree with totesgaybrah that porn is not particularly helpful or effective. The problem is that is essentially like a highly refined drug. If masturbating and creating fantasies that arouse you in your mind represents, say, opium poppy seeds (like the poppy seeds on a bagel), then porn is much closer to heroin. The refinement of porn, which is produced and shot specifically to create arousal and excitement, causes the development of tolerance in the same way that drugs of abuse do.

    So giving up porn is worthwhile. Giving up masturbation is not. You'll probably find that if/when you start masturbating without porn, it may be difficult, take a long time, and not be particularly fulfilling. But generally, your body is pretty resilient, and you'll find that normal arousal and enjoyment of masturbation can return within a couple weeks of giving up the porn.

    Now... this isn't to say that porn is inherently bad and that you can never watch it. You just have to realize that it will inhibit your normal ability to feel arousal, and can even, when used heavily, impact your ability to enjoy sex with a partner. So if you use it judiciously and sparingly, it's fine. If you're using it all the time, that's probably not so good.
     
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